How Safe are Kerosene Lanterns for Camping in 2023?

[@oldfatncranky5599]

I have been using kerosene lanterns since the late 50s and canvas tents just as long. It has always been my understanding that a tent is to block wind & rain, heat retention is the job of your sleep system and clothing.

[@stevesmith8854]

As a Scout from the Sixties, I agree. The old canvas wall tents we used had no floor and plenty of ventilation. DON'T use in modern, almost air tight tents.

[@randyholcombe4234]

@@stevesmith8854 Airtight? Have you seen the mesh?

[@stevesmith8854]

@@randyholcombe4234 single wall non-mesh

[@ostekuste3646]

I’ve got a couple of these old lanterns my grandfather used around his farm. I also have several kerosene lamps in the house that have been in the family for ages. All are clean, tuned up, and are used when power goes out. I find them much more reliable than storing batteries for long periods of time. All you have to do is respect that it is a flame source and use some sense. That is where the problems start😂

[@DWMurry]

I been using them for like 60 years now... So far, so good.

[@scudrunneradv3269]

Fond memories from my childhood camping with my father and brother. 60 years later still using a kerosene lamp and cast iron cookware. Nothing can beat it.

[@DamianBloodstone]

I have a Jupiter Dietz lantern. My friend was terrified to use it indoors. (My condo is anything but airtight in any room. A canvas tent might be better.) So to prove it was safe against a knock over with lamp oil, I set it up outside, lit it and intentionally turned it over on a concrete pad. The flame went out almost instantly. A little lamp oil did leak out afterward, but nothing caught fire. Even the lamp oil wouldn't burn on the concrete with a match in it. You can also use clean olive oil in them, but they soot some. Some lamp oils burn cleaner than others and have little smell or sooting. Kerosene does not burn clean and the smell is terrible. It will soot your globe. As to the airflow in a tent, the lantern will do just as you said. It will destroy the humidty/condensation but not truly heat the tent. I've tried it in a mesh walled tent. No good at all. In a mesh ceiling and fabric wall tent, it does warm it as much as a candle might, but that's not much. One tip I remember, I think, you taught me. Never light a cold globe on a lantern. It will shatter. Always carry it close your body until it warms. I juat thought I would add these things. Thanks for another wonderful vid and time. Take Care and Stay Safe.

[@jeffnelson1672]

For those who haven't used kerosene in a kerosene lamp before, I'd just like to add that the difference in light output between kerosene and 'lamp oil' is something you have to see to believe. With kerosene, you really have to adjust the wick height to the "sweet spot" -- not too high or too low. Too high and it smokes; too low, and you don't get as much light. When you adjust it right, it's so bright it hurts your eyes to look at it. You just don't get that kind of light output with lamp oil (or candles, etc.) It's no wonder kerosene lamps were so popular back in the day.

[@akbychoice]

The design directs more air where it’s needed to burn cleaner and brighter than hurricane oil lamps.

[@xboxgorgo18]

Also, oil turns solid in colder temperatures, making them useless. Kerosene, though, has a higher freezing temperature and can maintain its liquid form more than oil

[@bowdiersackett6433]

I'm using my grandfather's feuerhand from 1940, works great

[@HootOwl513]

Feuerhands are the Mercedes of hurricane lamps.

[@crankyyankee7290]

My first memories of those lamps goes back to the mid '50's-the smell of Kero. burning never fails to make feel warm and fuzzi with camping memories,along with Coleman lanterns and the gasoline stoves hissing along.

[@tomcatt998]

Kerosene smell and coal smoke & creosote smell when walking the tracks picking up coal. i miss West Virginia

[@preacherman9018]

I can't speak to the lantern, but only a Coleman stove. I only tried this once and it was almost the last. The temp dropped suddenly and didn't prepare so I brought in the stove to take the chill off a few minutes. It didn't take but a few when CO poisoning built up. I didn't smell it. Got seriously sleepy, sick, headache and fought myself to awake and get to fresh air. It took a long time to get back to normal. Keep that in mind guys if you burn anything in a tent. Also remember that nylon and polyester burn like matches that drip napalm. One careless bump sideways could be a bad night.

