In the mid-90s, we were taught that electric lighting was not good enough, as light bulbs would drain the batteries in few hours. It was used by just a couple of people and very sparingly. Then all changed with lithium batteries and LEDs. Recently I was explaining to some young friends how it was common to use carbide lamps for caving, and they were in disbelief... I'll show them this video!!! Really appreciated :)
In our club we use carbide lamps for visiting ouer matical cave, once every year and it is very beautiful bring us back nostalgic moments on great old days.. Also from my perspective the light of carbide lamp is the most beutiful (warm) for caving..
I went caving only for a couple of years in Indiana back in the early 1970's, but it was a blast and we used carbide only. We were always super careful not to leave piles of used up carbide in the cave, but it was obvious many other "explorers" were not so considerate, which always made me sad. The battery lights are, no doubt, vastly superior overall. Thanks for another great video, Derek. I always enjoy your work.
I do miss using my Petzl carbide lamp. The light was warm and encircled you. Yes it was a pain in the ass to use (reloading carbide is not a pleasant task) but before LED lights this was the way to go.
I wonder how many old timers reached up to adjust their caps/helmets and burned the hell out of their hands. I guess they only did it once. Also, my 1860s farmhouse in Iowa was lit by gaslighting for many decades after about 1894. The house still had most of it's gas fixtures when we got the house in 1973. The acetylene gas was generated when water dripped into a big underground tank containing carbide next to the house. Eventually, some of the gas light fixtures were converted to electricity, but the underground carbide tank is still there.
I have a Premier I bought in 1970, just got it working again with spare from Caving Supplies, and somewhere, a Petzl that I last used to explore a mine in 2011.
I love the carbide lamps for caving. Bought a Malham Mk.2 and Petzel peizo Headlamp way back in 1990. Both still in good condition after years of caving in Malaysia.
I wish someone would make and sell a good and robust modern interpretation of the ol' carbide lamps... that'd be pretty cool. Unfortunately like is said in the video it is unlikely to happen :( oh well just keep the old ones in good shape :)
I've been on two expeditions, one as lead and other co-lead, we took both electric and carbide (Kabooms -with electric). Carbide lights used responsibly are great, especially the Kaboom. Obviously great care must be used when abseiling to only use the electric LOL. 24 hour plus trips (as you indicate long, cold wet (swimming), they are a great hand warmer, cold hands useless to prussik/abseil with- good for morale too-not everyone is a penguin LOL. Don't dump the calcium hydroxide etc into the cave. I'd say even more reliable than any electric unless that electric is truly waterproof, the amount of times swimming with a carbide (properly adjusted of course and no worries. Unfortunately the many who dump their crap into a cave really spoils it for everyone (whether using carbide or not). It could be argued that no more CO2 goes into a cave using these lights as from exhaling from cavers themselves. The light is very easy and non stressful upon the eyes for long trips. Premier's and kabooms- WAY to go! Thanks for showing a great video.
Carbide was all I ever caved by. Carried flashlights and candles, but Carbide was the thing. Folk tales and stories abound regarding failures and frights with carbide lamps. I remember a caver coming out of a crawlway holding a baby bottle full of wet carbide as a torch to light his way. Don't ask for more info, I don't remember. I still have my lamps and some old, probably useless carbide. I'd love to do one more tourist trip sometime. Electric would be the way to go. I'd even buy the setup and then donate it to the community... Loved caving, haven't been in too long, now I B old, sort of... Hey, 66 isn't too old is it?
It's been 50 years since I caved with carbide, so memory is fuzzy, but I'm thinking maybe a few hours. We could spend a long time underground without having to change.
@@NozomuYume you don't understand..it's SCALAR weapons,not conventional electromagnetic s the a.k.a. radio frequencies..scalar or more correctly ENERGETICS,travels through hyperspace,and there's no conventional shielding..your new cars won't move.. Think Amish to survive XD
I understand the nostalgia but all I see are the cons: 1) burns oxygen 2) creates soot 3) possible ignition source for any natural gasses encountered 4) the weight of carbide & water and 5) the thought of an open flame in the vicinity of any climbing ropes or harnesses/webbing would make me nervous. I'll take my Black Diamond LED headlamp and a handful of batteries any day. What am I missing?
