I was wondering which is better lamp oil or kerosene. We have 3 glass oil lamps and I haven't picked anything up for them cause I kept putting it off to ask what is better. Well last night we had no power for 4 hrs and I kicked my self for putting it off. Thanks.
Hey there! Check out this thread on the site:
http://internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=4567&p=50562&hilit=lamp#p50562
It has several of our personal experiences with each even though the original question was different and some other tips.
Something to remember is that "lamp oil" can be kind of generic but usually means some sort of liquid paraffin. Then you have Medallion Lamp Oil and FloraSense oil, which is paraffin-like but actually more like kerosene as a distillate. Paraffin has some restrictions in wick width due to light and wick life efficiency, and sometimes you get kerosene that has a flash point too low for some lamps/wick widths. The flash point on your lamp should be listed somewhere or you can check the manufacturer or do a search for "flash point fuel" and your wick width. Of course, I use old palm and olive oil in my 1/8 and 1/4" wick lamps, and you're not supposed to do that, either.
There is something you can add to kerosene to help the smell, some places tell you to only use kerosene outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, and I think liquid paraffin lamps smell better and have a cheerier glow. There's also back and forth that says paraffin has a cleaner burn with less soot, but a lot of that can be controlled with proper wick length.
If you feel like you can, you might want to buy what you consider your minimum and pick up a filler item or hold cash/silver for a big buy (unless you have an awesome source already lined up). In the U.S., big craft stores like Micheal's tend to have after-Christmas sales where you can get scented and colored lamp oil at 25-75% discount. I don't care about the cutesy aspect as much as I do stocking up at below our area's bulk prices.
🙂
Thanks MrsPrepwPets, are lamps have a 1/2" wick nothing written on them so I guess I'll pickup some K1 kerosene this weekend.
Hi wha.
Following are some information I have concerning Kerosene lamp.
We used this lamp it's work very well and well design. from W.T. Kirkman lantern inc.
http://www.lanternnet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WKL&Product_Code=WTK2&Category_Code=WKPL
Oil lamps (Clear/K1 Kerosene)
Up to one US fluid ounce / Hr. for 1” wick and ½ US Fluid once / Hr. for ½” wick.
Produces 20 to 250 lumens of light intensity and 1538? watts of heat.
(1/2” wick = 120 lumen max, 1” wick = 250 lumens)
250 cents/liter * 1 liter/34oz * 1 Oz/250 lumen-hr = .03 cents / lumen-hour
@250 lumen: 7.35 Cents / hour 1.0 US Oz / hour
@125 lumen: 3.68 Cents / hour 0.5 US Oz / hour
@62.5 lumen: 1.83 Cents / hour 0.25 US Oz / hour
Hope this help.
If you add parafine it might block your wick after a certain time.
Following is a site speaking about different pro and con on wick, stove, oil, lamp etc..
http://www.milesstair.com/BF_2418.html
thanks for all the info. I just picked up some k1-kerosene for the next time the power goes out.

