The simplest working lamp is a shallow fireproof dish of fuel with a wick laid over the rim, which can be built in 30 seconds. Enclosed designs, such as a lidded reservoir, a betty lamp or a tin-can lamp, spill less and smoke less, so choose one of those for any lamp that burns in an occupied room. Keep improvised closed lamps to fat and vegetable oil rather than kerosene.
Part of Oil Lamp Construction
Lamps range from an open dish to a hung metal boat. Each trades speed of building against spill risk, smoke and the fuels it can safely burn.
Pick The Design By Where The Lamp Will Burn
| Design | Build time | Main weakness | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple dish lamp | about 30 seconds | Spills; wick slides; more smoke | Light tonight |
| Closed reservoir lamp | minutes | Needs a way for air to enter | A table lamp from a jar or tin |
| Betty lamp and cruise lamp | an hour or more, from sheet metal | Needs metalworking | A hung work light |
| Tin can lamp | short, from one can | Hot lid and sharp edges | A sturdy table lamp |
Three Rules Apply To Every Design
- Stable, fireproof base. A stone slab, metal plate or ceramic tile.
- Wick that stays put. It must hold its position in the holder.
- Fuel that suits the design. Kerosene in an improvised closed lamp is a hazard because heat from the wick tube warms the fuel; use fat or vegetable oil. See Fuel Sources.
Common Mistakes
- Carrying a lit dish lamp. Open dishes spill on the first jolt. Put it where it will burn and leave it there.
- Choosing a glass jar without checking the flame distance. Flame heat can crack glass. Keep the flame small.
- Blocking the air supply. A flame needs air coming in and combustion gases going out. Do not smother it in a sealed shell.
Safety
Spilled fuel is the usual lamp fire
Every design here puts a flame near a pool of flammable fuel. If fuel ignites, smother it with a metal lid, a plate or dry sand or earth. Never use water. Flames that smoke mean incomplete burning and carbon monoxide, which has no smell: ventilate with an inlet and an outlet. See Fire Prevention.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Simple Dish Lamp (Oldest Design) — the lamp you can make tonight
- Combine with: Improving Brightness — getting more from any of them