Recommended Prepper Gear and Resources: Tabletop Oil Lamps: amzn.to/3W56WNW (affiliate link) Dietz Air Pilot Hurricane Lantern: amzn.to/3WdkbfB (affiliate link) Dietz 76 Hurricane Lantern: amzn.to/3W5zBT6 (affiliate link) Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern: amzn.to/43fJ6Sf (affiliate link) Light of Mine Cotton Wick Rolls: amzn.to/44ZrXxJ (affiliate link) Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm: amzn.to/3OaF2OE (affiliate link) Battery-Operated Smoke Alarm: amzn.to/45ehDCa (affiliate link) Fire Extinguisher: amzn.to/431WwB7 (affiliate link) Battery-Operated LED Lantern: amzn.to/3BLodCJ (affiliate link) Rechargeable Batteries: amzn.to/41BLnpy (affiliate link) Ecoflow River 2 Pro: us.ecoflow.com/products/river-2-pro-portable-power-station?aff=136 (affiliate link) EcoFlow Amazon: amzn.to/3ZfOCBL (affiliate link) Encyclopedia of Country Living: amzn.to/41TnKZP (affiliate link) Foxfire Book Series: amzn.to/3MDmAgF (affiliate link) How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: amzn.to/3IcDRdS (affiliate link) This channel is owned and operated by DIY Prepper. DIYPrepper.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This channel also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
5 years living mostly off grid and using oil lamps and lanterns regularly. The cheapest and most reliable fuel I use is on road diesel fuel. The wicks carbon up faster, but I found adding some clean K-1 to the diesel to cure the problem. I use about 10% clean K-1 to 90% diesel. The Aladdin lamps he mentioned are amazing, but stick to 100% clean K-1 in those. They are fuel hungry, but if you need to cook, read a book, or anything else, these are amazing. They run hot and will burn anything within 3-4 feet above the chimney! I second the older products to be favored. They do seem more robust. In a lot of cases, wicks, burners, galleries, mantles, globes, and chimneys are available in aftermarket parts. Antique shops, Facebook market place, and lawn and garage sales yield some good finds once you get a grasp on prices and what you are looking for.
Lived 2.5 years in off grid cabin with only oil lamps, wood cook stove, gas water heater and gas camper refrigerator. Pumped water from the creek. Oil lamps, no problem.
I’ve been buying used glass oil lamps in hardly used condition for the past 15 years. Not only are they good to have for emergency lighting, but, the old ones are ornate and make great accent pieces. Love this vid, JR. Great topic. 👍
Hey, keep up the good work. A common misconception is the hurricane lantern. It's actually called a "Tubular Lantern. Invented by John Irwin in 1871. Tubular lanterns can burn different types of fuel. However, switching from one type of fuel to another will cause the wick to actually clog. It's best to stay with one type, I recommend paraffin oil. Always trim the wick in an arched manner, never flat. Most people turn the wick up as high as possible. This is wrong. Mostly, the wick burns best when no smoke is observed. Turned to high it will smoke and soot the globe. Never use anything other than woven type wicks. Another misconception is that a fire will occur when the lantern tips over. Not true. When tipped the tubular lantern will quickly extinguish itself. And also, tubular lanterns are NOT wind proof. They are wind resistant. Two types of tubular lanterns exist. Hot blast lanterns recirculate most of the air already used. Cold blast lanterns allow mostly cool outside air to enter the burner. This results in a brighter flame. Hope this helps.
That isn't always the case with the light and fires. I had one that the flame started going down the wick into the oil. I had to rush it outside as it became very dangerous
In 1959, the City of Los Angeles got rid of kerosene lanterns and started using battery operated flashers to mark construction areas. My dad got a few of them with red globes, almost brand new. He put kerosene in them, lit them, and joked that they were not worth the trouble. They went into a storage area in the garage attic for decades. He passed away in 2002. The lanterns stayed in the hot attic until I found them again around 2015. The one font was half full of very orange looking kerosene. I shook it around and lit the wick. It lit and the lantern functioned after 56 years in storage. I think the wick was turned down so low that not much kerosene evaporated. I left it as found and started my lantern collection and marked that special lantern with a tag so its easily identifiable. I have over a hundred kerosene lanterns and table lamps, a few Alladins, and a few pressure lanterns and will start using them on the deck in evenings as the weather gets nicer. Diesel fuel burns well in these and stinks less than kerosene. Olive oil belongs on salads. Never mix fuel types as some turn to gel. Forget about soaking a new wick. Take the burner out, install the new wick, then crank it all the way out. dip it in the font, crank the wick back in, then install the burner and the globe. The new wick is ready to burn in 30 seconds. Older Dietz lanterns pre 1956 have the date of build and which facility made it stamped on one of the air tubes. I have the whole series of Dietz D-Lites from 1909 to 1960. They sent everything to China in 1957. The same D-Lite globe will work on Embury #2 Art Deco style lanterns made in the 1930's. The Embury units have a great look to them and using something historical has an appeal to me. Kerosene lanterns are all 100% EMP proof and will survive HUGE solar flares as well.
