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Kerosene Lantern
- Thread starter sodak
- Start date
Yep - good clean kerosene, a cleanly trimmed cotton wick, and adjusting it down to where it barely shows. The light level changes dramatically when it gets to the best height. It is assumed a good quality US made lantern is being used, Asian copies seem to be suitable for decor only - they have style, but not the actual working design.
The Aladdin household lanterns even use a Coleman style mantle which really boosts the lumen output. We've used these during power outs and been accused of having electricity when no one else did.
I still like mine, but with 3 watt LEDs on rechargeables, I wonder how long Coleman propanes will have a market when someone comes out with a good design. Being fireproof will certainly drive the gov't campground market.
The Aladdin household lanterns even use a Coleman style mantle which really boosts the lumen output. We've used these during power outs and been accused of having electricity when no one else did.
I still like mine, but with 3 watt LEDs on rechargeables, I wonder how long Coleman propanes will have a market when someone comes out with a good design. Being fireproof will certainly drive the gov't campground market.
+1 on Tirod3's advice.
I like old kerosene lamps for their ambience at home, and an absolute must is clean, well refined kerosene and a good quality, properly trimmed cotton wick.
I get my wicks and lighting kerosene from a local antique dealer, which is an expensive way to buy them, but I know I will get good clean light from quality supplies.
Strangely, I have a pair of identical Victorian era lamps, one burns best with a straight trimmed wick, the other likes a diagonal trim of about 20 degrees.
Experimentation is the answer to getting a good clean burn, but now that LEDs are getting cheaper, I think the camping kero lamp is fast becoming a relic.
I like old kerosene lamps for their ambience at home, and an absolute must is clean, well refined kerosene and a good quality, properly trimmed cotton wick.
I get my wicks and lighting kerosene from a local antique dealer, which is an expensive way to buy them, but I know I will get good clean light from quality supplies.
Strangely, I have a pair of identical Victorian era lamps, one burns best with a straight trimmed wick, the other likes a diagonal trim of about 20 degrees.
Experimentation is the answer to getting a good clean burn, but now that LEDs are getting cheaper, I think the camping kero lamp is fast becoming a relic.
A couple of months ago when we had a power outage, I discovered that my son's glow in the dark ball was one of the best things to light up a room. Its powered by 3 AG-13 batteries. What I noticed is that the light radiates in all directions from the ball so it tend to light up the whole room.
I got it at American Science and Surplus http://www.sciplus.com/
Ric
We also play catch with it. They are very durable and take quite a bit of abuse.
I got it at American Science and Surplus http://www.sciplus.com/
Ric
We also play catch with it. They are very durable and take quite a bit of abuse.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2005
- Messages
- 1,806
Kero lanterns will smoke and sputter when parafin based lamp oil is used in them. Most people see lamp oil for sale at Walmart and grab the paraffin based in error. Paraffin based is used for round wick lanterns and will not draw properly into a flat wick lantern.
Change the wick, use true lamp oil or white kero (do not use the tined type) and it will work flawlessly for hours.
FYI.. The best stuff to use, which is tough to find, is synthetic kero, which goes by the name Kleen Heat.
One last note, but a quality lantern, ie Dietz. Search on W. T. Kirkman and they will do you right.
Change the wick, use true lamp oil or white kero (do not use the tined type) and it will work flawlessly for hours.
FYI.. The best stuff to use, which is tough to find, is synthetic kero, which goes by the name Kleen Heat.
One last note, but a quality lantern, ie Dietz. Search on W. T. Kirkman and they will do you right.
Thanks to everyone for the help! I will try trimming and adjusting th wick, as well as new fuel. The kerosene I was using was on close out several years ago, and probably bad.
If I adjust the wick way down, is there any danger of dropping it all the way and having an explosion/big fire? I've never used one of these before, and was a little concerned about that.
If I adjust the wick way down, is there any danger of dropping it all the way and having an explosion/big fire? I've never used one of these before, and was a little concerned about that.
Blue Sky
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2002
- Messages
- 3,487
Drop it too low and it will just go out. REALLY low and it will drop into the tank! But you won't go that low of course.
Kerosene is not explosive, so even if it did drop into the tank with an ember left, I think it would just snuff itself out.
Here's a good link to lamp info:
http://www.lanternnet.com/faqs.htm
Kerosene is not explosive, so even if it did drop into the tank with an ember left, I think it would just snuff itself out.Here's a good link to lamp info:
http://www.lanternnet.com/faqs.htm
Highly unlikely that a fire will start from the wick being turned down so far as to drop into the reservoir.
Most lamps are made so that the action of turning down the wick extinguishes the flame.
The greatest danger from kerosene lamps is dropping it and spilling fuel onto other flammable objects, or hanging or standing the lamp close to flammable material. Don't leave a lighted lamp unattended and never, ever use a kero lamp inside a tent.
With common sense and a little care, kero lamps are very safe.
Most lamps are made so that the action of turning down the wick extinguishes the flame.
The greatest danger from kerosene lamps is dropping it and spilling fuel onto other flammable objects, or hanging or standing the lamp close to flammable material. Don't leave a lighted lamp unattended and never, ever use a kero lamp inside a tent.
With common sense and a little care, kero lamps are very safe.
+2 on Dietz. I have Dad's old Blue from the sixties. I've compared it mentally to really old railroad lamps at flea markets here and it looks a bit cheap, it's slightly smaller and not galvanized. Might have something to do with fitting the big colored lenses, and the severe duty.
IIRC they are still available in some markets - largely now internet - that cater to hand tools and remote living, where kerosene is still common. Since the die down of the kerosene heater market from the '80's it's getting uncommon again.
IIRC they are still available in some markets - largely now internet - that cater to hand tools and remote living, where kerosene is still common. Since the die down of the kerosene heater market from the '80's it's getting uncommon again.