Lighting A Kerosene Lamp

Field Illumination
Went Obsolete Deterioration since 1950s
Made Obsolete By Electricity
Knowledge Assumed Basic physics and patience
When useful Prior to electricity being widspread in the home; and, more recently, whilst outdoors

Lighting a non-pressurized kerosene lamp is as simple as touching a match or other source of fire to the wick.

The key to lighting a pressurized kerosene (or often referred to as paraffin) lamp is adequate pre-heating of the vapouriser.

The concept is based on pressurized kerosene being heated, thus expanded, and leaving a fine jet orifice at high velocity. Due to its speed, it has a lower pressure than ambient, thus drawing in fresh air. Vapourised fuel plus plenty of air creates a highly flammable mixture.

The initial heat must be provided from an external source, and after lighting, a portion of the generated heat is used to keep the vapouriser hot.

The flame is used to incandesce a silk mantle.

Procedure:

  1. Apply an external heat source to the vapouriser. This is often achieved with an integral 'cup', using methylated spirit as a fuel.
  2. Generate pressure in the fuel tank. Kerosene lamps are usually equipped with an integral hand pump
  3. When vapouriser is hot, open tap and allow kerosene through the vapouriser.The remant methylated spirit flame should catch the gaseous fuel/air mixture.
  4. Refresh pressure in fuel tank as necessary.

This skill is still VERY useful when the electricity fails. Both kerosene and oil lamps are still available at most hardware stores for this purpose.