[@mercifulhorror4935]

Not the stoves fault I understand your dire need for heat in that moment but I thought it was common sense that gasoline or fuel anything puts off carbon monoxide especially dangerous in a closed area with no vent I understand your situation though it's a honest mistake anyone can make in the moment

[@debbiej.2168]

Glad you survived. Sounds like you were lucky.

[@mercifulhorror4935]

@@debbiej.2168 yeah it does sound lucky

[@asmith7876]

Carbon monoxide has no odor, you’re lucky you’re not dead.

[@preacherman9018]

@@mercifulhorror4935 I didn't blame the stove. I was the foolish young man who nearly lost his life and hope to share this so others consider the warning before doing likewise. I'm not contradicting Blackie either because he mentioned that difference between a little waterproof nylon and a large air permeable water resistant cotton canvas tent. He was addressing a lantern that puts out a small flame for light while mine was a stove that consumes high amounts of O2 and much more CO. I'm mostly glad to know that there's a place available for everyone regardless of when they leave this world. Blessings,...... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpOvfnqQr7WKapIsi=o_vsKPxIjpxcUmj1

[@57WillysCJ]

Old tents were like old houses, plenty of air leaks. 40 years ago you could burn a kerosene heater in the livingroom. Not a bad idea to take a carbon monoxide detector with you. They sell quite a few models for between $30 - $40.

[@Julian-bq9qv]

BTW - do you remember the Y2K panic? One of my friends from up North, had been really worried so he bought a kerosene heater.... he asked me later, if he could use GASOLINE in it. I laughed and said, well, yeah, once... then I explained what to use, how to work the heater and so on.

[@mikebolton3816]

I have a whole bunch of these! I just use them outside around my porch, and by my picnic table and fire pit.

[@nickbarry7039]

Back in the 80s I did a lot of Harley camping in the summer up here in the northeast. My kit varied depending on the trip. The two things that always were included, a ten inch cast iron pan and a kerosene lantern. Two of the most time tested camp utensils that never let me down! Thanks for bringing back all of the memories.

[@ericvater7855]

Thank you Blackie that was a very bit great of information about these lanterns. I really like information you provided. Thank you Blackie 👍👍

[@michaelschwab8982]

Thank you, Blackie! I liked the explanation of how the kerosene lamp worked and I learned something new as well. Mike

[@trynsurviven2440]

Very valuable information.

[@Julian-bq9qv]

Always so good to see you, a fellow Alabamian- I enjoy your channel so much. I cannot go camping any more due to some health issues but watching you still provides me some happy memories. Thanks!

[@markpenley8764]

Just something nostalgic about the light these give off. I prefer to disperse camp where there are no lights. I try to get all camp chores done before dark. I use a headlamp when needed.

[@MichaelR58]

Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing, God bless !

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie, Thank You for sharing this information it very valuable ,Thanks Again for sharing your Time and Knowledge and Wisdom and Experience and Passing on The Craft and All Your Hard Work. Tim L.

[@willkillingsworth9736]

I had one of those dual fuel lanterns. Burned gasoline, kinda dangerous, but it worked during hurricane Michael. Great watch thanks Blackie.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@MuzzleloaderPoland]

I love this type of lamp, invented by Polish pharmacist Ignacy Lukasiewicz.

[@edgarburlyman738]

Me too. I spent a winter in a condemned house with one of the heaters, warms you to the bone, expensive when you're poor though.

[@edgarburlyman738]

Oh the lamps are just as warm as a mini heater, same tech

[@smoothvern165]

Thank you for the great explanation of those lanterns! I’ve never had one, but I plan to get one. I always appreciate your advice!

[@hiramhaji7813]

Great information. My only problem with kerosene is the suit in a closed area

[@inregionecaecorum]

Back in the day when I was a lad there were a lot of deaths from domestic parrafin heaters due to CO. Thing is nowadays we have CO monitors, I use a parrafin lamp in my canvas tent and it has never set off the CO monitor, so there you go.

