Replaced Old Stinky

[topcat7736]

Our 10 year old kerosene lantern, Old Stinky, finally bled to death on our last camping trip. His little body, ravaged by time, leaked its fine lamp oil all over the back of my van. We held a burial in the dumpster for him when breaking camp. I've been heartbroken over losing him, so a replacement was needed immediately.
 
Let my fingers do the walking, via the internet, to W.T. Kirkman and ordered a Dietz #8 in basic black. Took 5 days to arrive.
 
Now, Stinky was one of those $8 wonders with a little wick. The Dietz has a 7/8" wick, side tubes that work and a huge base which holds 31 ounces of lamp oil. I fired it up and was amazed at how much light it put out in the dark. I always wondered how people were able to read by the light of a kerosene lantern, but now I know how.
 
With the cheap ones, lighting was always a problem. Pull the lever and the globe goes off to the side. If you're not ready, it would fall & shatter on the ground. The Dietz lifts straight up and locks open so you can light the wick. After lighting, push the little handle and it closes back up.
 
The odd thing is that the longer it burns the brighter it gets. Who thought the e=mc2 up behind that? :confused:

[tlhdoc]

Does it really burn brighter or do your eyes just get used to the dim light? :p

[jpreiser]

At first i thought you were getting rid of DH!!

[Watchman]

A kerosene lantern!   Wow!  That is real camping.    The mess.... The smell...  the soot...  the poor lighting.  I have to admit I have caved in to the tempation of modern technology. I have a coleman lantern.  I know that it's not real camping,  but I could not resist. My hats off the you. Even after "old stinky" died you found a "new stinky".

[topcat7736]

Tracy- It really is brighter....runs 12-18 candlepower which is very bright compared to the one cp of stinky.
 
JP- It would have been DW cause I'm the DH! LOL
 
Watchman-
I, too, have several Coleman lanterns. Dual fuel, propane and battery powered. (You can never have enough light).
 
But, there are some good things about "kerosene" lanterns.
 
First, you can use refined lamp oil in them which doesn't have any odor, or a citronella smelling oil to keep the bugs at bay.
 
Second, at night while sitting around the campfire, it can be turned down so there's only a small light that doesn't interfere with the campfire or attract bugs.
 
Third, if you turn down a dual fuel or propane lantern far enough that it puts out a small amount of light, the mantles will get holes blown in them! The kerosene lanterns are far more adjustable. (Just don't turn them up to the point of causing soot to be emitted).
 
Fourth, lamp oil or kerosene, while mostly used in third world areas, is the safest of all fossil fuels. Coleman fuel (a highly refined naptha), gasoline and propane are all highly volatile. They and their fumes can be easily ignited by any spark. Lamp oil and kerosene need to be lit and their fumes are not ignitable.
 
Fifth, one tank of lamp oil will burn on high for about 20 hours.....at $.06 per hour! Saves money to rent more campsites! LOL
 
If anyone decides to buy one of them, I would highly recommend getting a Dietz over the ones sold in Wallymart,Target and Kmart.

[Watchman]

WOW!  I just learned more about camp lighting in one post than I have learned in the last year!   I guess I am getting a kerosene lantern.  And I will order it from W.T. Kirkman.  

That is why I read more than I post.
 I have heard it said:
"It is better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt"!

Good luck with "new stinky"

[vjm1639]

wow..I just looked these up on the internet. The brass ones are beautiful lanterns too! I may just have to order one of these.
 
 
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