The latest seller (21/08/2007) of Calcium Carbide in the USA is Ray-Vin Bullseye Black Calcium Carbide, who are offering 10 oz. packages of small pea grain Grade Calcium Carbide for US$10.95/each DELIVERED. The purchase price includes Ground Shipping (2-4 weeks) via USPS Parcel Post. They can only ship Calcium Carbide to addresses in the United States (P.O. Boxes okay).
Karst Sports (as at 1/01/2008) are shipping 6x2lb containers of carbide in the USA for US$77.50. Click here to link to their page.
Alternatively if you are in the USA suggest you go to the Home page of the National Speleological Society and there you will find a search engine to locate details of your local caving club grotto. Contact them and see if they can help.
If you are in Europe then try the Links file to Caving Clubs in the UK and Europe.
If you are in Australia then try the Australian Speleological Federation web site and talk with members of a caving club near you who MAY be able to advise where carbide rock can still be purchased.
Q2. How do I make the carbide lamp work?
Answer:- This depends greatly on the model of lamp but as a generalisation you place water in the top tank (usually), place calcium carbide rock in small (<1cm diameter) to medium (<3cm diameter) pieces in the bottom chamber. Fill the carbide chamber only about 3/4 full with rock - it does expand when water is added. Before adding the water to the top chamber ensure that the rubber seal (usually) that seals the carbide chamber is present and not perished. Ensure also that the Jet where the gas is lit is clear by using a fine wire "pricker" to clear it. It may be necessary to remove the jet and clear it.
Then add the water to the top chamber and adjust the water flow to low. Shake the lamp to get the gas generation going and then light the stream of gas that should be coming from the jet (try feeling the stream of gas with your hand/finger before lighting) with a match. Suggest this is done outside with a hose handy - just in case - see below!!
NOTE WELL:- If the lamp has holes in it or the seals are not working then when you light it it may "burst into flames" - be ready to blow them out or use the hose suggested above!! EVEN WORSE is if the gas cannot escape from the lamp at ALL it is POSSIBLE that the lamp may explode. The author of this FAQ takes no responsibilites for persons injured by exploding lamps or injuries sustained when attempting to light carbide lamps!!
Q3. Where do I buy new carbide lamps?
In the USA they are no longer manufactured but you can pick them up in working condition from Antique Malls. In England they can still be purchased new!! Premier lamps are still being made by Caving Supplies.
If you want to purchase one or more lamps then contact:-
Premier carbide caplamps (plus their own manufactured carbide headset and remote generator)...
Caving Supplies,
19 London Road,
Buxton,
Derbyshire, UK
Tel (44)-(0)1298 71707
OR purchase directly on the WWW at Caving Supplies on the WWW
They can also be purchased from Petzl at Petzl on
the WWW
They can also be purchased from Inner Mountain Outfitters online at the Inner Mountain site on the WWW.
This site has a number of different lamps including some newly manufactured models.
Lamp parts are also available from Bob and Bob in the USA. Check out the spare parts from the link (Carbide Lamp Parts) on the home page at Bob and Bob on the the WWW.
Another source of lamps is J.K. Dey and Sons in India. They will
manufacture you a lamp to your own specifications!! They can be contacted
via the WWW page at www.jkdey.com
In the USA J.K. Dey and Sons lamps can also be purchased online from Lehman's www.lehmans.com.
Just search for item 225227 or carbide lamp. They also sell carbide rock for US$80 but the quantity is unclear without purchasing
the carbide? Some one please let me know what quantity is supplied for the US$80 would be of assistance.
Q4. Where do I get MORE information on carbide lamps?
The book American Miners' Carbide Lamps by Gregg S. Clemmer is an excellent
source of information for those wanting to know more information about the
lamps that they have found. Note that this book is only about American
carbide lamps but if that's what you are looking for it is great. It can be
easily purchased by going to the NSS Bookstore page:- National Speleological
Society Bookstore - General Page - Lighting Section. A short synopsis
of the book is: "This book not only covers the history of carbide lamps but
also includes collector tips, appendices listing patents, based on
chronology, technology, design, and rarity."
Q5. Where can I buy carbide lamps and/or How much are lamps worth??
If you are looking for second hand (old) carbide lamp then I suggest that you try going to the site:-
http://www.ebay.com
or
http://www.ebay.com.au (for Australia/New
Zealand)
Both of these sites have a number of carbide lamps for sale on a regular basis. Here you can see what others are bidding for different models of carbide lamp and it gives you an idea of what each model is worth. You will certainly find whatever lamp you are looking for on ebay but it may be expensive if it is a rare lamp!!
Once you have established prices for lamps you may want to go looking in your local area. Certainly the majority of lamps that I have purchased have come from Antique shops in Australia and the USA. In the USA they also have Antique Malls which are also a good source of carbide lamps.
If you are looking for new lamps then check out Question 3 above.
Q6. Where does carbide rock come from?
Carbide rock is manfactured it is not mined!! The manufacturing process is well described in the article at:-
Carbide Manufacturing process Hope this helps!