I have quite a few oil lamps and have used them during power outages in the past. I've always made sure I had a gallon of lamp oil on hand, but your video reminded me that a gallon of lamp oil wouldn't last for long in a long term outage. I just ordered several gallons so I have a decent supply. Thanks JR, you're doing a great service for your subscribers. BTW, I'm sitting here drinking my coffee from a "I prepped today", mug. My Wife really got a laugh when I first got it.
We were without power for 10 days once (2002?). We made it with battery lanterns. I think I still have two oil lamps. I will look in the garage. I do have a kerosene lantern and some fuel. I also have a Coleman propane gas lantern left over from camping days. We hope and pray for no more long term outages.
I was looking at lanterns online this past week. I got overwhelmed by all the choices and stopped. Now I feel better informed and know I'll be able to make a better choice.
I really love my hurricane/railroad/emergency lanterns! They are right in the middle of my lighting preps, between candles and open flames, white gas lanterns and LED lanterns. I hope I have my options covered! Stay well, JR!
It used to be common practice (it may still be in some places) to put a Hurricane Lantern, set at a very low light level, in outside toilets, in the middle of winter, to stop the water in the toilet from freezing.
I read somewhere that when you get new wicks it's recommended you soak them in vinegar 3 days, dry them, then they're ready to use. I do that and once they're dry i cut them to about 7 inches long and place them in the oil in the lantern. That way when one wick is done theres another prepped and ready to. (And i dont forget where i put them 😉)
Uco candle lanterns are good because the candles are enclosed. The uco candles are pricey but there are tutorials on youtube to make your own. Two sizes 1 holding one candle the other 3. There is a spring mechanism that feeds the candle up as it burns. I also make sure I have extra wicks and at least one extra globe. The dietz lamps are nice because the glass is tempered so the can be used outside in inclement weather. Also, if you have portable mirrors with stands you can put them a bit behind your light source to reflect and cast the light more. Just be careful and make sure everything is secure so you dont knock your lamp over or get the mirror too close and start a fire. I've worked on this quite a bit 😁
Carbon felt works very well for wicks. The actual wick no longer burns and can be infinite. The material is usually sold in sheets as welding blankets so you cut whatever sized wick you need from the sheet.
Good presentation though I disagree that lighting will be one of the major things you will miss. We raised 6 kids on a ranch way up in the Rockies of Colorado before solar & wind power was even a thing. What I missed most was refrigeration. We did have a propane tank which enabled us to have a kitchen range & a gas water heater. It was a happy day when we got the water heater! We had a wood stove for heat & also did a lot of cooking on it. Very rough living but I look back on it as some of my happiest times.
During the first year of war in Ukraine, we had long lasting blackouts. So when I was returning home from office I used an old USSR oil lamp for light. I have to admit that walking in dark city with oil lamp is something.
For using olive/vegetable oil in the lamp, you can improve the wicking by thinning out the oil with a thinner oil as long as they are both safe to burn and they are miscible to each other (they dissolve each other and don't separate, oil and water is the opposite of this). I have also used used cooking oil (mostly olive and bacon grease with some beef fat that rendered out while cooking) with a candle wick in a soup can as a candle that burned for days and it produced no noticeable odor. I was more focused on getting rid of the spent grease than using it for lighting or heat. Light wise it was pretty poor due to the metal can but it probably produced about as much heat as those 100hr oil candles.
Another great video. I myself have been buying mirrors at yard sales these past 2 weekends. My basement has a window, and as an experiment, I was able to reflect the sun light with the mirrors to light up the basement. To an extent of course. But it was fun and helpful. Helped me to think and come up with new ideas. Plus I just got some glow sticks that recharge in sunlight.
Thank you J.R. - I have a box of lamp oil bottles I’ve been keeping in an outside store, which I’m going to be checking to make sure they’ve not turned to gloop before bringing inside! I had no idea that could happen, and I’ve kept the box sealed, so I wouldn’t even notice it happening.
Growing up we had a glass kerosene lamp on top of the "fridge for like, forever. If the power went out, Dad would take it down, dust it off, and light it up.
I live in Australia, and there is a company in Queensland that sells lamp oil online and I have just ordered some to try. Because I found even the low odour clear kerosene gave off a smell indoors.
