Oil / Fat Lamps

[Assassin Pilot]

I think this deserves a thread because it is something primitive that we can all make and use, and has no threads yet (I searched and found nothing)

So I'm curious, do any of you guys use homemade (or possibly store-bought if you are like that) oil / fat lamps while camping? I've tried a few simple ones and I think they can be pretty useful. What do you guys make them out of? I generally use small metal containers like tins so I was wondering if there are any better ideas.

[Rick]

Actually, AP - There is a thread buried somewhere in here. It's on paraffin candles I think. I have a shoe polish can that I took a piece of cardboard and cut into a coil. I then melted paraffin into the can and the cardboard acts like a wick. I did a write up on it. Let me see if I can find it.

[Assassin Pilot]

Alright, I tried searching for oil lamps mainly so I could have easily missed that one.

[Rick]

Here it is. My post is post 17:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ht=shoe+polish

You wouldn't have found it. I did a search on shoe polish to find it. No way you would have known to do that. Beyond the candle, I carry tea candles as a back up heat source. I also have kerosene lamps at home as well as candles.

[Assassin Pilot]

Ahh, that is a pretty informational thread. I'll need to find some time later to read it. Now I plan on watching some tube (tv)

[Sourdough]

Some burn candle fish here. Really proper name is a hooligan fish. I have never done this. We use Coleman two mantle White gas lanterns.

[Rick]

I've actually heard of them. I seem to remember they dry them out and use them like candles or something like that. It's been a while.

Oh, yea. There are the natural enemy of the Kodiak Island Brown Bear Bore Cub.

[Assassin Pilot]

I've never heard of these hooligan fish, can someone please clarify?

[Rick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolichan

[Assassin Pilot]

Sounds like the bacon of fish

[FVR]

I read how to make an oil lamp in an emerg. situation. Little container, poke a hole in the bottom, allow drop of oil to drain and flow down a little channel and right into a little fire. Looked cool.

Also read in Maxim mag., they have a how to, and a few issues back it showed how to make an alcohol stove out of two beer cans, a piece of fiberglass insulation, a pin, and alcohol.

Pretty neat, yeh and the trick is you drink the alcohol first, then try it.

[Rick]

Whew! I thought we were into burning alcohol there for a moment. My heart palpi...papa....skipped.

[FVR]

No, no, no, drink the alcohol, then make the little stove and add rubbing alcohol. My bust...............

Let's see, drink Turkey or burn Turkey. I'll let it burn..................going down.

[Rick]

(wink). Granny was 100 the day she died and in all that time never had to use glasses. Straight from the bottle.

[Assassin Pilot]

hahaha, nice one

[Rick]

AP - If you are interested, olive oil, extracts from fish, nuts, and plants have all been used to fuel lamps. Castor oil was used by the ancient Egyptians. In India oil of sesame, groundnut/peanut, and mustard is used. Oil from whale meat and blubber is another fuel. Denatured alcohol is a modern fuel for alcohol stoves as is kerosene for heaters.

[BraggSurvivor]

In the summer while sitting on the back porch, we take dryer lint and roll it between your hands to create a wick. We use a small old teapot and fill it with cheap Canola oil. Put the lint wick in the spout and light er up. Lasts about a month with great light and keeps the skeeters away too.

[Assassin Pilot]

Rick: thanks for the ideas. I'll have to try some of them of hose

Bragg: A whole month?! That's one efficient lamp. How thick do you make the wick?

[BraggSurvivor]

Rick: thanks for the ideas. I'll have to try some of them of hose

Bragg: A whole month?! That's one efficient lamp. How thick do you make the wick?

I try to make the wick as small as possible but as it starts to relax it ends up being about 1/4 - 3/8 inch in dia. About every couple nights you have to pull a bit more outta the spout.

[Rick]

I really think survival is being able to retain all these little bits and pieces we feed each other. You have to know the basics, sure, but Canola oil and dryer lit. Who'd a thunk it? Good post.