Crash Course Intro to Oil Lamps

A storm rolled through and took out the power. We had been without power and spotty internet for 7 days. It was the perfect time to pull the trigger and buy some oil lamps!

I picked up two beautiful true vintage purple glassed oil lamps at a local boutique shop. Thankfully this city is just drowning in vintage items. My two lamps came in MINT condition, perfect wicks, and some magical non smelling fuel that seemed to just burn for hours night after night.

So I decided to buy another oil lamp but this time from Facebook market place. This lamp was in need of some TLC! It had been used with unrefined kerosene and paraffin oil without being cleaned in between fuel changes.

Cleaning My Oil Lamp

Remember if you don’t clean the oil lamp and install a brand new wick then the previous fuel will continue to stink up the place and possibly have a negative interaction with the new fuel.

Begin by pouring out the old fuel into a clean glass jar with a lid. I used an old salsa jar from the recycling bin. This will be taken to the local hazardous waste disposal and not thrown out or poured into the sink because it is TOXIC!

Add 1Tbsp of dish soap + hot water and use a bottle brush. For my lamp I couldn’t get a brush inside so I just added enough water to shake it vigorously and rinsed. Then I added window cleaner and shook vigorously. I added warm water + soap and repeat. Doing all of this finally dislodged all of that built up funk.

Changing the Wick

It’s important to always change the wick when transitioning between fuel types. If this step is skipped then A) you will still smell the nasty kerosene and B) this can lead to a negative and toxic reaction in off gassing aka toxic smoke inhalation.

Don’t panic because Ace Hardware typically carry replacement wicks in stock! I was able to find 5/8” and 3/4” wicks locally.

Take the time to look up wick trimming and proper care and maintenance of the wick! I like to keep my flat wicks at a sharp pointed end.

Fuel

When burning anything indoors it is important that it isn’t a toxic smell that leaves you wanting to run outside for fresh air. kerosene k1 is a refined form of fuel but it isn’t intended for indoor use and requires a lot of ventilation. That being said I set out to better understand what is available for use.

Oil Lamp Fuels

CAUTION: Only fill an oil lamp 80% full. Leave a 1/4” gap or more at the top of the chamber. Not doing this will cause oil to leak. The oil needs space for heat expansion during use.

My two purple lamps came 100% full. I went to use them for the first time and they leaked everywhere.

I started looking at the different types of oil lamp fuels to better understand what I would be burning in my home.

  • Klean Heat (1 gallon $11.99) – 64742-47-8 Hydrotreated light distillate (petroleum)
  • Ultra-Pure Clear Lamp Oil (32 oz $8.99) – C14-16 Normal Paraffins
  • Medallion Lamp Oil (64 oz $9.99) – Distillates (petroleum), hydro treated light 64742-47-8
  • Aladdin oil – Medium Aliphatic Naphtha *64742-88-7
  • Crown lamp oil – Medium Aliphatic Naphtha *64742-88-7
  • Firefly eco – Hydrocarbons, C14-C16, n-alkanes, isoalkanes
  • Firefly clean – CAS number: Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated medium 64742-46-7
  • Hyoola –
  • Hollowick – C14-16 Normal Paraffins (Alkanes)

It is important to find fuel that is..

#1. Non odorous

#2. Can be purchased local in the event of emergency

#3. Safe for indoor use

#4. Appropriate for lamp and wick size

The Winning Choice is Klean Heat

After hours of pouring through MSDS safety documents I concluded to buy Klean Heat 1 gallon fuel. This is compromised of 64742-47-8 Hydrotreated light distillate (petroleum). It has a slight musty smell similar to vegetable oil that is only noticeable if It gets on the skin. This exact compound can be found in several competitors brands at a much higher price!

Fuel Matched to Wick Size

Believe it or not but different sized oil lamp wicks often require different fuels. For instance the small round wicks can be used with paraffin. Firefly Clean fuel is also to be used with small wicks less than 1/2” and is not recommended for large flat wicks as it leads to increased smoke. To find a detailed list visit Vermont Oil Lamps.

All of my lamps are flat wick 5/8” and larger so I want a one type suits all fuel. I would also like a clean fuel that won’t gunk up or evaporate and that is Klean Heat!

Remember if you don’t clean the oil lamp and install a brand new wick then the previous fuel will continue to stink up the place and possibly have a negative interaction with the new fuel.

Safety

  1. Do not place oil lamps directly in front of mirrors or ceramics. The heat put off by the oil lamp can break mirrors.
  2. Leave headroom between the oil lamp and the roof. Setting an oil lamp too close to the roof or other objects can cause smoke or fire damage.