There’s another video just for useless complaints - this one is for people who actually know and have used these fabulous devices before. You’re welcome.
uhm hold up, i never knew you need that little of karbide for petzl carbide lamp....we were thought to fill it up with chunks so there is very little space left.......
We can’t tell how bright it is if the camera is pointed at the lamp, or if there is a bright LED flashlight on. To see how bright it is, the camera should point away from the lantern capturing the illumination. Like if you want to show how bright a flashlight is, you don’t point it at the LED on the flashlight, but away from the light to capture the beam of light it casts. I have been looking for videos hat demonstrate the brightness of carbide lights, but so far every one of them has pointed the camera directly at the carbide flame, rather than away from the lamp to see the floody beam of light it casts. Or some videos, only show people wearing the lamps but with a much brighter flashlight illuminating the whole scene. I wonder why it is so counter-intuitive for folks with videos demonstrating carbide lanterns to actually show how much one single carbide lantern illuminates.
So there was only ONE thing I was interested in seeing, and that was how bright a headlamp was in a mine, and you filmed the lights with your cameras light on.....🤦🏻♂️
In the mid-90s, we were taught that electric lighting was not good enough, as light bulbs would drain the batteries in few hours. It was used by just a couple of people and very sparingly.
Then all changed with lithium batteries and LEDs.
Recently I was explaining to some young friends how it was common to use carbide lamps for caving, and they were in disbelief... I'll show them this video!!! Really appreciated :)
Used one for years mainly for nostalgic reasons !! Bringing back memories for me !! Still have mine too ...
In our club we use carbide lamps for visiting ouer matical cave, once every year and it is very beautiful bring us back nostalgic moments on great old days.. Also from my perspective the light of carbide lamp is the most beutiful (warm) for caving..
Wow Derek! I am a chemistry teacher and caver. I have never seen so nice animation about carbide lamp chemistry. Thanks a lot!!
Thank you!
I went caving only for a couple of years in Indiana back in the early 1970's, but it was a blast and we used carbide only. We were always super careful not to leave piles of used up carbide in the cave, but it was obvious many other "explorers" were not so considerate, which always made me sad. The battery lights are, no doubt, vastly superior overall. Thanks for another great video, Derek. I always enjoy your work.
I do miss using my Petzl carbide lamp. The light was warm and encircled you. Yes it was a pain in the ass to use (reloading carbide is not a pleasant task) but before LED lights this was the way to go.
I still have mine. Felt pad was replaced with scotchbrite pad because it kept clogging, no problems since.
I wonder how many old timers reached up to adjust their caps/helmets and burned the hell out of their hands. I guess they only did it once. Also, my 1860s farmhouse in Iowa was lit by gaslighting for many decades after about 1894. The house still had most of it's gas fixtures when we got the house in 1973. The acetylene gas was generated when water dripped into a big underground tank containing carbide next to the house. Eventually, some of the gas light fixtures were converted to electricity, but the underground carbide tank is still there.
1. !!!OOUUCCHH!!! 2. That looks like a true caver house!
I have a Premier I bought in 1970, just got it working again with spare from Caving Supplies, and somewhere, a Petzl that I last used to explore a mine in 2011.
...great reminder of the lamp I used back in my college days... (sadly, I no longer have it)
I love the carbide lamps for caving. Bought a Malham Mk.2 and Petzel peizo Headlamp way back in 1990. Both still in good condition after years of caving in Malaysia.
I'm subbing, just found your channel! Looks great!
I wish someone would make and sell a good and robust modern interpretation of the ol' carbide lamps... that'd be pretty cool. Unfortunately like is said in the video it is unlikely to happen :( oh well just keep the old ones in good shape :)
You could get an American made Mike Lite back in the mid 90's. I wish I had bought one.
I have one brand new in the box, never used@@caverbrad! 😁👊🏻
I used several brands carbide lamps but the sexy lines of the Autolite made it my favorite.
