Hi all,
In the spirit of the holidays I have once again pulled out my Lionel Polar Express O Gauge engine from storage and am preparing to set it up under the tree. When it was given to me by my grandfather many years ago, I remember using a certain (not the one provided in the box by Lionel) smoke fluid that produced nice, thick, and visible smoke from the engine (which is obviously factory-fitted with a unit). However, I have since used up that tiny bottle of whatever it was and am now using a Bachmann brand which does not give me very good results (thin, barely visible) at all. The point is to have it produce good, thick smoke for a little while at a time to run under the tree. Do any of you have good suggestions that would come close to what I am looking for? Thanks.
JamesNWR05 Hi all, In the spirit of the holidays I have once again pulled out my Lionel Polar Express O Gauge engine from storage and am preparing to set it up under the tree. When it was given to me by my grandfather many years ago, I remember using a certain (not the one provided in the box by Lionel) smoke fluid that produced nice, thick, and visible smoke from the engine (which is obviously factory-fitted with a unit). However, I have since used up that tiny bottle of whatever it was and am now using a Bachmann brand which does not give me very good results (thin, barely visible) at all. The point is to have it produce good, thick smoke for a little while at a time to run under the tree. Do any of you have good suggestions that would come close to what I am looking for? Thanks.
Classic Toy Train forums would generally be a better place to ask, but I use this:
http://megasteam.com/page2.html
It will make a pretty big cloud. Lionel also sells smoke fluid.
Smoke fluids are a mixture of iso-alkane and parraffine (crude oil destillate). The mixture varies slighty from manufacturer to manufacturer, resulting in a "thicker" or "thinner" plume of smoke coming from the smoke stack.
Use the one you have the best results with - most likely the one distributed by the manufacturer of your loco.
I always thought plain old mineral oil was smoke fluid. The expensive stuff is mostly that.Lamp oil is another cheap alternative.
Steve McDonoughLamp oil is another cheap alternative.
I´d suggest not to use lamp oil, especially the scented ones. Lamp oil is much thicker and will most likely clog up the smoke device.
Memory is always iffy at this point inmy life, but my old Lionel about 65 years ago, I seem to recall in stead of fluid, there were little pills you dropped down the smoke stack to make smoke.
Oh... I just googled Lionel smoke pills and they popped right up. I'll be darned, I was right.
I have used Lamp Oil for many years, with excllent results! I use what I think they call "Ultra Pure Parafin Odorless Clear Lamp Oil". It is as thin as water, crystal clear, and has no noticeable odor. Smokes like crazy....and very cheap, compared to "smoke fluid"! It is by NO MEANS "thick", as someone stated...as I said, just like water! I do use (mostly) "Mega-Steam" in my BLI "chuffing smoke" units, as it seems to last longer in those, but the lamp oil still works good in a pinch. Who cares if it doesn't last that long, when it's about $8.00 a QUART! Another good thing with lamp oil is it evaporates quickly. Any residue left on the top of a loco (or anywhere else) is GONE by the next day! You ought to try it, and if you don't like it, buy an oil lamp in case the power goes out...just make sure it's the "Paraffin" type, and not Petroleum. Petroleum stinks (but still works). The brand name I use is LAMPLIGHT, and once again, it's described as "Ultra-Pure sootless, smokeless, and odorless" Paraffin Lamp Oil. In a smoke unit, it's obviously NOT "smokeless"...! It works unbelievably well in "Seuthe" smoke units, but to be honest, I have NO IDEA how it would work in an old Lionel! Keep that in mind...
Mike C.
Yeah ,that's what my dad used.It was very water like and no smell.
Would this work?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bayes-High-Performance-Food-Grade-Mineral-Oil-Wood-and-Bamboo-Conditioner-Protectant-6-Case-160/203011854
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I wouldn't! If you're going to spend THAT much money, buy smoke fluid! I tried mineral oil in my HO SCALE stuff (at someone's recommendation), and it was a GREASY, messy mistake. The lamp oil is really "clean" compared to anything thick like mineral oil... please don't forget I'm using this in HO SCALE Seuthe and BLI smoke units...!
Where would I find the lamp oil you speak of? Walmart? Home Depot?
I got mine from a small local Hardware store. I would try Amazon. They got everything....