Oil Lamp Safety Modification

One of the kerosene table lamps I have is nice looking and inexpensive. The fuel stores just about indefinitely and the lamp not being complicated it should work whenever needed. It gives off a nice glowing light that will keep you from being totally in the dark and that makes oil lamps a good lighting option for emergency long term use.

As with all flame powered devices used inside your home there is always the possibility of a malfunction and a fire that could cost your everything you own and no place to go afterward.

The above lamp has a less than 3 inch diameter base and is 13 inches tall with the globe. Should the table it's on, like a kitchen table and someone accidentally bumps the table the lamp with such a small base the lamp can likely tip over resulting in a fire or worse roll off the table and break on the floor creating a major fire.

Always use extreme caution and care when using oil lamps.

To reduce the accidental tipping possibility:

I purchased an 8.5 inch diameter melamine salad plate and bonded the lamp to the plate using a 2 part, 5 minute epoxy. Now it is as stabile as possible and the likelihood of a tip over is greatly reduced.

Also it is a very good idea to have handy an "A-B-C" dry chemical fire extinguisher. I'd rather clean the house of dry powder than a kitchens burned out ashes!

Oil lamp bonded to a melamine salad plate ($1.40).

A look at the epoxy bonded lamp to plate. After centering the lamp on the plate I then marked the plate with a magic marker following the diameter of the lamp base marked a circle to aid centering the lamp and when applying a liberal amount of epoxy inside the line to be sure all of the lamps base has epoxy contact to the plate. Then setting the lamp into position. Be sure to scrub both the bonding surfaces with alcohol to remove all traces of dirt, hand or lamp oils for the best bond.

It is very secure (not that this photo shows much) but the lamp is permanently bonded to the plate.

Be safe with oil lamps! A spill, breakage or knock over can be a home disaster.

Here are some wick trimming instructions.

Oil Lamp Care

Today I received this e-mail from Kirkman Lanterns about the care and cleaning of the burners and how to trim the wicks.

Worth the read.

W.T. Kirkman Lanterns Fall/Winter Newsletter

Hi Michael,

If you haven't already, now is the time to make sure your oil lamps and lanterns are ready for extra duty for the longer evening hours.  Cleaning the burner, checking the wick, and cleaning the globe or chimney will get your lamp or lantern in good order and ready for like-new operation.

A dirty globe or chimney reduces the light output of your lamp or lantern.  Generally, household glass cleaner will work just fine, but for globes or chimneys that are extremely dirty, foggy, or covered in soot, Tilex bathroom cleaner can be used following the manufacturer's directions.  Cracked or otherwise damaged globes or chimneys should be replaced with appropriate replacements.  Here is a link to our Replacement Glass Department.

A clean burner is essential for proper operation.  Burners that are full of grime will not allow the proper air flow, and will starve the flame.  To clean a grungy burner, remove it from the lamp or lantern, remove the wick, and soak the burner in white vinegar over night, making sure it is completely submerged.  Use a brass wire brush and #0000 steel wool to remove all of the grunge.  Once you are finished, rinse the burner under running water, then use a hair dryer to completely dry it.  Apply a coat of WD-40 to steel burners then wipe them down before re-wicking.  Brass burners should be lightly buffed with Nevr-Dull wadding polish to return them to their original lustre.

Contrary to common notion, flat wicks should be trimmed straight across for maximum light output.  For lamps and lanterns that have a burner that uses a burner cone, if a flame burns with "horns," the burner cone needs to be reshaped and made higher in the center.  Likewise if the flame burns too high in the center, the cone needs to be reshaped and made lower in the center.  Trimming wick with dog-ears or a "V" notch in the center only reduces the light output, and should be avoided.  To make replacing wick a breeze, trim the new piece of wick straight across, then apply 1/4 " of a 3" strip of masking tape to one end of the wick, and fold the tape back onto itself and wick, making a 1 1/4" long leader.  Trim the masking tape to the width of the wick, and insert it into the underside of the burner using it to guide the wick.  Once the wick is through the burner remove the tape and re-trim the wick straight across if necessary.  This method can also be used for round wick using a narrow strip of masking tape as a leader.  We stock one of the largest assortments of replacement wicks for all types of oil lamps and lanterns, which can be found in our Wick Department.

When refueling your lamps and lanterns, be sure you are using a proper fuel for safe and reliable service.  More information on fuels can be found on ourFAQ Page.

For some great gift giving ideas, visit our Featured Items Page.  We also offer personalized Christmas cards for making your gift giving practical, fun, and easy this year.

