How to Use an Oil Lamp

Lehman's is your source for non-electric lighting! For 60 years we have been helping folks with their emergency and everyday non-electric lighting needs. Learn the parts of an oil lamp, which fuel to use and how to fill and light one from Desi, one of our non-electric lighting experts.

[NJNinni]

I almost majored in Oil illumination while in College but at the last minute, I decided to go to Med School so my parents would stop crying. My love for the Oil Lamp started years ago during a huge Blackout that affected New York and New Jersey. Today I spend hours in my workshop learning new ways to fill the Oil Lamp and how to cut the wick, it's a big stress reliever after spending most of the day performing surgery. But my first love will always be the Oil Lamp and learning about all the different components and the different types of wicks and oil. Thank you for putting this video out.

[phillipbeharall]

Thank you young lady from a 73 yr old in the UK I have a table oil lamp similar to yours after watching your video I am going to start using it again 👏👏👏👏

[knz]

Thank you for taking the time to explain this. I've never owned one. But realized this is more cost effective then constantly buying scented candles.

[snakepliskin]

I just bought first oil lamp recently and I don’t know why I haven’t gotten one before! They’re awesome. Low key ASMR from this video too 😌

[markofsaltburn]

Thank you for your clear, easy-to-follow instructions. I got my first oil lamp this week, and I feel a bit better about lighting it for the first time now.

[andygreen]

Neat video, you should do a tutorial on trimming the wick, a huge step many people miss that can greatly improve the evenness of the flame, and reduce unwanted smoking. I like to use different colored lamp oils in my lamps, as long as they are paraffin oils which are virtually smokeless and give the lamp a great look.

[JM-obmb]

Thank you. This is so helpful right now. We are having a random power outage, and I have never used one of these myself. One of my relatives always did.

[KopeknKedi]

Thank you for sharing this. I've been researching on this thing for hours and this helps me understand a lot!

[PINKFLYD-sh]

I've bought paraffin storm lamps as We have been warned of power cuts in the UK but testing it I love the natural light and use them instead of electricity at times

[tocororo]

We used those in Cuba a lot during blackouts, which were (and probably still are) very common. In Spanish they are called a "quinqué", apparently from the French "quinquet", which comes from French pharmacist Antoine-Arnoult Quinquet who popularized it in France in the late XVIII century. 😊

[OOJoe]

Hi. I just found an old oil lantern at the antique store and I bought another a Walmart last night. This was very educational for someone like me getting into it. Thank you

[ReneeRowell]

Thank you so much for your video! I am new to owning and using oil lamps and just purchased my first one from a seller on Amazon. I assumed it would come with directions and was very disappointed that it did not. I found your information and demonstration to be very helpful, and I can assure you I will be purchasing from Lehman's when it's time to begin adding to my collection :)

[DarkRyeOrganic_Au]

Just setting up my first oil lamp and was lucky to find this video when searching for info re: wick preparation/maintenance and extinguishing.
Thanks for producing such pleasantly spoken, clear and informative guide.
🌻

[justinwilson]

Thank u so much for video. My grandmother showed me so many years ago. I forgot how to use. Everyone should own at least 1.

[danomara]

Thank you for being quick and concise. I got exactly what I wanted. Other people's videos were 8 minutes long and still didn't give me the information I was looking for. Thank you

[-_CAM]

Thank you for this. Was looking for a how to video and found so many videos about burning random fuel sources. You’ve helped a newbie a great deal.

[litholistic]

Thank you for the information. Glad you went straight to the information instead of endless filler. Will check put your site.😊

[bobpeterson]

Thank you Dezzy (?). You did a wonderful job of demonstrating the how-to of the oil lamps.

[jilligain]

Ty for this! I inherited a couple of old lamps that I didn’t quite know how to use. They are very beautiful & old world looking

[Darthbelal]

The wick needs to be trimmed before use. The top of the wick should have a curved profile with the center of the wick the being highest point. Either follow the curve of the top of the lamp burner or snip about 1/4 the width of the wick from both sides at an angle of about 30 degrees. Flat wicks lead to a smoky lamp.