I've been on two expeditions, one as lead and other co-lead, we took both electric and carbide (Kabooms -with electric). Carbide lights used responsibly are great, especially the Kaboom. Obviously great care must be used when abseiling to only use the electric LOL. 24 hour plus trips (as you indicate long, cold wet (swimming), they are a great hand warmer, cold hands useless to prussik/abseil with- good for morale too-not everyone is a penguin LOL. Don't dump the calcium hydroxide etc into the cave. I'd say even more reliable than any electric unless that electric is truly waterproof, the amount of times swimming with a carbide (properly adjusted of course and no worries. Unfortunately the many who dump their crap into a cave really spoils it for everyone (whether using carbide or not). It could be argued that no more CO2 goes into a cave using these lights as from exhaling from cavers themselves. The light is very easy and non stressful upon the eyes for long trips. Premier's and kabooms- WAY to go! Thanks for showing a great video.
Way cool, thanks!
Carbide was all I ever caved by. Carried flashlights and candles, but Carbide was the thing. Folk tales and stories abound regarding failures and frights with carbide lamps. I remember a caver coming out of a crawlway holding a baby bottle full of wet carbide as a torch to light his way. Don't ask for more info, I don't remember. I still have my lamps and some old, probably useless carbide. I'd love to do one more tourist trip sometime. Electric would be the way to go. I'd even buy the setup and then donate it to the community... Loved caving, haven't been in too long, now I B old, sort of... Hey, 66 isn't too old is it?
Not much older than me, but the baby bottle was in just a bad dream ?!?
Funny how this video is shot using electric light. How about switching that off and giving us a look at the fire light in action?
Sweet!, But you just might need a bigger reflector. Ha ha,,
Totally Right On
Where can I get Carbide? Address? Company?
Try Lehman’s
How long do these lamps operate on one fill of carbide and water?
It's been 50 years since I caved with carbide, so memory is fuzzy, but I'm thinking maybe a few hours. We could spend a long time underground without having to change.
You forgot to mention the Plastic Justrite famous in song and story
I confess that I still using my carbide lamp among off some this new era of electrical lamps. Am I a dinosaur?
Edson Martins Yes, you are definitely a dinosaur.
@@DerekBristol EMP pulse
@@jquest43 If you happen to be deep underground during the EMP, you'll be shielded and your electric lights will be fine. xD
@@NozomuYume you don't understand..it's SCALAR weapons,not conventional electromagnetic s the a.k.a. radio frequencies..scalar or more correctly ENERGETICS,travels through hyperspace,and there's no conventional shielding..your new cars won't move..
Think Amish to survive
XD
@@jquest43Even on these topics there are people who spew out bullshit pseudoscience. Amazing.
👍👍👍
I understand the nostalgia but all I see are the cons: 1) burns oxygen 2) creates soot 3) possible ignition source for any natural gasses encountered 4) the weight of carbide & water and 5) the thought of an open flame in the vicinity of any climbing ropes or harnesses/webbing would make me nervous. I'll take my Black Diamond LED headlamp and a handful of batteries any day. What am I missing?
There’s another video just for useless complaints - this one is for people who actually know and have used these fabulous devices before. You’re welcome.
Whyyyyy led lighting lol
uhm hold up, i never knew you need that little of karbide for petzl carbide lamp....we were thought to fill it up with chunks so there is very little space left.......
We can’t tell how bright it is if the camera is pointed at the lamp, or if there is a bright LED flashlight on. To see how bright it is, the camera should point away from the lantern capturing the illumination.
Like if you want to show how bright a flashlight is, you don’t point it at the LED on the flashlight, but away from the light to capture the beam of light it casts. I have been looking for videos hat demonstrate the brightness of carbide lights, but so far every one of them has pointed the camera directly at the carbide flame, rather than away from the lamp to see the floody beam of light it casts.
Or some videos, only show people wearing the lamps but with a much brighter flashlight illuminating the whole scene. I wonder why it is so counter-intuitive for folks with videos demonstrating carbide lanterns to actually show how much one single carbide lantern illuminates.
Close your eyes and you'll get a sense for how bright it is... i.e. not very. Not bright enough to shoot video anyway.
Definitely do not mark up cave walls with soot survey stations.
Definitely follow the established standards for recoverable station labeling for a given cave.
So there was only ONE thing I was interested in seeing, and that was how bright a headlamp was in a mine, and you filmed the lights with your cameras light on.....🤦🏻♂️