How to clean the old kerosene out of your lamp easily

Cleaning lamps, burners , new Aladdin White Vertique and clear font.

[@kfl611]

I like the shape of your lamps and the Green lamp is such a pretty color.

[@lunchmoneyphilipphilip3034]

I was told by a old timer to add vinegar to the Lye solution after it has cleaned the fount out, it will make the Lye neutral and safe to the skin or other metal's.

[@TOAOZuur]

In English this is called Caustic Soda (NaOH) I think. Thanks for showing. I recently bought a old oil lamp in 20''' Matador style. Very nicely burning due to the slightly narrower glass chimney. But initial burning caused quite some smell. I guess from old dried up and degraded kerosene. Cleaning like this will avoid this smell I think.

[@Kerosenecanada]

Yes, clean out the font and use a new wick should eliminate the foul smell. Cheers

[@joelmiller5475]

I have found that lacquer thinner easily and quickly dissolves kerosene residue. I put a relatively small amount in, then swirl it around a number of times about one hour between each swirling. To prevent evaporation, I cover the burner thread area with the metal lid from a glass jar that fits nicely. Then I rinse it out with warm water if you use a lot of lacquer thinner, you can dispose of it by putting it on the dirt outside where is simply evaporates into the air, although it will be more environmentally correct to dispose of it as a hazardous material. But I only use a couple ounces. I finish cleaning with Dawn and warm water using a bottle brush.

[@maricelleonardo6357]

Beautiful lamps

[@biggysground]

CLR is good for brass, soak with 50/50 water mixture, also citrus acid "Iron Out" used for water softeners works also, mix with water and soak.

[@robertabrown2152]

I use hot tap water and denture cleaners on my lamps. It's worked well on all of them but one....that one my husband took to the garage and cleaned it for me. I also stay away from strong odors, they take my breath away, just can't stand them.

[@Kerosenecanada]

I’m sensitive as well. The oven cleaner I use a mask. The lye in water doesn’t have much if any fumes. Cheers

[@robertabrown2152]

@@Kerosenecanada I ordered some lye off of amazon. I figured I'd have it on hand just in case my denture cleaner fails me. Thanks for the info.

[@grivolas2144]

I'm lazy, I put them in my sonic cleaner and 10 min all nice and clean. I repair antique clocks, so when the solution needs to be changed all the lamps go in.

[@johnnyehlers8063]

I used Mean Green, had to let it sit overnight but it worked great.

[@lunchmoneyphilipphilip3034]

Today at Wal-Mart I got 100% Lye Crystals and bar keepers friend wich is hard to find in my area, I'm happy!.

[@peterwylie6869]

Dave can you do a video on soldering and how to fix split brass collars on center draft burner basket and gallery parts. I want to solder the metal splits but I’m not sure what solders are acceptable to use in high heat area.. thanks

[@Kerosenecanada]

Hi Peter, I only solder inner wick tubes, inner wick tubes to fonts and font to bases. I steer away from anything on the burner top or gallery just because of the heat generated by the lamp. Most of the time I just replace the affected part like the inner wick tube of burner from a donor lamp. Cheers

[@peterwylie6869]

Thanks Dave.

[@bobfortner6940]

Good tip, been working on one on and off with not much progress. Mineral spirits didn't seem to be strong enough and my next run at it was going to be muriatic acid, probably not a good choice. Is there an email address to contact you by? Looking for a couple burners for my Aladdin lamps that are not up and running yet. I'm assuming you sell parts? Thanks

[@Kerosenecanada]

Muriatic acid is very strong and can be dangerous to handle, so I stay away from that stuff. I might have parts. Kerosenelamps.ca Fill out a request. Cheers

[@rickholmwood2000]

Hello sir. I just recently acquired an alladin style nickel center draft oil lamp. I've always wanted one but noticed the flame spreader top is missing. It's not actually an alladin, it says new vestal E.M. co. Can you give me advice on replacing the spreader. Do spreaders from other lamps fit?

[@Kerosenecanada]

Go to kerosenelamps.ca Drop a line. I will send a picture of what you need. Cheers

[@lunchmoneyphilipphilip3034]

I like the idea of Lye Crystals, works fast, hope wal-mart or Lowe's has it.

[@Kerosenecanada]

I would try Ace hardware.

[@ccook570]

My local Ace has 1 or 2lb containers, in the drain cleaner section. 2lb was $1 more at $7.59. Lowes, Home Depot, and another local hardware store didn't have 100% lye. I needed 100% for cleaning cast iron, everything else has aluminum and other stuff added.

[@lunchmoneyphilipphilip3034]

@@ccook570 Thank you, I have ace about 15 miles from me, I'll give it a try.

[@Kerosenecanada]

@@ccook570 try online places that sell soap making supplies. I’m curious about clean cast iron. What type of items do you clean up? Cherrs

[@ccook570]

@@Kerosenecanada I've just started restoring old pots and pans. I just started using a lye bath 2 days ago, waiting for warmer weather to build an electrolysis tank for rust removal. There's a lot of good videos out there on how to.