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

I dont do dead of winter 12 degree (not that 12 degrees is common in ga) camping. I generally like to camp in early spring mothers day weekend is the official camping season start for me. (its a Family thing that i will only explain if someone asks me about it) in our camping gear we have propane lanterns and they do there job well but in the evenings when the bugs are out the hurricane lanterns are lit and we run them exclusively on citronella oil to keep the bugs away also the light is very dim so wont disturb you while your sleeping and provides enough light for the inevitable middle of the night bathroom trips

[@jeffwelsh1185]

Hey Blackie, You say the only fuel to use in the old lanterns is lamp oil, or kerosene. I follow Simon, a bloke in the woods, and Andy from Kent Survival in the UK. Those are the only type of lanterns I see them use, can’t remember the brand but both from Germany, and they use nothing in them but what they call over there Methylated Spirits ( denatured alcohol) . Years ago when I was using them, I used kerosene, I had issues with the globe sooting up when I would turn up the wick, and got tired of cleaning the globe. They get better brighter light from the denatured and I have yet to see them have to wipe the globe clean. So I believe there is a 3rd and cleaner fuel that can be used in the old oil lanterns. Love your videos, content is always great, and also learn a lot from your videos. Just my 2 cents on the old lanterns.

[@Ufo2lol]

I found a 1930 Feuerhand in a barn at my grandparents place. It had been used regularly until 1944/1945 when they got electricity. Then it was thrown in a bucket until February this year when I found it. Just needed to fix a hole in the tank with some epoxy and now it’s almost as good as new, except for the rust since it was never painted, but it gives the Feuerhand a good patina.

[@jesustheyrealltaken]

I have a Dietz lantern with a HUGE fuel reservoir that was designed to use to keep greenhouses from freezing.

[@townings9185]

You can use a lantern to cook food . Lehmans sells lanterns along with the stove that fits on top of the lantern.

[@outbackowl3040]

for Blackie, make from Australia 🇦🇺, thank you, thank you for your time to make these videos .

[@reneschaap8091]

goedenavond Blackie👍

[@icarusairways6139]

Sometimes you just have to pay attention to what you're doing.

[@robertberry3394]

I have 4 lanterns. 2 are the big #80 dietz. I use uls diesel. No problem with sooting. Burns brighter and longer. At 1/4 the price of kerosene.

[@DavidPyro]

Video idea: see if you can get one to burn on extra-virgin olive oil. Many of us bring cooking oil in our food kit, so this would make oil a dual purpose item.

[@hagman1077]

Greetings Blackie- I have two of the same hurricane lanterns that you have here. They do put out a little heat as you mentioned, but not a lot. I like the idea of your forged hook for hanging. This may be a future forge project that I may need to do. As always, good tips here too. Thanks again and you guys be safe amongst the woods down there in your south. Carry On-

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@edgarburlyman738]

Before watching: very safe, awesome, comfy and they smell good

[@rossrossier935]

Thanx Blackie ! Been doing this since the late 60s, never had a problem!

[@forestgnome55]

Thanks for clearing this up, always been a little afraid of a lantern in a tent. Regards, Pink.

[@stevesmith8854]

Awesome advice on the fuel

[@glyngibbs9489]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Much appreciated.

[@Jusoon]

I depend on candles laterns. you can get some very long lasting bees wax candles that fit lanterns cheap and you can craft them yourself if you've got a hankering to. The heat isn't as intense but it will keep a good 4 season tent warm as june for you.

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

Talking about heat loss in a modern tent is why I try to tell people that good insulated sleeping bag will do them better than a space heater in a nylon tent. A small space heater is ok for when you get up in the morning to get dressed in front of. But not for your main source of heat at night.

