Try the same design but using a short soda can with a tub candle. Cut off the wings made when the opening is cut and instead cut a center section of plastic soda bottle and split the section so it will slip over the soda can to act as a window. The spring of the plastic will hold the window in place. Punch an extra vent hole or two low on the can to draw fresh air, you already have the pop top opening to provide a exhaust vent and hang loop, or make a bail hanger. If you do not cut the window opening to large you can set a metal cup on top of the lantern to act as a cup warmer. I can put a 16oz. Sierra cup on top of mine. It you want to try the warmer you will need to add a couple top side vents.
looks nice, but I have to agree with the posters who linked LED lanterns. There is very little advantage to fuel lanterns since the LED has become big. They are lighter (in terms of weight and how many lumens they throw out!). The LED killed the camping lantern... RIP
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Originally Posted By BZH
The LED killed the camping lantern... RIP
It sure did. We have to deal with less light I suppose, but the weight trade off sure makes it worth it.
A tea candle is a multi-purpose item, so I always bring one or two anyway. When an LED light fritzes out it's almost always the switch that went bad. Most of them have a resistor between the light and the batteries, so it's not easy to bypass the switch without blowing the LEDs out. That's been my experience anyway. So, I always bring that lo-tech, absolutely reliable, lightweight tea candle.
One of the things I like about this concept is the cup warmer idea. My morning coffee does get cold when the temps are below 30º, and I hate that, so if you're going to make either one of them, making one that serves as both makes sense. Another thing is, I'd finally get to burn some of those tea candles
Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Anything that uses a battery is suspect in my book. I like the candle idea. I have a candle lantern sold by Early Winters (long gone). Looks like a UCO and it works great. I don't have to worry about getting wet or running out of power. It is bright enough to read by in my tent. I've also used it outside as a marker at night so I can see my tent site if I walk away from it.
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Don't get me started, you know how I get.
Good fun, but it's tricky trying to not melt the plastic cover. One thing is to add as many vent holes as possible, many many holes, esp. around the bottom. The cool air draft keeps the plastic cool. Not enough holes and the interior heats up too much. I haven't taken it out camping with me, because it's delicate and I haven't put much thought into how to pack it without crushing it, but I've used it backyard camping with the kids. It's the prefect amount of light to keep the boogie man away until they fall asleep, lol...
Thanks! that's a new trick to try..I've used soda can lanterns for years if I'm going to bring other people's trash out might as well use it for good...metal cigar tubes work wonderful for candle and dry tinder starter containers.
Anything that uses a battery is suspect in my book. I like the candle idea. I have a candle lantern sold by Early Winters (long gone). Looks like a UCO and it works great. I don't have to worry about getting wet or running out of power. It is bright enough to read by in my tent. I've also used it outside as a marker at night so I can see my tent site if I walk away from it.
I gave up on candle lanterns during the summer because of weight, a candle that gives me a lot of light weighs a lot more than an LED. I do like them in winter, as I usually hang one in the very top of my tent near the vent. I find when I keep a candle burning up there all night helps keep air moving out and reduces frost up inside.
Yes, the weight thing matters. The more I carry this stuff with me, the less I seem to need. Laziness has its virtues. But, there's something very comforting about a flame. I'm an ardent tea candle addict.
Anything that uses a battery is suspect in my book. I like the candle idea. I have a candle lantern sold by Early Winters (long gone). Looks like a UCO and it works great. I don't have to worry about getting wet or running out of power. It is bright enough to read by in my tent. I've also used it outside as a marker at night so I can see my tent site if I walk away from it.
I'm with big TomD; Batteries do one thing, then they die. And when they die, people panic. Always good to have something reliable like an old fashion candle. You can "see" how much power you have left, and you can do other things with that tiny flame, should necessity require.
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