oil lamp test run.

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jimLE

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As we all know.a oil lamp puts out light and heat.so im doing a small trial run today.it's 47F outside.i turned the central heat off.it's 71F in here right now.and i have 3 oil lamps going.this trial run ain't a complete trial run.i still have 1 light and celling fan going.on accounti want to see how fast the 3 oil lamps will take to warm up the living-room that way first.then do it all over again tomorrow. But with no ceiling fan.
 
As we all know.a oil lamp puts out light and heat.so im doing a small trial run today.it's 47F outside.i turned the central heat off.it's 71F in here right now.and i have 3 oil lamps going.this trial run ain't a complete trial run.i still have 1 light and celling fan going.on accounti want to see how fast the 3 oil lamps will take to warm up the living-room that way first.then do it all over again tomorrow. But with no ceiling fan.
Do you use oil lamp or something else? I thought of keeping old cooking oil, but am not sure that would burn well or smell good while it is burning if it is rancid.
 
Im using lamp oil.im not enjoying the smell of it to well.but do able.not sure.but im thinking that cooking oil would have a bad smell to it.i turned the ceiling fan off at 2:38 on account i figure its a better route to go.seeing how it wont be going during a real outages..

Edit...i also went into the kitchen bedroom and bathroom at 2:38 as well.they all already felt just a lil bit cooler.
 
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I've heard of burning rubbing alcohol before.but yet.is it anything like the everyday rubing alcohol? I do still have lamps sitting empty.in which 2 are the mini lamps.so id try it out,in them first.


Never heard of. Homestead Tessie before.so i might check her out.


Oh yeah.i ended my test at 4:25pm..best way i know to put it.is it was at least somewhat like having the central heat going in the livingroom only.the temp. Was that comfortable in the livingroom. But yet the outside temp was 47F.and the inside temp did start out at 71F..plus this place does seem to be pretty well insulated. So using oil lamps for heat and light is doable. But yet im not sure about using the lamp oil i have at present time 24/7 thoe
 
I've heard of burning rubbing alcohol before.but yet.is it anything like the everyday rubing alcohol? I do still have lamps sitting empty.in which 2 are the mini lamps.so id try it out,in them first.

Never heard of. Homestead Tessie before.so i might check her out.

Oh yeah.i ended my test at 4:25pm..best way i know to put it.is it was at least somewhat like having the central heat going in the livingroom only.the temp. Was that comfortable in the livingroom. But yet the outside temp was 47F.and the inside temp did start out at 71F..plus this place does seem to be pretty well insulated. So using oil lamps for heat and light is doable. But yet im not sure about using the lamp oil i have at present time 24/7 thoe

Have you seen using candles with terra cotta pots to help with warmth?
 
No I saw a video, terra cotta lamp seem to trap heat then slowly radiates the heat.
I actually saw someone in a YouTube video who is a nomad who uses this system for heat in her small trailer. I don't think any of us could heat our home that way, but a in small space, such as a travel trailer, would be better than nothing. How many candles would you have to store for that?
 
What is the popular opinion here for the safest, yet cheapest oil to use in lamps for inside use?
One website indicates olive oil, beeswax, sesame, castor, whale, ghee and mustard seed oils are all okay. Fumes from kerosene and paraffin are seen as damaging to the lungs. Palm kernal oil is highly recommended but hard to acquire, according to one website.
Citronella oil usually is added to paraffin or kerosene, so thinking it is outright citronella oil is incorrect.
And i would not use whale oil.
 
I lived in a motorhome one winter and used a Coleman lantern for nighttime heat. It worked well enough. That was not far from Portland, OR.

Beeswax makes great candles and they are used in churches because they don't smoke.
 
There are three ways to conduct heat conduction, convection, and radiation. If you light a candle or lamp the primary means of heating is convection, the heat rises and cooler air come in and is warmed from the flame spreading around the room.

If you use a terracotta pot over the same candle you have the same number of BTU's given off, there are no free lunches. The difference is that the primary heat transfer is from radiation. The terracotta heats up and radiates the heat until it hits something solid, like you for example. Probably the best example of a radiant heat source in the sun.

Room temperature is one thing and felt warmth is another. Felt warmth factors in the radiation from all the things around you plus the air temperature.
 
I've heard of burning rubbing alcohol before.but yet.is it anything like the everyday rubing alcohol? I do still have lamps sitting empty.in which 2 are the mini lamps.so id try it out,in them first.


Never heard of. Homestead Tessie before.so i might check her out.


Oh yeah.i ended my test at 4:25pm..best way i know to put it.is it was at least somewhat like having the central heat going in the livingroom only.the temp. Was that comfortable in the livingroom. But yet the outside temp was 47F.and the inside temp did start out at 71F..plus this place does seem to be pretty well insulated. So using oil lamps for heat and light is doable. But yet im not sure about using the lamp oil i have at present time 24/7 thoe
You have to get the red label 90% alcohol. This would be better for a heat source.



You could always brew some shine I mean heating fuel. Many uses for that fuel.
 
