Shopping for good kerosene lamp/ lantern for in-home use

[Rascal]

I've been shopping for a good kerosene lamp/lantern for use during power outages.

Any recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have an old one you might be able to find some at auctions or eastate sales. I also have a chinamart one that works fine too

[OldFarmer2]

Try Leaman`s.com have used them for awhile now good people.
God Bless
OldFarmer2

[harrya]

I'd suggest going to W.T. Kirkman and read their care & terminology pages. Lots of good info. One thing I've found is the fuel. You don't want Kero, it stinks. Buy good lamp oil, not scented, just plain. Works good and doesn't smoke if the wick is trimmed properly. Another thing, remember, (normally) the wider the wick, the more light produced. We have about 6 regular globe types and a couple reflector/wall types. They work good and a full lamp will work for 8+ hrs. Good luck. Check your local tractor supply place or wally world. Ordering oil online is expensive for shipping.
harrya

[tech]

Some of the most reliable and durable ones I have found are "railroad" type lanterns. Not the new, tin-foil-thick ones, but rather older ones found at flea markets and antique stores. More stable than the glass pedestal ones (but I have some of those too) and have a bail for hanging it up if necessary.

ETA: gotta do a +1 on quality fuel. Kero will have an aroma and tends to smoke up the globe/chimney much more than a quality lamp oil.

[eeyore]

Heard a lot of good stuff about these lanterns. I have several cheap ones and some moderate ones, but none that i was planning for full time use.

http://www.survivalpro.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=46

I will change up, if and when i store more kerosene, right now, my supply is mainly to run heaters.

[claymore]

Amen ! kerosene stinks. We burn lamp oil in our glass lamps( bought from the local hardware ) when the pwr goes out. 1 qt. of liq. parafin is $8.99 versus a two qt bottle of lamp oil for $7.49 (prices are a few years back). If you use a lantern (outdoors ?) then I would use kerosene, ($4.??) a gal. It might stink too much if you bring it inside (try it). Like harrya said keep the wick trimmed (straight) and keep it turned down (more its turned up the brighter but it will smoke). Smoke will blacken the chimney which will have to be cleaned off (hopefully not in the dark) Kerosene was all my folks used when I was a kid (LONG time ago).

[harrya]

Claymore,
You must really be OLD (those lamp oil prices are really outdated) or maybe you're a Upper and just got off of Kero a few weeks ago when the one wire came in though the trees. :-)
harrya
Now in GA, but from MI (it snows there)

[claymore]

Claymore,
You must really be OLD (those lamp oil prices are really outdated) or maybe you're a Upper and just got off of Kero a few weeks ago when the one wire came in though the trees. :-)
harrya
Now in GA, but from MI (it snows there)

LOL ! No thats the price marked on the bottles. Seems like we got them only a few years ago. No open wire. 6 pair buried !

[EX121]

Has anyone used BriteLyt ar www.petromax.com they are really expensive but they claim to be multi-fuel. I also like the lamp oil better than kerosene. One thing about the lamp is the light is more yellow than we are probably used to.

[Benn Gleck]

I too prefer lamp oil to kerosene in my lamps but in my lanterns that are used outdoors I use kerosene. Do not store your lamp oil in the original containers for long term, the plastic gets brittle and will break very easily over time.

On another note the Amish families we barter with use kerosene exclusively. The reason is its cheaper. We go fill them a 55 galllon drum about twice a year.

[Urban Survivalist]

I have made candles out of olive oil and a piece of cloth and that worked great. Olive oil at Costco is $9.00 for 2 big bottles. I am courious if it would work in a Kerosene lamp and what kind of burn time it would have vs lamp oil and kerosene. Looks like I have found a new project to work on.

[Rascal]

I too prefer lamp oil to kerosene in my lamps but in my lanterns that are used outdoors I use kerosene. Do not store your lamp oil in the original containers for long term, the plastic gets brittle and will break very easily over time.

On another note the Amish families we barter with use kerosene exclusively. The reason is its cheaper. We go fill them a 55 galllon drum about twice a year.

Okay, so what should it be stored in?

[crossbow]

I've never bought anything here but will in the next few months. I keep 150 gallons kero for lamps and plan on cutting use to one qt per day plus a couple candles if we ever had to use them.

http://www.lanternnet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WKL&Category_Code=OL

[ANVIL]

Dose anyone have anything they can burn in a lamp besides Kero, or Lamp Oil? I was hopeing to find something I could grow on a farm.