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Yes! Score! Free mini-shampoo bottles from that cheap hotel! Err, now what do I do with them?
Why, make lamps of course!
This is a lamp which will burn many oils (Canola Oil - A couple dollars at the grocery store for more than you'll ever need, and free in the kitchen - is my personal favorite). It packs down tiny to slip into your pocket yet will give you SIX hours of a bright flame which is, according to my highly scientific method (holding my hand and friend's hands over different flames), much hotter than a wax candle.
No parts that can break if used properly.... I hear of people trying to pry things with their knife, but "Gee, I bet this lamp will be a great expedient anvil!" isn't likely to be heard, so theory makes this design unbreakable....
Neat things:
-If a small candle can warm up a snowcave as much as 20 degrees this should be able to do better :)
-Oil of this sort will either not evaporate or do so at an extremely slow rate... No, "Whoops, should have screwed that cap on tighter"
-Flame Size is adjustable from a monster you could probably cook with too a tiny even flame which will last a loongg while.
-The viscosity of the oil is such that if you knock this over, you have a generous gracer period before oil starts getting everywhere.
-Oil burns, NOT the wick (obvious, but perhaps some weren't sure)
Disclaimers:
~THIS IS MY FIRST INSTRUCTABLE, ALL COMMENTS WELCOME!
~This involves fire, don't burn yourself, others, or things which may harm others if burned.
~Don't eat the small parts, you could choke on them.
Why, make lamps of course!
This is a lamp which will burn many oils (Canola Oil - A couple dollars at the grocery store for more than you'll ever need, and free in the kitchen - is my personal favorite). It packs down tiny to slip into your pocket yet will give you SIX hours of a bright flame which is, according to my highly scientific method (holding my hand and friend's hands over different flames), much hotter than a wax candle.
No parts that can break if used properly.... I hear of people trying to pry things with their knife, but "Gee, I bet this lamp will be a great expedient anvil!" isn't likely to be heard, so theory makes this design unbreakable....
Neat things:
-If a small candle can warm up a snowcave as much as 20 degrees this should be able to do better :)
-Oil of this sort will either not evaporate or do so at an extremely slow rate... No, "Whoops, should have screwed that cap on tighter"
-Flame Size is adjustable from a monster you could probably cook with too a tiny even flame which will last a loongg while.
-The viscosity of the oil is such that if you knock this over, you have a generous gracer period before oil starts getting everywhere.
-Oil burns, NOT the wick (obvious, but perhaps some weren't sure)
Disclaimers:
~THIS IS MY FIRST INSTRUCTABLE, ALL COMMENTS WELCOME!
~This involves fire, don't burn yourself, others, or things which may harm others if burned.
~Don't eat the small parts, you could choke on them.
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Signing UpStep 1Gather Materials
This is by far the most difficult step.
After much scrounging, I came up with
~this shampoo bottle
~7/16" socket (for 1/4" drivers)
~Heavy, Solid Copper Wire, I'm no electrician but I'd guestimate 12ga.? Look at the pic :)
~The border/trim of a cotton towel
~Canola Oil
This is what I had on hand, find what you can.
~Possible body containers include nip bottles, those fuel additive/ 2stroke-oil bottles, film canisters, pill bottles....
~If you're using a container that will not tolerate heat (i.e. Plastic) you'll need something to dissipate the heat. My solution was to find a socket which fit the neck of the bottle snugly, slide it up from storage position when lighting, this takes the 'waste' heat from the flame and gets it out into the air (warming you or your food in the process) and keeping it away from your container.
~Wick Material. If you have some on hand, great. If not, even better. Find a cotton rag/towel which has a border. This will provide you with some very nice 3/8" (or so) flat/tube wick. NOTE: Do not use any synthetic material -it will melt and/or produce nasty vapors.
~Oil: Just about any will suffice. Vegetable oils (Olive, Canola, etc.) are quite nice. Mineral Oils and Animal Oils work just fine.... Got seal blubber? Scrape some of the oil off of it and fill your lamp up. Try adding salts to the oil. They'll make the flame burn brighter, and depending on the salt, turn the flame different colors. Sodium based salts (i.e. stuff on your food) will give your flame a good, bright yellow/white kick.
After much scrounging, I came up with
~this shampoo bottle
~7/16" socket (for 1/4" drivers)
~Heavy, Solid Copper Wire, I'm no electrician but I'd guestimate 12ga.? Look at the pic :)
~The border/trim of a cotton towel
~Canola Oil
This is what I had on hand, find what you can.
~Possible body containers include nip bottles, those fuel additive/ 2stroke-oil bottles, film canisters, pill bottles....
~If you're using a container that will not tolerate heat (i.e. Plastic) you'll need something to dissipate the heat. My solution was to find a socket which fit the neck of the bottle snugly, slide it up from storage position when lighting, this takes the 'waste' heat from the flame and gets it out into the air (warming you or your food in the process) and keeping it away from your container.
~Wick Material. If you have some on hand, great. If not, even better. Find a cotton rag/towel which has a border. This will provide you with some very nice 3/8" (or so) flat/tube wick. NOTE: Do not use any synthetic material -it will melt and/or produce nasty vapors.
~Oil: Just about any will suffice. Vegetable oils (Olive, Canola, etc.) are quite nice. Mineral Oils and Animal Oils work just fine.... Got seal blubber? Scrape some of the oil off of it and fill your lamp up. Try adding salts to the oil. They'll make the flame burn brighter, and depending on the salt, turn the flame different colors. Sodium based salts (i.e. stuff on your food) will give your flame a good, bright yellow/white kick.
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been looking for paraffin oil alternatives and it seems that canola and olive are the way to go.
can these be used in a regular "store bought" oil lamp without much hassle? just fill er up and go? or more to consider than that?
can it be used in the oil burning candles or would that be a no go. have read somewhere that the smaller wicks won't work with veggie oils.
thanx
jw
the bottle i used was 30ml and it lasted eight years ago before i knocked it over and even then it wasnt even nearly empty so this is great