Rolls of lamp wick can be purchased on ebay fairly reasonably. Here is a couple sizes 1" and 7/8" but you can find many flat and round wicks sizes on there. I bought a roll quite awhile back. Obviously in many cases you can use the next size smaller in your lamp in an emergency.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=111803848238

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=121117592115

I did not do a search on ebay to see who had the best prices so if you wanted to order some I would check well to get the best price. So these two links might be higher priced than others.
It is a good idea to have some denatured alcohol around for emergencies. It has many uses for lamps or for cooking or many other things. Of course it does not have to be denatured you can use Everclear or other drinking high proof alcohol products also. A simple cooking stove using alcohol can be made from something like a tuna can. There are many youtube videos on making them.
 
You have to get the red label 90% alcohol. This would be better for a heat source.



You could always brew some shine I mean heating fuel. Many uses for that fuel.

I forgot to mention that a couple of bricks on either side of the can will also allow you to cook over it.
 
I have 4 lamps, 3 have never been used. The one in the box I found on sale a couple of years ago for $6. The tall green one I’ve had for 30 years. I found lamp wicks on sale at an Ace Hardware store years ago and bought replacement wicks. I had to put a new wick in the green lamp about 10 or 12 years ago.

I keep 2 quarts of lamp oil on hand and always make sure I buy 91% rubbing alcohol. It’s hard to find but can be found.

The pack of 12 tea candles I found on sale dirt cheap, don’t remember where. I haven’t needed them.

The big round candle w/box is a 120-hour candle made by Nuwick. I’ve been using Nuwick paraffin candles since the 80’s. A Great emergency candle. It comes with 6 wicks. You can burn all 6 wicks at the same time and cook with it, of course then you would then have a 20hour candle. Nuwick sold a little metal stand and a small SSteel pot which I have somewhere. You can actually cook with a Nuwick.

Unfortunately, Nuwick went out of business around ’08 or ’09. When I discovered this I scoured the net and found a camping store in San Diego that had a case of 24 candles. I bought the entire case, enough to last the rest of my life.

I have seen a very similar candle made by a company in Mexico… can’t give an opinion of those. I do know they started selling their candles after Nuwick went out of business.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085MFM62/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Here you go... Rothco Triwick 120 hour survival candles for sale on amazon.

Nuwick.jpg
 
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I found lamp wicks on sale at an Ace Hardware store years ago and bought replacement wicks.

I have gotten some wicks from Ace Hardware as well. I also visit my local Army Navy surplus stores a couple times a year and I pick some wicks up there as well.

The proverbial questions, much like food storage: How much lamp oil is enough? How much is too much? What is the shelf life?

If you have a few gallons, where would be the best place to store it? I always think of the potential of a house fire when it comes to storing certain items. Can it be stored in a shed where it will freeze and warm up in the summer?

What is the best lamp oil? Where can it be found with the best prices? I think it would be hard to have shipped because of the nature of the flammability.
 
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In a standard oil lamp I use liquid paraffin. In my mantle lamps I use alcohol - denatured alcohol.
With a wick type lamp alcohol will burn but it won't make much light. Liquid paraffin makes as much light as kerosene but has no smell. The mantel lamps, like Aladdin lamps heat the mantel to get the light so alcohol works well. Alcohol won't clog or burn wicks and doesn't cause soot on the mantel or globe.
I prefer the mantel lamps because they make more light than a common oil lamp. I have both kinds and keep spare wicks and mantels.
 
I have 4 lamps, 3 have never been used. The one in the box I found on sale a couple of years ago for $6. The tall green one I’ve had for 30 years. I found lamp wicks on sale at an Ace Hardware store years ago and bought replacement wicks. I had to put a new wick in the green lamp about 10 or 12 years ago.

I keep 2 quarts of lamp oil on hand and always make sure I buy 91% rubbing alcohol. It’s hard to find but can be found.

The pack of 12 tea candles I found on sale dirt cheap, don’t remember where. I haven’t needed them.

The big round candle w/box is a 120-hour candle made by Nuwick. I’ve been using Nuwick paraffin candles since the 80’s. A Great emergency candle. It comes with 6 wicks. You can burn all 6 wicks at the same time and cook with it, of course then you would then have a 20hour candle. Nuwick sold a little metal stand and a small SSteel pot which I have somewhere. You can actually cook with a Nuwick.

Unfortunately, Nuwick went out of business around ’08 or ’09. When I discovered this I scoured the net and found a camping store in San Diego that had a case of 24 candles. I bought the entire case, enough to last the rest of my life.

I have seen a very similar candle made by a company in Mexico… can’t give an opinion of those. I do know they started selling their candles after Nuwick went out of business.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085MFM62/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Here you go... Rothco Triwick 120 hour survival candles for sale on amazon.

View attachment 10110


Check them to see if the tank leaks. I've had a couple of really nice looking ones that I picked up that would leak along that bottom seam.
 
Check them to see if the tank leaks. I've had a couple of really nice looking ones that I picked up that would leak along that bottom seam.

We have a couple metal bottom lamps so thanks for bringing this up.

I have always been interested in one of these lamps but so far I have been too cheap to buy one.
View attachment 10112

We have both metal and glass lamps and like both of them.
 

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