Kerosene lantern considerations

A few things to consider:

Type and quality of the kerosene – clear, colored, scented
Size of reservoir on the lantern
Trimming the wick before use
Keep the lantern away from children

Personally, I buy kerosene in bulk. I’ll go down to a local store and buy 15 gallons at a time. The kerosene is stored in some 16 gallon drums that I bought just for kerosene, gasoline and water – different drums for different storage needs. The drums are kept in a storage building that is separated from my house. To get the fuel out of the drum, I use a squeeze hand pump – I got mine from Lowes for about $2. From the drum, the fuel is put into a couple of lamp oil fuel containers I got from wal-mart. Its easier to handle a bottle, then it is to handle 15 gallons.

I look for lanterns that have a large reservoir. The larger the reservoir, the longer they can burn between refills. Look for something that holds enough fuel that you can go at least 8 hours without a refill.

Be sure to trim your wick before using the lantern. I like to trim my wicks in the shape of an arch. In other words, I cut the corners off the top of the wick before I use it. That way the flame is easier to adjust and puts out less smoke. If the wick is not trimmed, its going to be difficult to adjust the flame.

Keep in mind that lanterns are a fire hazard. Be sure to keep them away from where people can not bump into them, and where from the reach of children.

When I use lanterns, they are put in the bathrooms, where the mirror can reflect the light, and at least 6 inches away from the edge of the counter top.

When dealing with fire, always keep safety in mind.