Oil Lamps

**sunshine** · 03-13-2006, 08:13 PM

We made several of these recently and were soooo glad we did-- even though we have a couple of oil hurricaine lamps.

I did set these inside clear glass bowls (one was in a fish bowl) and then either on, or against a mirror to enhance the lighting properties.

Oil & Cola Emergency Lamp.

What will you do thins winter when the lights go out? Hopefully you've got your emergency flashlight, radio, food and water supplies. If the power will be out for some time, however, you may want to know about this easy oil lamp. Great for camping too. The parts needed for this lamp can be found in virtually every household. An empty aluminum cola can, an old cotton sock, and about a tablespoon of cooking oil are all you need.

First stab an empty cola can in the middle and cut around the circumference until you cut the can completely in half. Use a pair of gloves to hold the can halves, because the metal is very sharp. Use the bottom half of the cola can, and cut half inch deep slits spaced each half inch along the circumference of the can. Fold over to make a safe rim along the edge. Now take the top half of the can and work the pull tab off the top by pulling up and side to side. Work the tab back and forth with upward pressure, until it pulls off. Dispose of the top half can into the recycle trash. Next cut a one inch by 3/8" slip of material from the old sock. Roll the material into a thick rope and feed it into the pull tab attachment hole. Pull through about half an inch so it sticks up while the pull tab rests upside down. Now pour a cap full of cooking oil into the bottom of the can. Place the upside down pull tab with the wick in the
middle of the can and drape the cotton wick so it pulls the oil from the edge of the can. The length of the wick pulled through the tab hole will determine the height of the flame. A good quarter inch of wick will give a good flame with virtually no smoke. Now you can light the wick and it should last about three to four hours with each tablespoon or so of corn oil.

guest7 · 03-14-2006, 08:34 AM

Wow!! thanks!

**Katybird** · 04-11-2006, 08:41 PM

Thanks Denise, I am printing this out and adding it to our emergency box.

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-11-2006, 08:57 PM

Thanks so much for the tip!

**Minner77** · 04-15-2006, 02:19 AM

Thanks so much! I was going to do an internet search for this very thing! But, um, I am absolutely horrid at visualizing things, and am having a hard time trying to picture how you both throw out the top half of the can and use the pull tab attachement hole... and does that mean the smaller hole? IOW, is there any way you could send a picture? I'm so sorry to ask for more when you went to such great lengths, but if you only knew how absolutely terrible I am... Oh! And does the kind of oil matter at all? I read a discussion board somewhere once in which people were debating the exact type of olive oil that had to be used. (How to make it, of course, wasn't mentioned.)

I'd be most appreciative if you could add the picture.

Happy Easter!

Mary

**miss_thrifty** · 04-15-2006, 10:25 AM

thanks so much, I'm going to try it next week. we don't drink pop, and theres no can pop sold on PEI, because of a small buisness thats sells bottle ones. It would put them out of buisness. the neighbours brought some home from N.B., across the bridge, so Ill go ask him for empyty.

**Minner77** · 04-15-2006, 02:24 PM

theres no can pop sold on PEI, because of a small buisness thats sells bottle ones. It would put them out of buisness.

I love how you all are so concerned about the welfare of your fellow islander. God bless you!

I try not to drink pop.... I go through phases. My husband absolutely abhors it, and hates that I let the kids drink it on occasion. My 16-yr old rarely drinks it. My allergist is firmly convinced that diet pop, in particular, was invented by a doctor to keep himself in business!

Blessings,
Mary

**sunshine** · 04-16-2006, 12:12 AM

Here's a picture-- not mine, but from a website where I found the instructions. . . lots of other good tips too.

http://tightwad.com/tips8.htm

**Pepper** · 04-16-2006, 01:35 AM

I'm gonna have to try that!! DH made something similar, using candles though...He took a coffee can, wire hanger and a candle, not sure exactly on the directions...I'd be more than happy to ask him and post if anyone is interested!!!