[@redsorgum]

So, how do you know that the ends of the globe are razor sharp, and might cut your hand?…..(you said ask me how I know 😂) You can use rubbing alcohol in an alcohol stove, but it’s not the best and it also leaves soot, so in the same way, diesel might work, but like you said, it will leave soot. I love my Dietz oil storm lamps.✌️🇺🇸

[@williamdroom5789]

Like the flowerpot hack! Great insyructional video!👍

[@danwidmer8276]

I never new that much about those lanterns, thanks for all the information.👍

[@randy-9842]

You covered a lot of valuable ground in this video, Blackie! I appreciated your elaboration on the different types of fuel and giving the reasons for your instructions! That always helps. Also, I never ever would have even thought about deer being accustomed to kerosene odor! :D Thanks

[@timvest8141]

I used to use 2 of those plus a big kerosene lamp in the garage on my bench with an electric heater and i was pretty cozy. I haven't used them past couple winters since I got my Big Buddy.

[@kamaeq]

Thanks. I go these days with ultra pure lamp oil for fuel, but I only use them inside for emergency lighting, although I would use them for heat... Except, since we share "my South" fairly closely and I'm closer to the coast, long term power loss comes in the heat almost always. I can only remember three times power loss happened in the winter, all of them below 25F.

[@MrStanwillis]

Great info, thanks.😊😊😊

[@barryduckworth5224]

Never heard the deal with the flower pot, thanks for the tip.

[@thomasoverton7131]

Very informative video. Thanks for sharing Blackie 👍

[@rachaelwyatt754]

Blackie, can I add without disrespect that for us in the UK it is Paraffin and also I think we have lamp oil. I also use unleaded petrol (gasoline) in my Coleman plus methylated spirit and paraffin in my Tilley lamp.

[@bretjohnson6188]

If I remember my world travels correctly, the "lamp oil" in the U.S. is the same thing that the British call "paraffin".

[@pemekd6369]

we've always had one at home as a backup light

[@andrewrush5125]

I tried using one of those lanterns in my van with paraffin, set the Co2 alarm off.

[@Richard-r1x7d]

Co alarm not CO2

[@fastdude2002]

Great video 👍

[@alf3553]

I’ve been around Diesel Fuel for so long I can’t stand the smell 😂. I have 6 of those old lanterns & have used them a lot, always used a lamp oil in them. Either regular lamp oil or citronella if the bugs are bad. Things are only as safe as the user. I’ve used small candles & pic bug coils inside tent but I keep them in a safe location & use them inside an old coffee can.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for all the comments safe journeys to all of you

[@tennesseesmoky9012]

Interesting subject. I’ve always used lamp oil as the fuel for one of those lanterns. At least I think it was one of those lanterns. In the past, you could pick them up in the camping section at Walmart for less than $20. We’ve used one just a few years ago as a nightlight at our campsite. We would hang it by a small chain. Never had any problems, would adjust it down low and it would burn all night on one fill of the lamp oil. Haven’t used that type of wick lantern since then. They are gathering dust on the shelf of our shed. Thanks for the tips. - Tennessee Smoky

[@phillipmerritt1428]

Enjoyed the lantern video, good infor.. Thanks 😊

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Robbie7441]

Thanks blackie ❤️🙏

[@jeffrichards5106]

Great information Blackie. Thank you! 👍

[@dwhallon21]

Blackie thanks for clearing the air on this subject

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Any time!

[@jerebigler7520]

I've seen videos of people saying they used olive oil in their Dietz lantern. I never wanted to risk my lantern by trying it but wondered if you had ever heard of that or, any thoughts on using it. Never heard of inverting a flower pot over it like that but it makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

[@dalemeyer8207]

Good info

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊thanks Blackie. I love these lanterns

[@johnthomasjr262]

Thanks for the advice on this lantern. 👍 great video

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks Blackie

[@dalemeyer8207]

I have wall mount hooks in my house , garage inside and out incase power is off

[@davidwright5580]

We had a few of those Kerosene when I was a kid

[@roberthoffman5951]

Great educational video

[@johnroberts6353]

I used to use these lanterns for camping, but I've given up on anything that uses liquid fuel. No matter what precautions you take, leaks will eventually occur. If it doesn't cause an unwanted fire, it can soak into and ruin other equipment. Like Blackie says, "Ask me how I know."

