For a long time I've been making due with these Wal-Mart lanterns for emergency lighting options. They've done alright, until yesterday when I looked inside and discovered a sizable portion is covered in rust, I assume from the oil sitting in it. That means its only a matter of time before the bottom falls out. In light of this it's time to graduate to a Dietz lantern to replace them, since they'll -likely- have a better grade of steel, and be less prone to rusting.
The only problem is that I don't know which model to pick up. The different models I'm looking at all have advantages and disadvantages compared to one another.
The #80 Blizzard and #90 D-Lite are both ahead by having 31 ounce fuel tanks, and using 7/8" wicks for wide surface area, which means a wide flame, and enhanced light output. They're behind by requiring a lot of fuel, making them expensive to top off, and it has to be special oil that'll wick up such a wide, flat wick.
The #1 Little Wizard is ahead by having a 36 ounce fuel tank, and a 5/8" oil wick, for a long burn time, and less finicky about fuel as the narrower wick allows for better capillary action. It's behind by the wick having a reduced surface area, and thus reduced light output in comparison.
The #20 Junior overall isn't particularly bad or good. Holds about a half pound of fuel, so filling it up isn't particularly expensive, and again it has the 5/8" wick, so fuel sensitivity isn't a huge concern. Although the #30 Little Wizard is ahead of the Junior by holding about twice as much fuel, without a significant increase in size.
Those are the primary lanterns I'm looking at. I'm sure I'd be served well by any one of them, or even a couple of them, but I just don't know which one I should get, when all of them are going to serve the same purpose; indoor lighting in the event of a power outage, possibly for hours at a time.
The only problem is that I don't know which model to pick up. The different models I'm looking at all have advantages and disadvantages compared to one another.
The #80 Blizzard and #90 D-Lite are both ahead by having 31 ounce fuel tanks, and using 7/8" wicks for wide surface area, which means a wide flame, and enhanced light output. They're behind by requiring a lot of fuel, making them expensive to top off, and it has to be special oil that'll wick up such a wide, flat wick.
The #1 Little Wizard is ahead by having a 36 ounce fuel tank, and a 5/8" oil wick, for a long burn time, and less finicky about fuel as the narrower wick allows for better capillary action. It's behind by the wick having a reduced surface area, and thus reduced light output in comparison.
The #20 Junior overall isn't particularly bad or good. Holds about a half pound of fuel, so filling it up isn't particularly expensive, and again it has the 5/8" wick, so fuel sensitivity isn't a huge concern. Although the #30 Little Wizard is ahead of the Junior by holding about twice as much fuel, without a significant increase in size.
Those are the primary lanterns I'm looking at. I'm sure I'd be served well by any one of them, or even a couple of them, but I just don't know which one I should get, when all of them are going to serve the same purpose; indoor lighting in the event of a power outage, possibly for hours at a time.
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