I have several different types of lanterns, but I've been including yard solar lights lately. Bring them outside to charge up, and inside for safe and odorless brightness without a flame. I even have a few with usb power. Thanks for sharing. Liked and subbed!👍✌️
I have a very old lamp with an incandescent mantle and a number of table lamps that I use from time to time just because I like the light. I also have a few hurricane lamps that I burn citronella oil in out in the garden, it keeps the bugs away. All were left to us from my late wife's grandparents who lived out in the sticks where power was frequently lost (it was only put in in the 50's) so they kept all the "old technology" JIC. I also used the hurricane lamps when I was still camping under canvas, I recently found a tiny table lamp to use in my caravan to defeat the bugs!
Great video! I have many, many hurricane lamps and antique oil lamps my family used, and my husband collected. I've been able to find extra wicks for those that are still safe and functional, but it's nearly impossible to find the lamp oil in my area. I'm scared to use kerosene. Luckily, I've also bought a number of solar lights and lamps, as well as battery operated ones. Thank you for your educational and informative videos, JR. You know I'm a fan!
My parents didn't take care of these old lanterns. Thank you for the intel so I can confidently pick up replacements. My grandmother had designated mirrors by where her lamps would sit.
I can't believe you have a link to the Foxfire book collection. I used to read those as a child and thought it would be the coolest thing ever to be living off the grid my cabin somewhere
Be careful with mirrors around these lanterns. Yes you maybe getting a better spread of the light but you are also reflecting heat back into the lantern ,possibly surpassing it's capabilities to handle the heat.
A local petrol station (you'd call it a gas station) used to have a Paraffin dispenser, which looked kinda like a petrol pump, but had a 1 gallon glass cylinder in it, which filled up with paraffin, when you put your money in the slot. You placed your can (we had a metal can that was the same as a Castrol GTX can, but painted red) in a space with a spout, under the glass cylinder, and pulled a hendle, which released the paraffin into the can.
Okay here's a nugget of info most may not know. WM only has certain products. Like lamp oil. For a reason. They don't make money on selling lamp oil, guns, ammo. And several other "hunting, sporting products" They do however make large profits on gear and apparel. So some products are just placed seasonally to draw people in. Because most people buy other related products. and that's why you see certain things. Appear on the shelves in limited quantity. Your welcome. 😁🥃👍
A few years back my electricity went out for about a week. I had oil lamps and candles,including propane tanks. I also had flashlights and battery powered lamps. Believe me, when you are in real darkness, those small lamps and candles give off a bunch of light.those things were great! Thanks for the review.
When I was a kid, we only had a fire in the living room, so we had a paraffin heater in the kitchen. The smell wasn't objectionable, and when I smell burning paraffin nowadays, it takes me back to my childhood.
Make sure you get the right size wick, you want a stockpile of these as they are very cheap. You must or should trim the wick to an arrowhead like configuration. This will give you much more light and make the lantern more efficient. I hope this helps. God bless and good luck everyone.
*I buy bulk kerosene and oil. Outdoors, shop + barn I use 100% Kero. Indoors: Bedroom + Bathroom 100% oil for light 50/50 mix for perfection heater (when needed). Living room, dining room, kitchen 70% kero 30% oil mix. Wood heat. No issues off grid Vermont. Lamps, ORIGINAL DIETZ, Old Plume &Atwood magnet kero lamps, some swivel bras ships lamps.*
For my candles i buy at thrift stores large glass globes open at both ends somewhat like a glass chimeny oil lamp globes. They are large openings both ends this keeps cat tails and whiskers and most everything else out of the flames and wind from blowing the flame around. I paid like a dollar a piece at thrifts stores!!!! Amazon calls them a hurricane globe/ sleeve like 4" by 8" tall and wider.
I would note that there are 2 types of "hurricane lanterns" hot blast and cold blast. Hot blast are usually more efficient than the cold blast because they recycle the air and fumes. They are, however less capable of light output. It just depends on what you need in a lantern.
Something I've been working on lately is to try to figure out a way to use every heat producing light source that i have to cook or keep food warm. For example: if you're going to burn a candle for light then figure out a way to put a pot above it
G'day JR great video mate it was kind of like a history trip seeing these old style lanterns. I have 2 of them out in my shed but one has a leak so I keep it for spares I also just use kerosene in them but after seeing this I may look for some alternatives.
agree. enclosed hurrican lamps are the most universal. althoug candles are cheaper and quicker.. after lighting a candle, u can go find the lantern u lost in the garage..lol . plus they provide an exclosed heat that u can use to keep water warm for those winter nights.. coffee etc..
I've used oil lamps and latens for years in my daily life. I have found that they cause more breathing problems and I don't use them anymore. I do use candles in the winter for both light and heat, however I make sure to use the ones with good glass jar and heavy bottoms. In the summer I use more solar. I use solar in the winter also. You need to make sure you have ventilation with any of the lights that use fuel and beware that the fire that can happen with them can be much worse as the fuel can explode
Can you do a video on how to prep when you have pets? How to bug out with them or just how to be sure they are taking care of during a bug in situation
I love these lanterns. Ancient style olive oil lamps and wicks are good to have in case you can get olive oil but not kerosene, paraffin oil They can also be made of local clay. Diy vids are on UA-cam. Extra flat and round wicks are good to have. The diy Black Betty Bam o Lamps are cheap and easy to make too. Carbon monoxide detectors for safety
The wider the wick, the more fuel you will use. The Feuerhand German lantern is the most fuel efficient with the best mantle glass you can buy. we have found the lantern to be Goldilocks.