[@RobertNixon-uw2xt]

Need info on silver fox outngs. Coming up soon

[@MrRourk]

Kerosene is not to bad we in the boating community miss our kerosene boat heaters. They were all made in the UK or Switzerland.

[@randybradley7427]

Blackie noticed the squatch window sticker. Have you ever seen one of these.? I personally never have. But have heard stories of these beings in the mountains.

[@larryjanson4011]

i will keep my cheap ( not in price) nylon tent as i can zip it up the keep the blood suckers out. if i am cold in my bag i just wrap all up in my wool blanket. but at 65 i do not do much tent camping any longer. but i do have two or three of them out in the garage. i like the bed in my rv best. but YES keep ALL sources of heat AWAY from nylon tents, even your cigarets. there was this seen in the movie omen.. or was it omen two? been a very long time. might volute utubs rules so will not say more, but if you know the part it gets the point across.

[@jaycimbak7781]

If you want to warm a tent, take a large very dry stone and heat it up in or near the fire and then wrap it in a spare COTTON shirt and put that in the tent 1/2 hour before turning in. This way the tent will be warmer and between that and a medium size stone wrapped in a sock and placed in the bottom of the sleeping bag, you'll be very comfortable.

[@pharmhound68]

Just FYI, low sulphur diesel burns well in them. Diesel and kerosene is almost the same thing. Just a couple of carbon atoms different. Also. Coleman fuel, white gas is Naptha. Read the MSDS on them. They are the same thing. Coleman fuel will work in a Zippo lighter. It's light hydrated spirits. Same as Naptha.

[@chuckberg5585]

No do not use naphtha type fuels or gasoline in a kerosene lantern. It's extremely volatile compared to kerosene. Don't believe me just try putting kerosene in a zippo lighter and try to get it to light, just won't work and shows you how different the fuels are.

[@John-d7p]

The ring in the chimney cap is for pulling the chimney assembly up and off the top rim of the globe in order to provide clearance for tipping the globe open. The assembly is spring loaded and will lower itself back onto the globe rim when you let it down. The wire bail is for general hanging. I recommand parrafin based fuel for indoor use. It smells less than kerosene, does not soot as bad, and produces less CO2. You still must ventilate for oxygen. If you like the smell of jet fuel in your gear, use kerosene. But NEVER use kerosene in one of those old Coleman catalytic heaters - EVER. If you have one that you got from a garage sale, put it an enclosed space like the back of a truck with a CO2 detector. Burn it over night. Toss it if it fails. It means that someone burned kerosene in it and destroyed the catalytic material, which is asbestos. These old design lanterns probably burned down a barn or a cabin or two back in the day, but if you obey the rules there is minmal danger of a fire outside the globe. They are windproof, they are pretty stable on a flat surface, and don't get so hot that a touch of fabric will light off without at least a minute of contact to the chimney parts - which do get hot enough to hurt. A dry paper towel took one minute to begin turning just a hint of color when I tested it directly against the hot chimney vents. I've used mine many times in camp and in the tent and truck canopy - not for heat, but for just enough light. Heating a tent or canopy with a lantern takes a long time. my method is a single burner propane bottle-top stove, which heats the place while making my morning coffee before I roll out. An accessory for a lantern might be something Coleman made a long time ago: A metal can that fits over the top and adds thermal mass beyond the lantern sheet metal's ability to produce.

[@TFWS6]

I’ve heard of some folks using vegetable oil in these but I haven’t tried it.

[@blazeorangeandcamo]

Veggie oil won't wick far enough, I've tried it. Possibly a mixture of it with some kind of fuel oil would work

[@Rumblestrip]

My issue with these lanterns is the seams in the bottom of the tank tend to leak. Ive yet to find a decent way to get them to stop leaking.

