Carbide lamp/sight blackener

[DaveB]

Haven't seen one of those in many years now. Most people these days use the spray-on sight black, I thought.

[Maggot]

I have one of these and when I can be arsed to use it, it is about the best way to smoke a sight.

https://www.ray-vin.com/tools/smoker.htm

Before everyone goes tonto about them not exporting there are ways if you really want to get hold of one.

Burning gaffa tape, zippos, spray, flanelette and oil all work, but none really produce as smooth black smoke as these things, no lumps, build up, spitting etc. The only downside is they stink.

In reality you could as likley make one up, you just need a flint, nozzle, holder for the calcium carbide and a way to inject some water. The construction is dead simple, the water one way valve being a piece of model aircraft silicon fuel tube slipped over a spigot with a water channel in it, the water is filled into the lower half and then a piston engages some thread. When the flame dies a quick turn and more water kicks the gas off again. They use a bit of cotton wool between the carbonate comparment and the nozzle to filter any crud out.

In essence its a big sealed zippo with a nozzle instead of a wick that is sealed by O rings with a method of injecting water.

[JSC]

Here's one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153230623893

A bit pricey though. Might have to get my old one out of the garage and clean it up if they're going for that much now!

I seem to remember a smaller carbide lamp purpose made for sight blacking. I think I had one for a while, but it didn't hold much carbide and inevitably needed refilling just when I needed to use it.

[1066]

Here's a bare bones one. Not impossible to knock one up I would think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZcdk1oEVc

[JSC]

Here's a bare bones one. Not impossible to knock one up I would think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZcdk1oEVc

That was the one. Worked, but a bit small if you had a day's worth of matches to shoot.

[Maggot]

Here's a bare bones one. Not impossible to knock one up I would think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZcdk1oEVc

That was the one. Worked, but a bit small if you had a day's worth of matches to shoot.

Looking at the U tube bumf on the VinRay I think they are related but no, I am sure someone with a lathe and a brain could make a basic unit. You dont need all the piston crap etc, just water, carbide and a nozzle....might not even need the flint if you carry a lighter.