Lamps : oil or candle ?

I haven't and I missed the other post and I'm too tired from cooking all day to look it up, BUT I am a big fan of candles in winter. The added weight is worth it.
If you're looking for something else or specifics, you might want to clarify your request for us tryptophan-tweaked folks.
;-)

Hi
I am just after how people that have used them perceive advantages and disadvantages of the two. Like weight/safety/volume/fumes/smells.
Essentially what works better and why.
Franco
The other thread was the "tent heater" one

I prefer the candle lamps because they save you the hassle of having to deal with lamp oil that can potentially leak into surrounding gear. Plus, you have the weight of the lamp and the oil container to deal with. Most lamp oil is essentially kerosene (paraffin); it has an odor which has an uncanny ability to migrate into anything including food and TP. Same reason I don't like kerosene stoves.

There are odorless and scented lamp oils but I wouldn't want any of it in a small confined space. The risk of deadly fire is not worth the fun. Before LED lamps, I used one of those fully enclosed candle lanterns. I always hung it so it couldn't tip over. Now it's strictly LED headlamps for me.

Any hydrocarbon fuel (candle or oil) is going to release water vapor as a byproduct. But, a small lantern might increase the temperature enough to lower the relative humidity inside the tent enough to have a drying effect. Once the lantern is off and the temperature drops, the relative humidity will be higher than before though.

I've only burned a candle lantern for less than an hour in a well-ventilated tent, and it definitely warms up a small tent some.

I have used a UCO candle lantern camping almost my whole life. I used to not bring a headlamp and just use the candle lantern for light. When you get used to not having the harsh white attack of the headlamp, your eyes really adjust to the natural light. I have also used the reflector to point the light forward. It is kinda clumsy, I am sure you could make something lighter and better if you were using the lantern for hiking.

At night I often hang the candle lantern in my tent from a line running across the tent. If you are sharing a tent you need to make your tent partner very aware of the consequences of bumping the candle lantern. Although the UCO is so enclosed and swing worthy, the most i would worry about would be the top metal melting a hole in the tent.

It helps to raise up the tempreature in the tent a couple degreess and helps get rid of condesation that forms on the inside of the tent.

1 candle burns 9 hours with no drip/mess or clean up. All parts are field serviceable except the glass globe (make sure you get the neoprene cocoon, I have broke many globes without them. weight 1.5oz)

Don't bother with the mini candle lantern. Without the spring pushing the candle up, might as well just bring a tea light or normal candle and save the weight.

I have not used the triple candle lanterns, but I have heard they can get warm enough to warm food over and is almost equivelant to having another body in the shelter with you heat wise.

Don't bother with the beeswax or citronella candles. The originals are where it is at!

Happy candle lanterning!

I've had very good experience warming tents with the UCO candle lanterns – I've always taken it in colder weather. Also highly recommend the neoprene cover and reflector. I don't leave it burning when sleeping though.

Beeswax candles would be nice for the UCO simply because they are supposed to burn cleaner (no soot). Anyone see any beeswax candles that fit them?

Caution!!!
The hard white candle wax has a far higher melting point compared to beeswax.

Translation: the white candle will have a pool of molten wax at the top (as usual) but the wick will be held secure by the solid wax underneath. The beeswax candle will very quickly become a pool of molten wax and the wick will fall over and the flame go out. The wax may spill as you try to 'fix' the problem.

There are of course blends sold as 'beeswax' candles. They burn fast.

Cheers

Very good to know – thanks Roger!

Hi
Thanks for that. Food for thought.
I have seen the UCO lantern. It seemed a bit heavy but have not seen a better alternative as far as stored size and something that still looked relatively safe.
I did try to make my own (with a candle) a few years ago and then gave up.
This has to do a lot more about "comfort" as in the possible warm glow and maybe less condensation, then lighting (setting alight ?) the tent.
Might have to experiment.
Franco

If anyone still wants to try the beeswax or citronella candles, UCO makes them themselves:
12-Hour-Beeswax-Candles-3-Pack

How much do these candles really heat up a tent? It seems far fetched to me that such a small flame could really make any dent in the temp of a tent.

What about CO concerns? It seems to me that when these would most often be used (winter) is also when we have the least amount of ventilation open on a tent. Having seen CO alarms set off by candles before, this seems like a risk of a candle in a small area like a tent.

Candle lanerns SHOULD use a stearine wax candle ("plumber's candle") because it burns all the wax and won't drip – unless you tip it sideways.
I've used them for years in the '70s and '80s to good effect in winter. You could get 5 hours from one candle.

Then Candiol came out with their compact lantern and then later they made a conversion kit for candle lanterns. Basically it was just an oil can with a wick (and cover cap) the size of a candle. Being gear junkie I bought both and found you could get 8 hours from the candle lantern conversion kit and much more from the larger original Candoil lantern.

BUT… if you try to pull the wick up a bit to get a larger flame it will eventually make a LOT of soot which will fall on you and get its greasy blackness on everything. Don't ask me how I know this!

I do prefer Candoil lanterns over candle lanterns because they burn a lot longer for the same weight of fuel and the faint scent of the highly refined lamp oil is pleasant. You can buy lamp oil in several scents. I like baybery – when I can find it. Both oil and candles seem to give off the same amount of light.

BTW, I liked candle & oil lanterns in winter not just for reading in the long nights but for the warmth they provide – at least 10 F. more heat. If you wake up early and don't need to pack up that day you can light the lantern and let it warm the tent and dissipate some of the frost on the waterproof lower tent wall before rolling out of the sack. Just don't bump it!

I use a UCO candle lantern; I can provide some data points on it.

My UCO lantern w/ candle is 190 g, and a candle by itself is 50 g. I have recently been burning the citronella candles, which do an OK job at keeping mosquitoes away. More than half the time, the citronella candles burn longer than 10 hours. That means that some mornings I wake up and have a nub left that will burn a little longer before I need to drop a new one in.

I use my candle lantern for the following purposes:
– soft light to see around the campsite
– mosquito management
– overnight campsite locater/marker
– elevating moral
– repelling rain (sounds funny, but it never rains when it is lit)

In the past, I have burned my lantern outside my tent/tarp. After having a recent serious problem with condensation under my tarp (much due to user error), I read a lengthy article on condensation as it relates to radiant energy. On my next trip, I intend to move the lantern under the tarp to use it as an IR emitter in the hopes of reducing condensation. Idunno if it will work.

The major problem with the UCO lantern is bumping it while it is burning which causes molten wax to spill out. Like fire safety, knife safety, and electrical safety, I had to learn this lesson the fun way.

My UCO lantern has dripped hot wax out the bottom/side at the end of a candle burn twice in the last 20 candles. I am pretty sure those two times were related to using non-UCO candles that were too small in diameter.

I consider my UCO an unnecessary but appreciated luxury.

acronym 11/28/2009 12:59 AM