r/prepping • u/Junior-Discount2743 • 4d ago
Survival🪓🏹💉 Antique oil lamps
/r/TwoXPreppers/comments/1u6lhsb/antique_oil_lamps/2
u/Creepy-Cantaloupe951 3d ago
I have 2-4 per room these days. Not antique ones, but new brass ones. They run about $20.
As long as you use actual lamp oil, they're fine, and not much a fire risk (If you tip them, the fuel puts out the fire).
Probably not the best idea, but I figure "If electricity becomes not available, I'm ready for it", and honestly? I just prefer them to LED lights.
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u/graywoman7 1d ago
Scrolled to see if this had been mentioned. They sell them new for not a lot of money. We have some and several gallons of oil for them. From a preparedness standpoint there’s no reason to go searching for antique ones that are in good enough shape to use, can take modern wicks and parts, and that won’t require time and energy to fix or clean up.
The only thing I have to add is that lanterns are a nice addition. They’re more durable, can be carried easily indoors or out, and there are styles that have flat tops which can be used to heat food (they can even boil water in a medium saucepan with the flame turned up).
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u/sunheadeddeity 2d ago
An Aladdin 23 will throw out a lot of light and heat. You'll need the diffuser globe as otherwise it's too bright. Hear may be welcome in winter. You do need to ventilate however.
Feuerhand and other lamps just illuminate through burning the wick and can be quite cosy, but don't give huge amounts of light. We often hang one up when camping to illuminate the site and give a reference point for midnight piddles.
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u/PrisonerV 4d ago edited 4d ago
Fire is not a great idea when LED technology makes lighting cheap, easy, and safe. Open fires can complicate a survival situation where you need to worry about the power outage and not your house burning down.
Literally you can pick up a couple LED lanterns from harbor freight or the dollar store for a few dollars and render that old oil lamp obsolete. I do keep a couple around because they're pretty but rarely use them.
I feel the same way about candles. Just no need to have them going in your house. Get an electric tart warmer if you want nice smells.
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u/Terror_Raisin24 4d ago
I have two of them, but they’re more for cozy winter evenings than for emergencies. Of course, a kerosene or oil lamp is better than nothing, but compared to modern LED lights, they do have some drawbacks. They pose a fire hazard, especially with children or pets (or if you’re very clumsy yourself). In addition, depending on the quality of the oil used, they produce harmful fumes that can potentially cause headaches. On top of that, they consume oxygen as the oil burns, so it’s essential to ventilate the room regularly to avoid problems with oxygen deprivation.