Alsmost impossible to find oil for lamps......

I grew up Amish and we always used kerosene. Sometimes it is a bit smelly if the quality is not the best, but it burns good... Keep the wick trimmed for less smoke and smell.

Like everything else.... IT DEPENDS. Basically on the air change rate of the room/building/tent/ or other enclosed space which you are using the lamp and the size of the space. Bigger spaces have more air and thus more oxygen to start with. Unvented combustion of any form uses oxygen and produces not so pleasant byproducts. If you have either a very small space or a very air tight space then watch out. I had a friend once with a super insulated cabin. You could easily heat the space and actually easily overheat the space with just a small electric space heater like you would find at Walmart. Believe me, you would not want to use any kind of combustion lantern in that cabin. I am sensitive to foul air and couldnt stay in such a space for long periods, just from carbon dioxide from my own breath. You really need air to air heat exchanger to regulate air exchange in air tight space like that.

On other hand I've been in old houses where a pinwheel would turn fast and furious if held next to closed window. A combustion lantern would be perfectly safe in such a space if you didnt knock it over and set the place on fire.

If you use any unvented combustion in a living space at minimum you need a carbon monoxide sensor. Not sure if there is such a thing in consumer market, but some detector that sounded if oxygen supply gets too low would be good too.

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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy

"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman

Can not find it local around here in the winter any where. Silly, since the power was out a lot last year. Personally I want the non smelly type....stuff that is safe to burn a lamp in the house.
So I order what I want from Lehmans.
http://www.lehmans.com/

Also have one of these... goodness.. they can light the whole room up! Even DH can read with this one. Only down side, is it needs a lot of batteries. So you had better have some stocked up or live in an area that gets some sun in the winter so you can have rechargeable batteries.
http://www.lehmans.com/store/Lamps__...08407908?Args=

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Shari

And while we're talking about the dangers of unvented combustion, let's put things in perspective. Your range top and oven is a much greater source of unvented combustion than the use of any lantern or lamp during a power failure.

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

I find that I must wear brazing goggles when making adjustments to the flow going to the mantle.

However I admit that I am slightly photosensitive.

Again those things would be just as unsafe depending on how big and how air tight the space is. You also dont generally use gas range more than hour or so at a time and you dont use one in your sleeping area. I've never even used one of the modern gas ranges, arent they all now pilotless and electric ignition so you need electricity to even light one? Hmm, interesting question, the burners maybe could still be lit with match if you were quick enough? Or do they need an electric signal before even releasing any gas to the burner, then close down if electronic ignition doesnt immediately light it? I really dont know. My 2 burner stove is from 1930s or 40s and you just turn the knob and light burner with a match. No pilots, no electronic gizmos though I thought at one time to add one of those universal piezo electric lighters made to put on your gas grill.

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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy

"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman

I had thought that I had said this, but I guess I many have forgot.

Get a CO detector.

We have one.

All this talk about CO, and I do truly, I do understand the issue and if there were ever a build-up of CO it would be bad.

So spend the $30 and get a CO detector.

ACE hardware normally carries the lamps, about $10-$12 dollars.

My mother found two last week at Kmart for $5 each.

I only use mine when the electric is out, so I like the lamp oil, it will last "forever".

kerosene will degrade and stinks if stored very long...

That's my point exactly. Seems like many get all concerned about carbon monoxide when using a gas or kerosene lamp/lantern but never give their stove/oven a second thought. I'm sure the stove/oven is consuming oxygen at a faster rate than anylittle ol' lamp.

__________________
This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

Don't think anyone answered your question. If they did, I must have missed it. (sorry)

Anyway, the answer is yes, you can use either kerosene or lamp oil in traditional oil lamps. Those that simply use a wick.

One of the tricks I've learned, when changing fuel is to wash the wick. Talking about flat wicks. Remove it from the lamp and put it in a pan of hot water. Use plenty Dawn dishwashing DETERGENT to remove the residual fuel. Just keep at it and the detergent will break down the oil. If you use newspaper or paper towels first to wick away as much of the oil as possible, that'll speed up the clean up process.

Once you have it clean (may take a change of soapy water), rinse it well and let it dry thoroughly. Reinsert the wick into the lamp. Add the new fuel. Give the wick time to absorb the fuel, then light. You may need to trim the wick to get a good burn.

I stay clear of the discussions on which energy source is most economical. And which ones are more efficient. Why? Just because I use whatever I can get and whatever works best for the situation. :-)

Lamp oil is readily available around here. Some of the dollar type stores carry it. I've even seen it in the drug store. Kerosene is getting harder to find since so many people have switched from heating with oil to electric and propane. Some filling stations still sell it from a pump. Usually they are the older, long established ones. In this area the switch from curing tobacco with oil to propane has also decreased the availability.

When I need a lot of light, I use 1 or 2 Coleman camp fuel lanterns. Light them outdoors, then bring inside. We've used them in tents, pickup campers and in the house without any problems. When the power is out, I like to use one of these beside the gas stove while cooking.

For general lighting we use oil lamps with either kerosene or lamp oil. Whatever we have on hand. For Christmas, two years ago, I used my mothers oil lamp with odorless kerosene (Lowes - expensive) to recognize a family member that we'd lost that year. Set her picture beside the lamp.

For good information various fuels that can be used to provide light google the following:

Olive Oil Lamps
Beer Can Lamps

You may be surprised at how easy it is to make a lamp that can be used in an emergency, for camping, or just to set the mood while sitting on the backporch. The fuels used in these lamps covers quite a few that many people don't think about as possibilities.

FWIW, I collect oil lamps of all types and have a number of lanterns, too. Most of the lanterns are of fairly recent origin. Like to fill them with skeeter oil and hang on the back porch in the summer.

Lee

Used oil lamps and coleman fuel lamps, not used an aladdin lamp, don't have one.

LED lites are handy as well.

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We will meet in the golden city, called the New Jerusalem,
All our pain and all our tears will be no more.....