Pocket Sized Lantern

Step 5 Final Product:

All that's left now is to light it up. You'll notice I took it off of the wooden board I built it on for this part ;).

And that's pretty much it. A full jar of lamp oil is usually more than enough to get me through the time the power is out. This simple little lantern has helped me out quite a bit when I've needed it. It takes next to no time to make and doesn't require much to make. When it comes time to transport it, I just replace the lid with one that has no hole in it, this way it won't leak in my pocket. Hope everyone has enjoyed my first Instructable, and don't forget to vote if you liked it. Thanks.

Comments

[the.rollie]

take the bottom off a soda can cut it to fit just around the top of the jar and use silicon to glue the bowl shaped part on the top of the jar, then insert wick and add another hole for refuleing. use original jar lid as, well, the lid

[pemas35]

really liked it reminded me of when I lived in the countryside, did it with diesel

[ultracanery]

how do you light it

[Oliveman]

FIRE.

[Flonine]

um a match or lighter what kind of question is that?

[Kynan4th]

i beleive a match might work

[dragonsniper]

lol thats kinda obvious

[NecroVoid]

maybe there would be a way to make a "valve" to shut the hole with the wick in it by using another jampot lid section, especially if you offset the hole from the center?

[saritali]

You could use some cork? But it would have to be pretty small, which you can sometimes find by the bag in craft stores.

[delusional]

What are the Physics principles applied here?

[Doc Holliday]

Simple:

Determine what is to measured,
Organize the entities of interest,
Find  them,
What do we/they need, or provide,
Get the stuff moving,
Know what stuff is important.

Now, think backwards!

[TANZMEISTER]

WORD!

[chuckr44]

If you light something flammable, you get flames (heat and light).

[Faquad]

Cool idea.  Could also be used for citronella, or the like to keep bugs away when camping.   Question, however... how would you extinguish the flame if you needed to?  With an actual lantern, you just turn down the wick and the flame goes out, this... well....?

[EagleScout2007]

You could use a lid to extinguish the flame.

[JCoffey]

This is a GREAT instructable. This would be great for camping too I would think. The only problem is an open flame but I wonder how hard it would be to find some sort of glass to use as a globe

[Peter Mckee]

If you have a small bottle that is similar size as your jar you can drop a large nail in it then shake the bottle it will pop the bottom off around the seam. Then with a glass grinding bit you can grind off the burrs and make some air holes, this will allow oxygen to get in and the neck of the bottle will be like a chimney allowing the hot air to escape. Then attach it to the cap of the jar with epoxy or some other adhesive.

[jacob13]

pretty sweet idea

[skipernicus]

You could always use a tin can with decorative holes punched in it.

[tcup]

I thnk some sort of globe can be found online or in some craft stores. You won't find one for an exact fit but there are larger ones that are use for full sized oil lanterns. Maybe set the jar inside a Mason jar, could fill the Mason jar with sand fo stability. Perhaps some creative person, on this site will think up something clever. This is a group of creative people.

[zvillesurfer]

You could take an ordinary jelly jar and glue the pocket sized lantern to the underside of the lid. drill some holes in the jar, then when you light it, put the lid on the jar, and turn it upside down.

[JCoffey]

Actually the Mason jar full of Sand is a PERFECT idea. Stability, windproof, and good amounts of light. Im going to have to try this out soon!

[smh]

Glad you all liked it! The mason jar sounds like a good idea. Although in a pinch I tied some heavy gauge wire around the rim to make a sort of impromptu candle holder.

[Gracer]

fire needs oxygen.

[dungeon runner]

Oh my word! We need to alert the presses immediately of this astoundingly astute observation! Clearly the guy that works in a lab has no clue about these things.

[Gracer]

Right...  Hang on while I get this wooden shoe off my foot.

[imagicalgreek]

Really cool idea. I'm thinking I need to do this the next time I go camping... I'm thinking I might modify the design for this by adding a floating wick holder cut from the side an aluminum can or something like that, that will sit just under the cap, which I won't poke a hole in, to make this more immediately portable...(so the wick can stay in with the lid on) But if I was stuck without electricity, I can see where you wouldn't really need that. Really nice Instructable, ingenious idea. Thanks!

[Peter Mckee]

If you cut around a jar lid so that you can squeeze it into the jar but so that it won't come out if you pull on it then while its in the jar squeeze on some glue and pull it tight to the inside rim(where the jar narrows down to the threads) and wait for the glue to set to where tohe preasure isnt needed. Then isert your wick and drill a small hole in the inner lid for refuleing (you should make a plug for it) then cap it with the original lid for that jar. Now you can just cap and uncap it when you need it.
 

[Lonelydad1962]

Do not use vegtable type oil, many aminals of the 4 legged type also like the smell and come looking

[sa-adib]

Thanks, it a lot good idea.

[tonic4]

Finally a use for all those left over baby food jars.

[weaponscollector94]

i love pocket sized things and i love fire, this is the greatest invention of all time and i just made one! thanks for the idea!

[Bandit535]

Can I use olive oil?

[sharlston]

yep i did it burned for 8 hours i used a old t shirt for the wick

[tcup]

That's terrific! What a great way to recycle.

[Catskinner01]

For maximum recycle prowess, filter used cooking oil as the fuel (once through a paper towel would be more then sufficient). The result will be smoky and have more of a scent, but is effectively free and is certainly recycling.

[smh]

Actually, there's an entirely different kind of lantern we have here that is fueled by mustard oil, I might just make an Instructable for that...

[tcup]

mustard oil--what is that? I've never heard of it.

[smh]

It's oil from mustard seeds. It's really common in this part of the world, I'm sure you could find it at a local Indo/Pakistani store.

[shannnn]

Mmmmmm, mustard oil! You can find it on Devon Street in Chicago,and it smells & tastes delicious. Opens up one's sinuses, too.