I’ve hear from multiple people and see my self they if you keep kerosene in a good place that didn’t fluctuate in temp that much it can last for way longer along with white gas. Also you can buy fat lamps or even make them. They are smokey and smell but it’s better than nothing. I have multiple forms of lighting and know more ways to make light. My best advice is to start modern and devolve in your preps you will find all sorts of alternative methods not just lighting
I did build a lamp that can burn vegetable oil, I installed the wick on a float, which brings the flame closer to the oil and ensures that it works with the thick oil ( video is on my channel )
you can use strips from old blinds for the wick. in europe these bands were always made of cotton,the width and thickness are very similar to the original wicks-unfortunately the newer tapes for blinds are synthetic
I have Aladin lamps and stored kerosene for emergencies. The kerosene does not smell too bad if you start it outside and more importantly let it burn out outside. Kerosene will store practically forever and is much safer than gasoline. The Aladin is said to produce 3,000 BTU of heat so might mean survival if used in a small space during a power outage.
Hey JR, great content! I was hoping you would tell us how much of the wick should be in the fuel end of the lamp? Is there a rule according to size or burn time? Thanks and have a great one😊
Hi Tamara! I'm not sure if there's a rule for that. I just try to get the wick long enough to touch the bottom of the fount. How far the wick extends above the burner is way more important. If it starts smoking, turn it down.
Oil lamps are MUCH cheaper to run than candles. One tip is to use cosmos style lamps or Aladdin lamps (if you can afford it) as you can run them on cheaper kerosene since they burn more efficiently.
I work with the heavy oils alot. I have created a floating candle device that has the oil burning reaction happening right on the surface of the oil, so wicking isn't a issue.
@@sixoffive Sorry to say floating wicks have been around since Roman times, so I don't think I'll be getting a Patent anytime soon. But the unique version of mine uses cardboard as a wick. No shortage of cardboard in this modern delivery world.
A few years ago I bought a cheap hurricane lamp from my local big box store, and the oil quickly leaked out. I was wondering if it could be safely soldered to make it hold lamp oil?
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Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern: amzn.to/43fJ6Sf (affiliate link)
Light of Mine Cotton Wick Rolls: amzn.to/44ZrXxJ (affiliate link)
Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm: amzn.to/3OaF2OE (affiliate link)
Battery-Operated Smoke Alarm: amzn.to/45ehDCa (affiliate link)
Fire Extinguisher: amzn.to/431WwB7 (affiliate link)
Battery-Operated LED Lantern: amzn.to/3BLodCJ (affiliate link)
Rechargeable Batteries: amzn.to/41BLnpy (affiliate link)
Ecoflow River 2 Pro: us.ecoflow.com/products/river-2-pro-portable-power-station?aff=136 (affiliate link)
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Encyclopedia of Country Living: amzn.to/41TnKZP (affiliate link)
Foxfire Book Series: amzn.to/3MDmAgF (affiliate link)
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Please keep in mind fumes from these lamps can end the life of some pets
Growing up in florida, I can still smell hurricane lamp oil indoors with no electricity, playing cards.
5 years living mostly off grid and using oil lamps and lanterns regularly. The cheapest and most reliable fuel I use is on road diesel fuel. The wicks carbon up faster, but I found adding some clean K-1 to the diesel to cure the problem. I use about 10% clean K-1 to 90% diesel.
The Aladdin lamps he mentioned are amazing, but stick to 100% clean K-1 in those. They are fuel hungry, but if you need to cook, read a book, or anything else, these are amazing. They run hot and will burn anything within 3-4 feet above the chimney!
I second the older products to be favored. They do seem more robust. In a lot of cases, wicks, burners, galleries, mantles, globes, and chimneys are available in aftermarket parts. Antique shops, Facebook market place, and lawn and garage sales yield some good finds once you get a grasp on prices and what you are looking for.
Lived 2.5 years in off grid cabin with only oil lamps, wood cook stove, gas water heater and gas camper refrigerator. Pumped water from the creek. Oil lamps, no problem.
Did you use feuerhand?
I grow brain 🧠 cells watching this guy
Thanks for watching!
I pooped before watching thissss
@@jamisonbernhardt3310 I'm pooping while reading this
@@surgesurge6302 excellent. I'd like you to be in my prepper group.