[@j.armstrong9021]

I just soak my stuff over night in lemon juice or a citric acid bath, and the crud and stain disappear over night and rinses right out.

[@garbleduser]

Do you have a bunch of old gunked up wicks I could buy off of you? I want to do some chemical testing to determine the best solvent for cleaning aladdin wicks while preserving the wick's inner backing and preventing fraying.

[@Kerosenecanada]

The wicks are usually stuck and break apart on removal. Cheers

[@garbleduser]

@@Kerosenecanada If I can find the right (likely chlorinated) organic solvent, It might make the petrified wicks slide off better than lubricating them with the swear words I usually use.

[@garbleduser]

UPDATE! I just successfully rejuvenated an incredibly gummed up old wick from a nu-type B burner using lacquer thinner and acetone in separate washes. No chlorinated solvents required.@@Kerosenecanada

[@Eva-xf2zp]

I have a gone with the wind lamp, and I'm trying to revert it back to oil. I'm at cleaning the font out, but there's a pot metal screw on section that holds a screw that attaches to the metal feet. Wouldn't the lye be too caustic for the metal?

[@Kerosenecanada]

It might be. Ammonia maybe safer if you can handle the fumes. I can’t. Cheers

[@cindyrae2605]

How do you dispose of lye water?

[@Marc-zn7ok]

What if you have a brass # 12 which you can’t see through, how do you know when it’s finished!

[@Kerosenecanada]

Not sure what you mean. Sorry .

[@rexmills2843]

Are the green moon stone and green alacite font style lamps desirable?

[@Kerosenecanada]

Jade and apple moonstone are definitely more desirable than Alacite and worth three time more. Cheers

[@rgraz4929]

The prices (people are asking) on Ebay for Aladdin lamps/parts is nuts. Quick question. How do I store Aladdin lamps for the summer or more than a few months if it still has kerosene in it? For years, I've just stored these lamps as is, with kerosene still in them (one piece- font, burner, wick) for a few years and still lights up pretty nicely. What's the proper way to store these when not in use for more than a few months? (I would like to reuse the wick.) After removing the wick from the burner, do you let everything dry as is? Rinse with anything? Thanks so much.

[@Kerosenecanada]

I just change the kerosene with fresh stuff every year if I didn’t burn through what was in it.

[@rgraz4929]

@@Kerosenecanada Sounds good to me! Thank you!!

[@wendisausedo7631]

Where do u pour the contents of the dried kerosene and lye?

[@Kerosenecanada]

Depends. If you are on a septic system, then you cant flush it. You would need to dispose as a hazardous waste.

[@kidglove100]

EVERYONE LISTEN PURPLE DEGREASER PURPLE POWER FROM HOME DEPOT WILL CLEAN THE WORSE OIL LAMP IN 5 SECONDS

[@chadanderson2798]

I use iron out and hot water.

[@bebsir3]

Don’t drink THAT coffee. ;) would you mind telling us what make/model/year that font is? TY.

[@jeannetteryals6180]

How do you dispose of the lye with yuck in it???

[@davemackenzie2872]

People have asked that a few times in the past. It is biodegradable. Pour down then drain. That is the active ingredient in drain cleaner. If you on septic you might just have to water down a dispose on gravel lane or similar are where things don’t grow. Cheers

[@crazysquirrel9425]

My problem is that my fount is stuck on the glass fuel tank. Been trying WD40 for weeks and it still won't budge. Any suggestion on how to remove the font without damaging anything? Regular table lamp is what I have. Wife's grandmother had it so I cannot damage it at all. Fuel is yellowed and cloudy.

[@davemackenzie2872]

Pour everything out. Clean and soak with ammonia. Then use a hair dryer, get warm and use gloves. It’s hard to offer specific advise without seeing it. Just take your time and be gentle. Cheers

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@davemackenzie2872 Not sure I can pour it out because I cannot separate it from the glass tank. Mine screws into the glass tank. But thank you for the suggestions. I will try that as soon as I can get some ammonia.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@davemackenzie2872 Finally got it apart. Set the lamp upside down in a pot of water and heated to just over 150F. Pulled it out and it came apart easily. Washed the inside with some ammonia (Bo Peep), rinsed it, dried it, then use CRC brakleen to ensure it was clean. Cleaned the chimney with some aggressive glass cleaner and brakleen again. Aside from the finish on the burner assembly, it looks pretty nice now. Replaced the wick too. Then filled it with Tiki Torch oil that has Citronella in it. Still have to fix the thumb wheel that turns the adjuster shaft. May just use super glue or perhaps epoxy. But got to save a family heirloom and the wifey is happy!

[@cindyrae2605]

Ho do you dispose of the lye water?

[@Kerosenecanada]

I pour it in the toilet. It will clean your drains, it’s a key ingredient of Drano. Cheers

[@cindyrae2605]

@@Kerosenecanada I have a septic system--don't want to kill the micro-critters.

[@nancyhjort5348]

Where do you dispose of that caustic stuff? The toilet?

[@jsubertdawg]

NO NO NO. Do not dispose of chemicals like this by flushing them. You could do so much damage to your plumbing that way.