[@chrisduhaime5689]

Charcoal lighter is number 1clean kerosene a little cheaper and available in most store's that carry Barbecue supplies. Like the kerosene lamps the batterys don't corrode out and they store a very long time🕯🔥

[@po-boyadventures-with-Tony]

Another invaluable video full of experience. A couple of questions.. 1) Is citronella type fuel safe for those or would it blacken up so bad that it wouldn't produce any light. 2) is the regular kerosene fuel that you get for heating a house the same as the K-1 fuel. I have a couple of those lamps and would love to get some use out of them when we camp. Even if it is just to put off a scent to keep the bugs away. Thanks again Blackie, hopefully we will be able to shake hands some day. -Tony w/ Po Boy Adventures

[@HootOwl513]

I burn citronella lamp oil in my Feuerhand Baby -- outside no problem. I wouldn't burn it inside a tent, shelter, or cabin. The anti-bug fumes get intense.

[@zippitydoodah5693]

nice

[@glennfyfe1357]

Which of the two is best for indoor use , kerosene or lamp oil?

[@outdoorvideoswithbrad]

I use little cheap metal “decorative” candle lanterns, I don’t like carrying fuel with me, and I don’t use a tent anyway

[@skovbo65]

There is one big risk by using that lantern in a modern tent and that is fire, if the lantern get to close to the tent it will melt and you can risk it catching fire. I have heard that people have dyed in tent fires because the heat and the toxic fumes from the burning nylon, so be very careful with open flame near a modern tent.

[@shannondavis1106]

Blackie, do you think you could use tiki torch oil? Maybe keep the mosquito beat back while having light

[@peterslabinger6221]

I would not put an open flame in a nylon tent. It plastic and can go up quick and melt on you. When I was in scouts in the 80’s we use to put fire buckets in front every tent. One coffee can of sand and one of water. Now we don’t even do that., if it caught fire you just let it go and try to isolate the other tents from the fire.

[@robertberry3394]

I burn #1 diesel in everything. #80 blizzard lanterns, oil lamps, wick stoves and homemade lamps. No soothing problems.

[@robertterhune1880]

Thank you sir. What about Mrs. O Leary's cow?

[@HootOwl513]

A slander against the Irish immigrants in Chicago, who were the down-trodden minority of the 1870s Period. It's interesting that the Flammable Hurricane Lantern has become a trope in every Western movie. Bad guys, fling 'em around like they're Molotov Cocktails. Bad guy tosses one in a barn or livery stable, it falls in a pile of hay, and in the next cut, the scene is ablaze... Works in the Movies.

[@HighSierraBob]

Can't find kerosene in California, so I tried bio-diesel. I don't like the odor.

[@johnmoore411]

Blackie are you a fan of the Big One.? I see the window decal. Lol Tell us about it.

[@joebazooka-w7k]

Great stuff… ask me how I know? LOL

[@kilcar]

Two buddys of my uncle Dale were asphyxiated by using a Coleman type 220 model Lantern on a very cold night in a closed tent. They never woke up. They have a 9 hour burn time. Don't use these without lots of cross ventilation. Doesn't matter what fuel, you'll burn oxygen and create carbon monoxide (O2) , a death sentence in any enclosed area .

[@david6920-r6z]

Got me a coleman kerosene lantern 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

[@JohnTBlock]

Alcohol will evaporate OUT of a sealed wooden barrel, over time, faster than the rest of the liquid. It all will, just the alkyd goes quicker. What the distillers call ."'the Angel's share"....

[@johnlindsay-ow1gz]

I done it with the bigger ones yes some of them of new cheaper one are like his old ones Braze welded do work I used them as heat for years I have 4 of them 2 old ones 2 walmart ones need to be braze welied I'm in a 15 ft box truck we get up to 6 ft snow really cold nights kick on the heater buddy

[@akbychoice]

The more refined the kerosene the better for lanterns like this.

[@keithmoore5306]

you can use jet fuel seeing how it';s just kerosene with a dye added!! they should burn alcohol but the problem is the flame wouldn't produce any light!!