@@jamisonbernhardt3310 sounds good man thanks 👍
I’ve been buying used glass oil lamps in hardly used condition for the past 15 years. Not only are they good to have for emergency lighting, but, the old ones are ornate and make great accent pieces. Love this vid, JR. Great topic. 👍
Thank you!
Hey, keep up the good work. A common misconception is the hurricane lantern. It's actually called a "Tubular Lantern. Invented by John Irwin in 1871. Tubular lanterns can burn different types of fuel. However, switching from one type of fuel to another will cause the wick to actually clog. It's best to stay with one type, I recommend paraffin oil. Always trim the wick in an arched manner, never flat. Most people turn the wick up as high as possible. This is wrong. Mostly, the wick burns best when no smoke is observed. Turned to high it will smoke and soot the globe. Never use anything other than woven type wicks. Another misconception is that a fire will occur when the lantern tips over. Not true. When tipped the tubular lantern will quickly extinguish itself. And also, tubular lanterns are NOT wind proof. They are wind resistant. Two types of tubular lanterns exist. Hot blast lanterns recirculate most of the air already used. Cold blast lanterns allow mostly cool outside air to enter the burner. This results in a brighter flame. Hope this helps.
Thanks for watching Curtis!
That isn't always the case with the light and fires. I had one that the flame started going down the wick into the oil. I had to rush it outside as it became very dangerous
If the latern behaved that way something was wrong either wrong fuel, blocked air tubes or the lantern was faulty or damaged....@@WorldOfWonder66
I feel a LOT MORE INFORMED about this topic after watching your thorough yet concise presentation. Thanks JR!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
I bought outside solar pathway lights...they work great inside too
In 1959, the City of Los Angeles got rid of kerosene lanterns and started using battery operated flashers to mark construction areas. My dad got a few of them with red globes, almost brand new. He put kerosene in them, lit them, and joked that they were not worth the trouble. They went into a storage area in the garage attic for decades. He passed away in 2002. The lanterns stayed in the hot attic until I found them again around 2015. The one font was half full of very orange looking kerosene. I shook it around and lit the wick. It lit and the lantern functioned after 56 years in storage. I think the wick was turned down so low that not much kerosene evaporated. I left it as found and started my lantern collection and marked that special lantern with a tag so its easily identifiable. I have over a hundred kerosene lanterns and table lamps, a few Alladins, and a few pressure lanterns and will start using them on the deck in evenings as the weather gets nicer.
Diesel fuel burns well in these and stinks less than kerosene. Olive oil belongs on salads. Never mix fuel types as some turn to gel. Forget about soaking a new wick. Take the burner out, install the new wick, then crank it all the way out. dip it in the font, crank the wick back in, then install the burner and the globe. The new wick is ready to burn in 30 seconds. Older Dietz lanterns pre 1956 have the date of build and which facility made it stamped on one of the air tubes. I have the whole series of Dietz D-Lites from 1909 to 1960. They sent everything to China in 1957. The same D-Lite globe will work on Embury #2 Art Deco style lanterns made in the 1930's. The Embury units have a great look to them and using something historical has an appeal to me.
Kerosene lanterns are all 100% EMP proof and will survive HUGE solar flares as well.
Awesome..
@@m998hmmwv7 And they burn Hummer fuel, too.
I have oil lamps in every room. I love them.
I have quite a few oil lamps and have used them during power outages in the past. I've always made sure I had a gallon of lamp oil on hand, but your video reminded me that a gallon of lamp oil wouldn't last for long in a long term outage. I just ordered several gallons so I have a decent supply. Thanks JR, you're doing a great service for your subscribers. BTW, I'm sitting here drinking my coffee from a "I prepped today", mug. My Wife really got a laugh when I first got it.
Thank you! That’s awesome! Lol
We were without power for 10 days once (2002?). We made it with battery lanterns. I think I still have two oil lamps. I will look in the garage. I do have a kerosene lantern and some fuel. I also have a Coleman propane gas lantern left over from camping days. We hope and pray for no more long term outages.
I was looking at lanterns online this past week. I got overwhelmed by all the choices and stopped. Now I feel better informed and know I'll be able to make a better choice.
You always have the best content, JR! Thank you for keeping us on our toes. Gardening season now! BEST wishes to you and yours!
Thank you Karl!
I really love my hurricane/railroad/emergency lanterns! They are right in the middle of my lighting preps, between candles and open flames, white gas lanterns and LED lanterns. I hope I have my options covered! Stay well, JR!
It used to be common practice (it may still be in some places) to put a Hurricane Lantern, set at a very low light level, in outside toilets, in the middle of winter, to stop the water in the toilet from freezing.
@@MichaelTheophilus906 The water in the cistern and bowl.
I read somewhere that when you get new wicks it's recommended you soak them in vinegar 3 days, dry them, then they're ready to use. I do that and once they're dry i cut them to about 7 inches long and place them in the oil in the lantern. That way when one wick is done theres another prepped and ready to. (And i dont forget where i put them 😉)
Great video! The information you provided is very helpful for someone like me who knows very little about old school oil lamps. Thank you for posting!
