Kerosene Lantern

A kerosene lantern may remind you of your youth, as these trusty lights have been around for a long time, and while they’re not our default light source anymore, they do make an excellent choice for backup light or for taking on a camping trip. The flame is capable of standing up to even unpleasant weather, and fuel for these lanterns is relatively cheap. Let’s take a look at how to light and care for one.

You’ll need a clean lantern and a fresh supply of kerosene, which you can buy at the hardware store or at your local filling station. You’ll also need a funnel to fill the lantern without spilling. Just remove the cover and place the funnel in the fill hole of your lantern and begin adding kerosene. These lanterns should be filled only two thirds full. This allows space for the wick to absorb the fuel.

Now, put the cover back and wait for the wick to pull kerosene up to the top of the lamp. This should only take a minute or two. If it’s not happening, you may need a new wick. Once you know the wick has properly absorbed its fuel, remove the kerosene lantern’s glass shade. This may be done with a lever, or you may have to pick it up yourself. Turn the knob to bring the wick up high enough to light it and use a lighter or match to get the wick burning. Let it burn for a few seconds, then adjust the wick downward if too much of it is protruding.

Replace the glass shade carefully to keep from putting the flame out and adjust the flame carefully to give you the right amount of light. More wick means brighter light and more flame, while less flame and a longer period between refills is obtained with a shorter wick. Too high, and the wick will start to smoke. You can get the most out of your lamp by making sure the shade is clean and by placing the lamp high up to allow it to illuminate the whole room. When you’re done, just remove the glass (carefully, as it will be hot) and blow the flame back out. You may need to dampen the wick to make sure the fire is out.

Check the fuel level each time you use a kerosene lantern, and take precautions to avoid causing a fire hazard. Kerosene lanterns can cause real problems if you don’t treat them well. Make sure your lamp is always on a level surface, somewhere that it won’t be bumped. If you’re not using it, store it somewhere safe, and keep it away from a heat source and out of the reach of children. Don’t use fuels other than kerosene in your lamp, and never touch the glass while the flame is burning.

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