Easy and cheap Oil Lantern

If you like to go camping or relax outdoors you know that flash lights can be boring and candlelight can be fun (or even romantic *wink*)

I made this simple and easy to do instructable so that you can use it outdoors, while camping, in your house, for power failures, or even just for fun. Enjoy : )
The thing I like about this is that it isn't easily blown out and you can carry it around and even hang it


If you make this or your own version I would like to see your pictures in the comments thanks...

Step 1 What you need

*A small baby food glass jar (Gerber)
*A Medium sized Aluminum can (I used an evaporated milk can) that is not open
*A coat hanger
*100% Cotton rag
*Olive Oil
*JB Weld
*Scissors and other cutting tools (dremel...pliers...)

Comments

[{Havoc}.Goliath]

Im using canola oil and it smokes alot. Do any other oils work better?

[cowscankill]

That just means the wick is sticking out too much. You either have to pull out less wick, or wait for the excess to burn away.

[TALLJ29]

Good idea, by the way i think thats a steal can. The only thin made out of aluminum now is soda cans. just thought i'd let you know

[Tux0r]

A)Its steel B) Those cans are actually made out a tin and steel mixture if I remember right.

[Earths_hope]

Exellent.

[l8nite]

Unique idea with epoxying the jar and can together. I usually just place the jar inside the can. Punching or drilling holes in a design around the can is another way to allow light out and can cast some neat effects on the surroundings

[blodefood]

I'm not so sure about putting the jar inside the can. The heat build up might cause the oil and air inside to expand and put pressure on the lid resulting in a hotter, higher flame. You would use up the oil more quickly and I think it would be less safe. Besides, the constant heating and cooling of the vegetable oil may make it goopy, rendering the jar, the wick and the lid unusable. Again, not sure, but that's what I think would happen.

[blodefood]

This kind of lamp could burn for a long time. Great choice of materials!

The only thing I would suggest is a more squat jar. Because vegetable oil, particularly olive oil is heavy, once the oil level goes below a certain point on the wick, it is hard to light because the oil can't get up the wick fast enough.

[bruc33ef]

Excellent. Can't see any reason why this wouldn't work. It recycles common throw-away items into a useful appliance that should last years.

[norbizzle12]

Yeah and you could probably use recycled cooking oil but i haven't tried it

[rimar2000]

Sure, the used cooking oil is a good fuel. I use it to fire the BBQ coal.

[blodefood]

You might try peanut oil. It burns a little more cleanly than olive oil.