Thank you Tom! I’m glad it helped!
I have used these lamps for 40 years and I believe you covered everythng very well. Excellent video.
Thank you!
Uco candle lanterns are good because the candles are enclosed. The uco candles are pricey but there are tutorials on youtube to make your own. Two sizes 1 holding one candle the other 3. There is a spring mechanism that feeds the candle up as it burns.
I also make sure I have extra wicks and at least one extra globe. The dietz lamps are nice because the glass is tempered so the can be used outside in inclement weather. Also, if you have portable mirrors with stands you can put them a bit behind your light source to reflect and cast the light more. Just be careful and make sure everything is secure so you dont knock your lamp over or get the mirror too close and start a fire. I've worked on this quite a bit 😁
Need some more of these
Carbon felt works very well for wicks. The actual wick no longer burns and can be infinite. The material is usually sold in sheets as welding blankets so you cut whatever sized wick you need from the sheet.
I've always liked W.T. Kirkman for lanterns and repair parts.
Thanks Jr. As always i enjoy your videos
Thank you Nick!
Good presentation though I disagree that lighting will be one of the major things you will miss. We raised 6 kids on a ranch way up in the Rockies of Colorado before solar & wind power was even a thing. What I missed most was refrigeration. We did have a propane tank which enabled us to have a kitchen range & a gas water heater. It was a happy day when we got the water heater! We had a wood stove for heat & also did a lot of cooking on it. Very rough living but I look back on it as some of my happiest times.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome information!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!❤
Thanks for watching and commenting!
You have answered many of my questions. Love your videos! Thank you!
Thank you Pat!
During the first year of war in Ukraine, we had long lasting blackouts. So when I was returning home from office I used an old USSR oil lamp for light. I have to admit that walking in dark city with oil lamp is something.
Use mirrors to up the lumes and direct the light
For using olive/vegetable oil in the lamp, you can improve the wicking by thinning out the oil with a thinner oil as long as they are both safe to burn and they are miscible to each other (they dissolve each other and don't separate, oil and water is the opposite of this). I have also used used cooking oil (mostly olive and bacon grease with some beef fat that rendered out while cooking) with a candle wick in a soup can as a candle that burned for days and it produced no noticeable odor. I was more focused on getting rid of the spent grease than using it for lighting or heat. Light wise it was pretty poor due to the metal can but it probably produced about as much heat as those 100hr oil candles.
Another great video. I myself have been buying mirrors at yard sales these past 2 weekends. My basement has a window, and as an experiment, I was able to reflect the sun light with the mirrors to light up the basement. To an extent of course. But it was fun and helpful. Helped me to think and come up with new ideas. Plus I just got some glow sticks that recharge in sunlight.
Thank you J.R. - I have a box of lamp oil bottles I’ve been keeping in an outside store, which I’m going to be checking to make sure they’ve not turned to gloop before bringing inside! I had no idea that could happen, and I’ve kept the box sealed, so I wouldn’t even notice it happening.
I learned so much from you. I wish I could see more, but I understand life is busy.
Growing up we had a glass kerosene lamp on top of the "fridge for like, forever.
If the power went out, Dad would take it down, dust it off, and light it up.
I live in Australia, and there is a company in Queensland that sells lamp oil online and I have just ordered some to try. Because I found even the low odour clear kerosene gave off a smell indoors.
G'day David Clarke can you give me this companies website please, cheers mate.
@rodney middleton UA-cam won't let me put there web address. But they are called "Queensland lamp oil supplies".
@@davidclarke6658 Cheers mate
Nice info, thank you!
I have several different types of lanterns, but I've been including yard solar lights lately.
Bring them outside to charge up, and inside for safe and odorless brightness without a flame.
I even have a few with usb power.
Thanks for sharing.
Liked and subbed!👍✌️
Hey, JR! Glad to see you!
Hi Richard! Thanks for watching!
I have a very old lamp with an incandescent mantle and a number of table lamps that I use from time to time just because I like the light. I also have a few hurricane lamps that I burn citronella oil in out in the garden, it keeps the bugs away. All were left to us from my late wife's grandparents who lived out in the sticks where power was frequently lost (it was only put in in the 50's) so they kept all the "old technology" JIC. I also used the hurricane lamps when I was still camping under canvas, I recently found a tiny table lamp to use in my caravan to defeat the bugs!
Thanks for watching and commenting Gary!
Great video! I have many, many hurricane lamps and antique oil lamps my family used, and my husband collected. I've been able to find extra wicks for those that are still safe and functional, but it's nearly impossible to find the lamp oil in my area. I'm scared to use kerosene. Luckily, I've also bought a number of solar lights and lamps, as well as battery operated ones. Thank you for your educational and informative videos, JR. You know I'm a fan!