From now through November 30, 2014, you can take 10% off of any online purchases from W.T. Kirkman Lanterns, including both oil and electric lanterns, replacement parts, etc..  Just use the coupon code TG10 during checkout to take advantage of this offer.  (Discount code does not apply to phone orders.)


Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Lanterning!

Dawn Kirkman

W.T. Kirkman Lanterns, Inc.
877-985-5267 (Toll Free)
(760) 789-2126 (International)
dawnkirkman@lanternnet.com
LanternNet.com

Oil Lamp Fuel Review

A few days ago I received an e-mail News Letter from Kirkman Lanterns reviewing the different types of fuels that can be used in your oil lamps. I thought it would be good information to pass it along for those who are new to oil lamps.
Mike

W.T. Kirkman Lanterns

http://www.lanterns.us

July 8th Newsletter

One of the questions we are asked most often is which fuels can be used?

Lanterns and large wick oil lamps generally need a fuel with a flash point between 124° and 150° Fahrenheit.

Some brands of kerosene have a flash point that is too low to safely use in oil lamps and lanterns, so make sure that any fuel you plan on using has an appropriate flash point. (Flash points are always listed on the product MSDS, available from every retailer or on-line.)

Kerosene

Always contains some amount of sulfur, so it should only be used outdoors. Tiki Torch fuel and Citronella oil can be used outside however, they do produce an odor and sooty flame and will reduce the wick life. To reduce the odor and soot and extend wick life, mix these fuels 50:50 with kerosene.

Medallion Lamp Oil by Lamplight Farms
Is a good general purpose oil for indoor and outdoor use in both oil lamps and lanterns. It has little or no odor, and can be found at your local Ace or True Value Hardware Store and other home centers. Do not confuse Medallion Lamp Oil with Ultra-Pure Candle Lamp Oil which is liquid paraffin.

Wal-Mart carries FloraSense brand lamp oil which is similar to Medallion Lamp Oil, and can be had for a reasonable price. Home Depot or Lowes carries Kleenheat brand synthetic kerosene which is an odorless fuel and can be used in all oil lamps and lanterns both indoors or out.  This is a seasonal product in some stores, so you may have to stock up in the winter for use the rest of the year.

Paraffin Oil

Also known as 'Smokeless Odorless' oil is not recommended for use in oil lamps or lanterns with 5/8" or larger wick.  This product is made for candle lamps and the small oil lamps widely used in restaurants and has a flash point over 200° Fahrenheit. It will not burn properly, will consume wick faster and produces only half as much light as any of the approved fuels.

More information on fuels can be found on our FAQ page here: http://www.lanterns.us/faqs.htm#FUEL

Oil Lantern

This week I finally bought the oil lantern I should have bought in the first place; the $16.00 Dietz #90 lantern. Three reasons for this choice; One, the large 7¾ inch diameter base for stability, Two, for the large tank (31oz) that will allow a burn time of 27 hours (1.15 ounces per hour) and Three, it is one of the brightest at 12-14 candlepower. If I use the lantern 4 hours at night and 2 hours in the morning I won’t have to refuel if for 4½ days. This will save time and the inconvenience of repeated fill-ups. I also like the bail handle for easy moving around or if I have to hang it up.

Fuel consumption at my rate of 6 hours a day would be 9.2 days per ½ gallon or 18.4 days per gallon or 3 months for 5 gallons of fuel.

Wick usage is less than ½ inch per gallon of fuel or one wick will be used up about every 5 gallons of fuel burned.

I also purchased an extra globe and 10 wicks. The ten wicks will last me through 50 gallons of fuel or 2½ years of everyday use.

The lantern is of good value and construction plus it’s very bright for an oil lamp. I am pleased with this purchase and do recommend it as a should have for your first oil lamp purchase.

Here’s where I bought it from plus the stores product details:

http://www.lanternnet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WKL&Product_Code=DHL90&Category_Code=DL

W. T. Kirkman Lanterns Inc. http://www.lanternnet.com/
is a good source for all your oil lamp needs and much oil lamp information. They’re worth a visit.

Manufacturers notes:
The #2 Blizzard (or now #90) was originally billed as the "King of the Cold Blast Lanterns," and was in fact one of the first Cold Blast Lanterns produced; being so, it takes the older style #852 Fitzall globe. This workhorse of a lantern is still used as a primary source of light in many parts of the world, and is still a real favorite here in the U.S.

Specifications:
•15" High, 7 3/4" Base Diameter
•Average 12-14 Candle Power
•7/8" Wick
•31 oz. Fount Capacity, 27 Hour Burning Time
•Approximate Thermal Output: 1400 BTU per Hour
•Operates on Average at 6 Cents per Hour worth of Lamp Oil.
•Wicked and ready to add oil