Kerosene Lanterns

[Lurking LRRP]

I recently bought some cheap kerosene lanterns from Big Lots and used regular lamp oil in them, when we had a power failure I brought them out and was so pleased with the results I bought a table lamp and then 2 more lanterns from Wally world . I then bought a 5 gallon can of K-1 kero from lowes and for about 50 bucks I have 4 lanterns, 1 lamp, 5 gal kero and 2 gallons of lamp oil. They use very little oil and are very cheap compared to the bright light camp lanterns we buy and use as well. But for in the house light, I don't think you can beat the soft light of kero/oil

Just a thought for y'all

Lurking LRRP

 

[Jmurman]

I have a inexpensive kero lantern that I have never used.

Hmmm time to fire that one up and see how it runs.

I don't have a 5gal can of Kero but i do have 10-12 liters of lamp oil.

 

[Dinghy]

I really like the oil lamps. In fact when it's really cold in the house, I light one and keep it on the bedroom nightstand until the room warms up. It works like a mini heater. I make sure there is nothing near it that could burn and I never sleep with it lit. I also keep a fire extinguisher near it just in case one of the dogs would knock it over some how.

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

Be sure to stock up on some extra wicks; you can always barter with them later, or if you have a neigbhor or friend who is in need.

 

[Aunt Peg]

I am very glad you are posting info about these lanterns! I was going to buy a Petromax, but the price OMG! Then I saw some kero lanterns at wally-world for something like $7 ea and I was wondering how well they worked?

 

[Dinghy]

I like the all glass lamps better than those metal framed railroad type lantens that Walmart sells. They are easier to fill and light to me. The only bad thing is that they can't be carried around like the ones with the wire handle.

 

[summerthyme]

Aunt Peg- there is a HUGE difference in the amount of light a Petromax puts out compared to any of the lamps being talked about here. The normal, flat wick kerosene "oil lamp" puts out the equivalent of anywhere between 5 and 10 candles. Not terrible.. but very dim compared to what most modern Americans are used to for "light"

The Aladdin lamp- about $60 to $100 each- puts out about as much light as a 60 watt light bulb. MUCH better.. but much more expensive.

The Petromax and similar lamps can put out as much as 300 watts of light, depending on the brand. Overkill, mostly, unless you have one main, large room to use it in.

They also put out a LOT of heat.. as do the Aladdins.. much more than the kerosene lamps, which also (as dinghy mentioned above) can put out considerable heat.

I don't worry about fire too much with any of these.. if they get dropped and break, it's more likely that the kerosene will douse the flame than that it will catch fire and spread. Not that you shouldn't be careful... but I suspect there are far more fires caused by regular candles than oil lamps.

Another type is an olive oil lamp I've only seen sold at Lehmans... the Amish store. I bought a couple of them mostly to see how they were made. Someone with a pair of pliers and a little time on their hands could easily make the wick holders for these lamps. They burn pure olive oil (and a lot of other oils, but not as well) and provide a pure, clear flame with no smoke at all with the olive oil. Not terribly bright, but if you made several of your own (you could use pint size canning jars for the holders), they'd be handy.

Summerthyme

 

[CarolynA]

You can increase the light output from the oil lamps by putting them in front of a mirror. I have a few of the inexpensive glass ones that I have used many times during power outages. They're great!

 

[fruit loop]

Yes, use lamp oil

We use these old-fashioned lanterns at Civil War reenactments (yes, they were around then) but use modern lamp oil in them. It smokes less, costs less, and burns much cleaner.

Yes, putting them in front of a mirror helps tremendously...in fact, we also use candle lanterns in wooden frames that have three mirrored sides.

I bought my kero lanterns in the camping section of Wal-mart for $5 each. they're cheap and dependable.

 

[tangent]

> I was going to buy a Petromax, but the price OMG!

Go for the Petromax! I picked one up on E-Bay for about half retail...

As stated, they double as a heater, and with an attachment you can cook on them. They are also multi-fuel. I'm thinking about picking up a second one...

-t

ps: be sure to pick up spare mantles, wicks, etc.

http://www.britelyt.com/

 

[tangent]

> Yes, putting them in front of a mirror helps tremendously...in fact, we also use candle lanterns in wooden frames that have three mirrored sides.

something that works well with candles or lanterns is to fill a wine glass or similarly shaped clear glass with water, the shape and water act as a lense to focus the light and aids reading, etc...

-t

 

[OldMan]

FWIW, most people are not aware that Coleman sells a kerosene-fueled MANTLE lantern...it looks almost exactly like their white-gas-fueled two-mantle camping lantern, but has a little tiny cup to hold alcohol which is lit to preheat the kerosene before it reaches the mantles. It puts out a lot of light...dunno if it is as bright as the gas lantern, but it is a heck of a lot brighter than the regular kerosene lanterns. You only use the alcohol to get it started...once it is hot, the hot mantles preheat the kerosene.

I picked mine up at a Coleman "factory outlet" store for $34.95....I think the list price was about $60.00 or sum such.

OldMan

 

[Nuthatch]

Here's a link to some cheap wicks/floats similar to the ones I found at a Greek grocery store. Little wicks with little float/holders. About 100 wicks and a few floats for less than $1.

There are many varieties as you can see at this link. Put water in your vessel and then add oil (I use olive) which floats on the water. Place a float in with a wick (or several) and light.


Your local ethnic markets may have these-I've never purchased from this site:
http://www.religiousmall.com/Oil


Edited to add: there are also hanging oil lamps and brackets as well as those that are freestanding in artistic styles. Scroll on the link page to find the link to "hanging vigil candles"

 

[Spot]

In the summer time use citronilla oil in the lamps. This will repell mosquitoes . Also when filling the kero. lanterns be careful not to overfill them , leave a little room so that when they heat up and the kero. expands it will not run out .
Spot

 

[Burt Gummer]

Good post, LRRP.

I read about all the different types of lighting for SHTF; candles, coleman lantern, kerosene, the Petromax, solar, battery, etc.. After considering all the options, their advantages and disadvantages, I decided on kero. It's relatively inexpensive fuel that burns a long time in a regular kero lantern. There are many lanterns that can use the fuel. Kero stores well without too much worry of it going bad. It is also safer to store than gas or Coleman fuel. The only real down side is that it is not as bright. I've got 20 gallons of kero and about 10 gallons of liquid parafin. I also stocked up on extra wicks and bases and an extra glass globe or two for my different lights. In a SHTF event, I wont need to light up the entire house. I just need something to read by and provide basic lighting. I figure my hours will change in a SHTF event. Instead of staying up till midnight watching Letterman, I'll be up before sunrise, use the daylight hours to do as much work as possible to survive, and retire early because I'll be dead tired. Sometimes the old, low tech methods are the best and IMO this is one of them. In my overall prep plan, lighting is one of the areas where I am the most confident.