Thank you Millie!
That was awesome. Right to the point. Thank you
Thank you.
My parents didn't take care of these old lanterns. Thank you for the intel so I can confidently pick up replacements. My grandmother had designated mirrors by where her lamps would sit.
Didn't know that about trimming the wick to a point. Thanks. I learned something new!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great information
Thank you!
Cool video thanks.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Wow! First timer! You Are So Smart!!!!!!!!
Thank you Mary!
We use Feuerhand lanterns, and the Dietz #8 Air Pilot Oil Burning Lantern. Both are outstanding.
Good lanterns beautiful
I can't believe you have a link to the Foxfire book collection. I used to read those as a child and thought it would be the coolest thing ever to be living off the grid my cabin somewhere
I put mirrors behind my mounted lanterns
Smaaaaart
Be careful with mirrors around these lanterns. Yes you maybe getting a better spread of the light but you are also reflecting heat back into the lantern ,possibly surpassing it's capabilities to handle the heat.
Very informative 👏
A local petrol station (you'd call it a gas station) used to have a Paraffin dispenser, which looked kinda like a petrol pump, but had a 1 gallon glass cylinder in it, which filled up with paraffin, when you put your money in the slot.
You placed your can (we had a metal can that was the same as a Castrol GTX can, but painted red) in a space with a spout, under the glass cylinder, and pulled a hendle, which released the paraffin into the can.
Great video and great information
Okay here's a nugget of info most may not know. WM only has certain products. Like lamp oil. For a reason. They don't make money on selling lamp oil, guns, ammo. And several other "hunting, sporting products" They do however make large profits on gear and apparel. So some products are just placed seasonally to draw people in. Because most people buy other related products. and that's why you see certain things. Appear on the shelves in limited quantity. Your welcome. 😁🥃👍
thanks for all the great videos
Thank you!
A few years back my electricity went out for about a week. I had oil lamps and candles,including propane tanks. I also had flashlights and battery powered lamps. Believe me, when you are in real darkness, those small lamps and candles give off a bunch of light.those things were great! Thanks for the review.
When I was a kid, we only had a fire in the living room, so we had a paraffin heater in the kitchen.
The smell wasn't objectionable, and when I smell burning paraffin nowadays, it takes me back to my childhood.
Make sure you get the right size wick, you want a stockpile of these as they are very cheap. You must or should trim the wick to an arrowhead like configuration. This will give you much more light and make the lantern more efficient. I hope this helps. God bless and good luck everyone.
Flame based lamps have a more healthy spectrum than modern LEDs.
Also good to have simple lamps that can burn goose oil or other animal fats.
Just scored my second oil lamp. The first one needs cleaning and new wic. But its always great to have multiple backups.
Keep plenty of oil, spare wicks and spare glass. I keep My oil lamp in a coffee can of sand for stability.
Feurhans lanterns, worth every penny.
Well Said...THANK YOU!!!
Awesome vid! Thx!
Great subject and I'm smarter today cause of it.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Lots of good info!
Thank you!
*I buy bulk kerosene and oil. Outdoors, shop + barn I use 100% Kero. Indoors: Bedroom + Bathroom 100% oil for light 50/50 mix for perfection heater (when needed). Living room, dining room, kitchen 70% kero 30% oil mix. Wood heat. No issues off grid Vermont. Lamps, ORIGINAL DIETZ, Old Plume &Atwood magnet kero lamps, some swivel bras ships lamps.*
Thank you JR you tout me how to take care of my wick in how you cut it tj
Olive oile can burn with just a lose cotton wick and if you add salt to the flame it will burn brighter (the ancient Egyptians did that).
Really through. I knew nothing about this 14 minutes ago. Thank you
You’re welcome Betsy! Glad I could help!
For my candles i buy at thrift stores large glass globes open at both ends somewhat like a glass chimeny oil lamp globes. They are large openings both ends this keeps cat tails and whiskers and most everything else out of the flames and wind from blowing the flame around. I paid like a dollar a piece at thrifts stores!!!! Amazon calls them a hurricane globe/ sleeve like 4" by 8" tall and wider.
😊thanks
I would note that there are 2 types of "hurricane lanterns" hot blast and cold blast. Hot blast are usually more efficient than the cold blast because they recycle the air and fumes. They are, however less capable of light output. It just depends on what you need in a lantern.
Something I've been working on lately is to try to figure out a way to use every heat producing light source that i have to cook or keep food warm. For example: if you're going to burn a candle for light then figure out a way to put a pot above it
There is a kerosene lantern that has a flat top that will hold a small pot for cooking. Have one, but haven't used it yet.
G'day JR great video mate it was kind of like a history trip seeing these old style lanterns. I have 2 of them out in my shed but one has a leak so I keep it for spares I also just use kerosene in them but after seeing this I may look for some alternatives.
