Other fuels with a much lower flash point produce a lot more vapours at warmer temperatures, making them much more volatile. By using the basic foundation that our ancestors laid out for us, our homes can still emit light in a non-technological world we just have to know which tools to use and how to use them."Kerosene is different from other carbon fuels in that is has a much higher flash point, meaning that it has to be warmer than other fuels before it will produce a vapour that can be ignited. Having a means of light during an emergency situation, (especially a longer-term emergency) can be a great asset to have on hand. Old cotton sock (that is clean) torn into strips.Shoe lace (with the plastic coating cut off).Some alternatives to candle wicks can be: I like to stick with cotton materials when making wicks. Keep in mind to find alternative wick materials that do not produce any harmful fumes that could cause any health problems. You can make your own wicks out of cotton materials like old towels or even socks. If you need or want your lamp to emit more light, try using a braided, flat wick (a half inch or narrower), adjusting the way the wire supports this kind of wick by crimping it to accommodate the extra girth. Squeeze it dry and let it dry overnight, or until it is no longer damp. To salt your wick, take your cotton twine, put it in a bowl with a little water and then cover with table salt. Further, some self-sufficient stores such as Lehman’s can also help.Ī few tricks that Mother Earth News shared to make your wicks burn longer is to salt it. Candle making supply stores will have a large assortment of wicks to choose from. Therefore, stock up on this low cost, essential prep items while you still can. In a long-term emergency, you will never have enough wicks. Used cooking oils and even oil packed canned goods can be used to create lighting. See the video below. Recycling food oils would be a great way to make use of what you have on hand. Because of the high flash point olive oil has, it is not a very flammable material and will stop burning if spilled or knocked over. According to Mother Earth News, olive oil is much safer to use compared to using candles or kerosene. However, other cooking oils such as canola or corn oil may have the potential to produce smoke and odor, so use caution. A few ounces of oil can burn for several hours, so it is also cost effective. Olive oil is 99% pure renewable fuel and does not produce smoke or odor. Some items to consider are:Īlternative Fuel – Although having kerosene fuel on hand is a great preparedness item to have to fuel lamps, in a long-term emergency, it is a precious item to that many would want to conserve. Olive oil or other types of cooking oil are great options to use in lieu of fuel to create illumination. All you really need is a container that can hold oil and will not catch fire. Voila!Īlternative Vessels – An expensive lantern is not needed to create an emergency lamp. Ensure that at least 1 inch of the wick is sitting out of the Crisco. Simply take the wick and push it into the Crisco with the skewer until it is pushed to the bottom of the can. All you need is a wick that is attached to a metal base and a wooden skewer. Similar in simplistic nature, you can make a candle from a container of Crisco. When you do not have the normal items on hand to create a lamp, there are many items that can be substituted to make an alternative source of light. All that is needed is a vessel, oil or fuel, and a wick. This type of light source demonstrates the simplistic nature of creating a lamp. This type of lamp is made of terra cotta and although it isn’t the safest type of lamp to walk around with, it would definitely be a good source of light for stationary use. When it comes to long-term preparedness, we need only look back on our ancestor’s knowledge to affirm that their methods for surviving, often considered primitive by modern standards, are effective in their own right and are applicable in the event that our modern day conveniences are disrupted. With respect to alternative light sources, sometimes the earlier ways are more efficient than the modern ones. The most simplistic and archaic type of lamp is the Canaanite lamp and dates back to 1500 BC-600 BC. In terms of the lights going out, we will need to find alternative light sources or learn to live in the dark. We all fear that there may come a time when our back ups have run out. In an emergency, adapting is the key to survival.
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