Candle Lanterns - who uses 'em

[kgd]

Yes, set it inside a metal coffee or large fruit juice can. The top of the can is the stovetop, cut slits or windows in the sides for light. Problem is if you confine the heat, the candle will melt quicker.

Codger

Seems reasable - except you have to carry around a pretty large can with holes in the sides. If the can has other uses though....

I was thinking along similar lines myself. I was thinking about one of those Pringles potato chip cans. A little smaller in diameter, but large enough to fit around the candle lantern. It has a metal plate at the bottom to act as the cooking surfacie. I think it has foil lining the cardboard sides along the sides that would protect it from lighting itslef. Just have to cut its length to the appropriate size.

I'll try an experiment. Problem is that it requires me to buy potato chips while I am on a diet......

 

[runningboar]

It would be very easy to go to the local hardware or feed store and buy a small piece of hardware cloth. Roll it in to the proper size cylinder, wire it together and voila, a pot stand that will not hold in the heat and melt your candles. Chris

 

[asfried2]

Ken,

Most want the lantern for the heat. Any Led headlamp will do what your target light will do and better.
Granted it can be dangerous in the wrong hands (kids and the dumb) but is very good and raising the internal temp of a tent or good shelter several degrees.

I string mine from the roof and hold my hand at the roof to guage heat, if too hot I string it lower.

Skam

Here is my perspective on the warmth issue (and I know it will not apply to everyone). Since I am an expensive down sleeping bag junky, I would rather warm myself up with more down as opposed to with a candle lantern. My last sleeping bag purchase was a Nunatak Arc Alpinist. If I had wanted to sleep 5 degrees warmer, I would have paid $20 for 2 extra ounces of down fill ($40 for 4 oz and 10 degrees, etc). For two people, I could have achieved a 5 degree warmer sleeping environment for only 4 oz of weight and only $40. Perhaps a bit more expensive than a candle lantern, but less weight and less danger from than from the candle. In reality, though, the Nunatak is shockingly light (21oz) for a 20 degree bag and I have found it to be extremely warm and comfortable and I simply don't need any additional warmth from a candle. If I was anticipating the need for a candle lantern for warmth, I would simply pack my winter sleeping bag instead.

Just my own personal approach for a planned excursion. I think a candle lantern for unplanned planning (or is it planned unplanning) is a great idea.

 

[kgd]

It would be very easy to go to the local hardware or feed store and buy a small piece of hardware cloth. Roll it in to the proper size cylinder, wire it together and voila, a pot stand that will not hold in the heat and melt your candles. Chris

Yep that works - plus multiple uses for a wire mesh - acts as a grill on the fire should you build one.

Good suggestion!

 

[Codger_64]

Well, yes it would work with the candle...excellent thought. But I would be wary of using it for a grille. Heating zinc is not a good idea. Welders are careful welding on zinc coated metal. I got it! The chromes grille tray from an old toaster oven! Roll it into a half-circle and it would stand, roll it tighter to store and transport.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

There was a guy on BushcraftUK (Abbe Osram) who made a candle stove for melting snow for drinking water and also to add warmth to his shelter. He said that it worked very well.

It looked something like this:

In the size shown, 4 tealight candles are used.

Doc

 

[skammer]

Here is my perspective on the warmth issue (and I know it will not apply to everyone). .

It doesn't as 20 below air is still 20 below in a shelter $400 dollar down bag or not. If it were just sleeping in the shelter your logic would be fine.

A candle can warm the air 5-10 degrees making a cold night tollerable at least and for much less weight, bulk and expense.

I do agree in getting a bag for expected temps though.

Skam

 

[kgd]

Okay here was my little experiment about the candle lantern/stove mod. I didn't have hardware cloth or pringles available. I looked around for what might be useful. One thing Canadians always have around is beer eh!

First up was McClays - buck a beer brand - standard 356 mL can

Turns out the can height was too small. Despite punching holes near the top the candle just went out. So I had to go for one of the pint cans (took a little longer to empty this one).

This one seemed about right. The flame came close to touching the top and stayed lit.

After 20 min., water (250 mL) was scaulding hot, but not yet rolling boil. I think trimming the can a bit might help. As would placing a lid on the bottle pot. But it did seem to work.

Oh yeah and you get to use the line.....Uhm no Mr. Warden, that isn't an alcoholic beverage, it is a TOOL

Edit: Lessons learned - always buy the premium beer...

 

[noss4]

I use a candle lantern. I leave it burning all night in case my fire goes out while I'm sleeping. In the dark woods they put out a fair amount of light.

Photo of my last camping trip falk A1 field test. The candle lantern burns steady in the background.

 

[kgd]

Hey Doc - yeah the multiple candles would really do the trick. Best thing about winter camping around these parts is that snow can be had for melting everywhere you go.

Nice shot Noss!

 

[asfried2]

It doesn't as 20 below air is still 20 below in a shelter $400 dollar down bag or not. If it were just sleeping in the shelter your logic would be fine.

A candle can warm the air 5-10 degrees making a cold night tollerable at least and for much less weight, bulk and expense.

I do agree in getting a bag for expected temps though.

Skam

Hmm. Maybe it's just personal preference. Whenever I've been winter backpacking, I've always been warm enough in my tent so long as I was sitting in my sleeping bag (wearing my upper stuff).

Again, nothing wrong with a candle lantern so long as so long as you don't mind the weight (9oz for the REI version) and the safety issues associated with a flame in a flammable tent.

 

[kenk]

With all due respect I'm not really buying the candle for warmth thing, especially if you are in a tent. The benefit simply wouldn't outweight the risk ... not to mention the mess of the soot inside my tent (from a long-term perspective).

I've been camping for almost 50 years now. If it is cold outside the most important thing you can do while inside a tent is to increase the ventilation, otherwise you are going to get a ton of condensation on the inside of the tent body, and that condensation is going to come raining down inside the tent (or, if frozen, it will when things are warmed up a bit by the sun). Warming up the inside of the tent will only make the condensation worse (it is the temperature difference at the tent body that causes condensation).

I don't "live" inside a tent. I sleep there and store my gear there - except for food & trash. At night my sleeping bag & pad keep me warm (and a hat). I tolerate the short-term cold while changing cloths - not a big deal. My tent keeps me dry and bug-free at night.

During the day I am outside the tent - except for the occasional naps. My clothing keeps me warm (and maybe a campfire). If it is raining (or rain is in the forecast) I'll put up a rain fly (dining fly) to keep me dry while cooking & eating and wear rain gear to keep me dry while out and about. My rain fly and rain gear keep me dry. My clothing and insect repellant (Cutters Advanced!) keep me bug free - if bugs are an issue during the day.

If I need to cook I'll use a stove ... or build a fire. Again, I see a candle having more value in starting a fire than in its ability to cook.

 

[zman308]

I read that during the Falklands war the Argentinians use candles to warm their rations. The Brits picked up on this. Not fast but when you are sitting around in a cold damp foxhole with time on your hands a candle gives light, heat and could warm up a cup of tea or coffee.

 

[skammer]

Again, nothing wrong with a candle lantern so long as so long as you don't mind the weight (9oz for the REI version) and the safety issues associated with a flame in a flammable tent.

I dont camp much in winter or any other time of year but I spend a few weeks in a shelter or tent with patients or training so its a bit different. A few degrees makes working on medical issues more tollerable.

That said mountaineers cook with stoves and use candles in tents all the time on high acccents as it can be a life saver. More common than you think. There is a risk granted but with some common sense it can be lowered to a safe risk.

Skam