Thanks for watching Rodney!
agree. enclosed hurrican lamps are the most universal. althoug candles are cheaper and quicker.. after lighting a candle, u can go find the lantern u lost in the garage..lol . plus they provide an exclosed heat that u can use to keep water warm for those winter nights.. coffee etc..
I've used oil lamps and latens for years in my daily life. I have found that they cause more breathing problems and I don't use them anymore. I do use candles in the winter for both light and heat, however I make sure to use the ones with good glass jar and heavy bottoms. In the summer I use more solar. I use solar in the winter also. You need to make sure you have ventilation with any of the lights that use fuel and beware that the fire that can happen with them can be much worse as the fuel can explode
Can you do a video on how to prep when you have pets? How to bug out with them or just how to be sure they are taking care of during a bug in situation
I love these lanterns. Ancient style olive oil lamps and wicks are good to have in case you can get olive oil but not kerosene, paraffin oil They can also be made of local clay. Diy vids are on UA-cam. Extra flat and round wicks are good to have. The diy Black Betty Bam o Lamps are cheap and easy to make too. Carbon monoxide detectors for safety
The wider the wick, the more fuel you will use. The Feuerhand German lantern is the most fuel efficient with the best mantle glass you can buy. we have found the lantern to be Goldilocks.
I’ve hear from multiple people and see my self they if you keep kerosene in a good place that didn’t fluctuate in temp that much it can last for way longer along with white gas. Also you can buy fat lamps or even make them. They are smokey and smell but it’s better than nothing. I have multiple forms of lighting and know more ways to make light. My best advice is to start modern and devolve in your preps you will find all sorts of alternative methods not just lighting
Agree! I have some kerosene that is 20+ years old that has been stored in a cool dry place and it is good as new.
I did build a lamp that can burn vegetable oil, I installed the wick on a float, which brings the flame closer to the oil and ensures that it works with the thick oil ( video is on my channel )
you can use strips from old blinds for the wick. in europe these bands were always made of cotton,the width and thickness are very similar to the original wicks-unfortunately the newer tapes for blinds are synthetic
Buying a oil lamp
I have Aladin lamps and stored kerosene for emergencies. The kerosene does not smell too bad if you start it outside and more importantly let it burn out outside. Kerosene will store practically forever and is much safer than gasoline. The Aladin is said to produce 3,000 BTU of heat so might mean survival if used in a small space during a power outage.
Had 7 gave 4 to my two kids when they got their first homes Buying 3 more.
Most of the cold blast lantern designs are self extinguishing when tipped over.
I used to have dozens of hurricane lanterns…before my divorce. He kept them all. I need to get a new collection of lanterns.
What I miss in a power outage is my C-PAP machine. 😊
LED lights are bad on thee eyes as well, just as bad as Florescent Tube lights. Oil lamps are used nightly in my little place.
I lived many times off grid with kerosine lamps , candles and wood stove .
Hey JR, great content! I was hoping you would tell us how much of the wick should be in the fuel end of the lamp? Is there a rule according to size or burn time? Thanks and have a great one😊
Hi Tamara! I'm not sure if there's a rule for that. I just try to get the wick long enough to touch the bottom of the fount. How far the wick extends above the burner is way more important. If it starts smoking, turn it down.
@@diypreppertv thank you so much!
Oil lamps are MUCH cheaper to run than candles. One tip is to use cosmos style lamps or Aladdin lamps (if you can afford it) as you can run them on cheaper kerosene since they burn more efficiently.
I fuel them with Diesel, made for cars. Works very well, and is dirt cheap.
Gotta have fuel. I have some old fashioned Aladdin lamps just in case, because I can use cooking oil.
Lehman's has kerosene alternatives. W.T.Kirkman has all kinds of oil oil lamps and lanterns as well as parts for repairs
I work with the heavy oils alot. I have created a floating candle device that has the oil burning reaction happening right on the surface of the oil, so wicking isn't a issue.
@@sixoffive Sorry to say floating wicks have been around since Roman times, so I don't think I'll be getting a Patent anytime soon. But the unique version of mine uses cardboard as a wick. No shortage of cardboard in this modern delivery world.
A few years ago I bought a cheap hurricane lamp from my local big box store, and the oil quickly leaked out. I was wondering if it could be safely soldered to make it hold lamp oil?
Sure but is it worth the effort? That is where glass lamps excel as they don't leak if intact.
Feuerhand Outdoor Kerosene Fuel Lantern, German Made Weather Resistant Baby Special 276 Galvanized Hurricane Lamp for Camping or Patio, 10 Inches, - Dietz
#80 Blizzard Hurricane Oil Lamp Burning Lantern. My recommendations.
Mrs. O'Leary's cow would like to have a word with you..... 😉
That's dark, Brad. lol