oil lamps

[jimLE]

I've been collecting oil lamps a few years now.by buying 1 or 2 here n there.in which i managed to find one at a resale shop today..i still need to buy some clean fuel for oil lamps thoe.might have to wait untill i make my next primary shopping trip to do that.

 

[Brent S]

I've been collecting oil lamps a few years now.by buying 1 or 2 here n there.in which i managed to find one at a resale shop today..i still need to buy some clean fuel for oil lamps thoe.might have to wait untill i make my next primary shopping trip to do that.

One thing I learned about oil lamps is the fuel will evaporate out of them. Other than that I really like them. I like antique style anyways so they fit right into the decor here. You can’t beat when something has form and function! I probably have six of them around the house now.

 

[Mountain trapper]

When ever our house is finished I plan on putting up several antique kerosene lamps around the house. They look nice and they're functional too.

 

[Proud Prepper]

When ever our house is finished I plan on putting up several antique kerosene lamps around the house. They look nice and they're functional too.

And kerosene stores forever

 

[lonewolf]

where do you get kerosene after SHTF?? I thought about getting some storm lanterns but post SHTF there wont be any kerosene(paraffin over here).
okay if you only want it for the here and now to look pretty but that's not why I prep.

 

[Mountain trapper]

A couple 55 gallon barrels of kerosene would last for years. Especially if you use candles along with the lamps. During summer the lamps probably wouldn't get used at all. I designed my house to let a lot of natural light in. When the kerosene runs out, and my solar system quits working then we just do without.

 

[lonewolf]

110 gallons of paraffin over here would cost a fortune, its about £10 a gallon that's if you can get it, not many places stock it these days. not really feasible for me.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Its not cheap here either, but no where near as high where you are. I think some of the farm co-op's south of me carry kerosene at their fuel stations. When I'm ready for it I'll have to do some research to see who has it.

 

[lonewolf]

I can buy a gallon at a time at the local filling station, that's it, i'm not about to store huge quantities of the stuff, storm lanterns don't use that much as I know from previous experience. when its gone i'll use my stock of candles, when that's gone i'll use rush lights and pine resin.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I can buy a gallon at a time at the local filling station, that's it, i'm not about to store huge quantities of the stuff, storm lanterns don't use that much as I know from previous experience. when its gone i'll use my stock of candles, when that's gone i'll use rush lights and pine resin.

I think that's the key to good prepping, be flexible. Use what's available for as long as it lasts. When it runs out have a backup plan.

 

[lonewolf]

I think we have to be adaptable, nothing stays the same post SHTF, things change and so will plans.

 

[Maverick]

And kerosene stores forever

I had fungus develop in 1-k kerosene in several factory sealed 5 gal containers from different manufactures that were stored for 7 years maybe longer, it is possible to get fungus. The kerosene was still used after filtering but never tried nor wanted to use in the indoor oil lamps because of the fungus.

 

[Maverick]

Using non winterized aviation fuel like JP8 is cheaper than store purchased kerosene, I get a lot of my kerosene from the air port, I mainly use kerosene to mix in my diesel in very cold weather since diesel gels up because of the parraffin that's added to the diesel.

 

[Maverick]

110 gallons of paraffin over here would cost a fortune, its about £10 a gallon that's if you can get it, not many places stock it these days. not really feasible for me.

Olive oil is good in oil lamps, is that cheaper than kerosene in the UK?

 

[jimLE]

This is the lamp i bought the other day.paid $10.00 for it.

 

[Brent S]

I had never heard that before. Good to know in a pinch. I wonder if vegetable oil would work as well?

 

[Maverick]

I had never heard that before. Good to know in a pinch. I wonder if vegetable oil would work as well?

It works not as clean and stinks if rancid

 

[Brent S]

It works not as clean and stinks if rancid

Good to know in A pinch.

 

[Maverick]

Good to know in A pinch.

Just don't use in cold weather! kerosene works in the winter, cooking oils gel when it gets below a certain temp (fyi)

 

[lonewolf]

I think i'll stick with my candle lanterns.

 

[SHTFPREPPER]

I’ve stockpiled jugs of baby oil just in case I run out of kerosene. Doesn’t go rancid and smells good.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Good idea, I don't know how well baby oil burns. Olive oil works well, even cheaper alternative is to find lampante oil, a type of olive oil bottled only for burning rather than for consumption. Citronella is good for lamps and gives you some insect control. You can also use mineral oil mixed with coconut oil.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I’ve stockpiled jugs of baby oil just in case I run out of kerosene. Doesn’t go rancid and smells good.

And if applied properly it can be a lot of fun too.

 

[DrHenley]

Baby oil is usually just mineral oil plus perfume. You can buy mineral oil by the gallon for not much more than a small bottle of baby oil.

Mineral oil doesn't turn rancid like olive oil will eventually, and every other plant based oil. But then, I guess rancid oil burns too...

 

[HunkeredHillbilly]

I've been collecting oil lamps a few years now.by buying 1 or 2 here n there.in which i managed to find one at a resale shop today..i still need to buy some clean fuel for oil lamps thoe.might have to wait untill i make my next primary shopping trip to do that.

I also collect oil lamps....i buy them at thrift stores, antique shops, yard sale etc. some think im a bit weird, but when Hurricane Micheal hit NC we lost power for sometime and we flooded on the bottom floor. But me being the person i am..friends and family ate, we had light and heat and people were grateful. I found during that time that what im doing is not crazy or bizarre. it helps people and if something really bad comes my way, i can deal with it. I dont think anyone is fully prepped as things are always changing, but you can have one heck of a good plan.

 

[SHTFPREPPER]

I’ve used baby oil in my lamps when I ran out of kerosene. I’ve restocked now on both items. Olive oil works too.

 

[DrHenley]

I’ve used baby oil in my lamps when I ran out of kerosene. I’ve restocked now on both items. Olive oil works too.

Baby oil is mineral oil + additives: $0.25 per ounce.
Olive oil is more expensive.

Pure mineral oil is cheaper, has no additives, and you can buy it pretty much anywhere you can buy baby oil.

Buy pure mineral oil instead of baby oil.

 

[Kevin L]

where do you get kerosene after SHTF?? I thought about getting some storm lanterns but post SHTF there wont be any kerosene(paraffin over here).
okay if you only want it for the here and now to look pretty but that's not why I prep.

Rendered animal fat will work in an oil lamp.

There will be a lot of soot, and an unpleasant odor, but it will work.

Post SHTF and/or TEOTWAWKI, I plan on killing wild pigs for their fat to dress hides, burn in oil lamps, and making soap.

Also, there is an invasive plant in the South called the chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera), which produces huge amounts of an extremely useful oil that can be used for soap, lubricant, and lamp fuel.

This tree is an introduced invasive species, and grows all over the place. It is actually the most common tree around Houston Texas, for example. The oil from this plant can be used for diesel fuel with a minimum of preparation.

 

[Illini Warrior]

And kerosene stores forever

unless it's absolutely necessary - don't burn regular kerosene in your indoor oil lamps - lamp oil is the best 1st choice - refined kerosene for the catalytic heaters are OK >>> regular kerosene is just going to cause a soot mess besides being a heath hazard ...

save the regular kerosene for the barn lanterns (Dietz) outdoors with plenty of ventilation - another usage is to dilute other salvaged petro products like diesel fuel - crankcase oil - heating fuel oil - transmission fluid - brake fluid - hydraulic fluids - mineral oil - ect ect >>> your patio/tiki torches with a 1/2" or 1" rat tail type wicks handle the mixed fuels well ...