UCO Candle lantern?

J

Jake Bauer

Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
4,293
Hey guys,

Any of yall have the original (not the mini or 3 candle version) UCO candle lantern? What do you think? Is it worth it? Looks like a pretty nifty little lantern.

ucooriglanternpol.jpg
 
My wife has one. Fairly heavy but if you use the good candles they will burn all night long.

Having some trouble with ours getting waxed up and the candle not advancing but it's over 20 y/o.

Normally any more we take the little tea light one.
 
Had mine for over 20 years, got it from Early Winters. Nice, plus it will keep the condensation down in tent. Didn't someone do a oil can insert thread here?? I've got an oil can insert, but it leaks like a sieve.
Bought my last ones from Walmart, priced down to $7.
Need to get the tealight one next.
Don't get the citronella candles, they melt too easy.

Plus you can get reflectors for top or side of lantern.
Watch out for the top one, comes in two pieces you put together. Can cut you like an Ulu knife.
 
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I have several, plus one of the mini tea light versions, which I use with a 9 hour tea light, as its smaller and lighter (weight wise). I like them.

There's something special about candlelight!
 
I have had an old brass colored one for quite some time now. I do like the shade version, is that homemade? I usually use a homemade candle lantern that I made quite some time ago. Made a bunch of them for extra money when I was more energetic. They look like barn lanterns. I took them to the blackpowder shoots.
 
I think I once owned a lantern as shown in the first picture. Don't know where it went.

I've posted this picture before, but I thought it may be of interest. I've made quite a few of these homebrew candle lanterns. The bottles get really hot at the top, so you have to take care not to touch them or let them cool suddenly with splashes of water or rain.

You also have to be sure not to hang them close below flammable substances as the heat is intense.

The bottoms of the bottles can be cut off if you have the gear, but I knocked the bottoms out by shaking something like a large nail up and down in the bottle. sometimes the bottom came out neatly, sometimes it was a disaster.... but there are hundreds of bottles around. A bottle with a bigger diameter neck might be better so more cold air can get funneled through it thus maybe letting the bottle stay a bit cooler.

A naked candle can burn down really quickly in windy conditions (plus it can blow out of course).... but sheltered in the lantern it should last longer.

bottlelantern2.jpg
 
bltjr1951 said:
Had mine for over 20 years, got it from Early Winters. Nice, plus it will keep the condensation down in tent. Didn't someone do a oil can insert thread here?? I've got an oil can insert, but it leaks like a sieve.
Bought my last ones from Walmart, priced down to $7.
Need to get the tealight one next.
Don't get the citronella candles, they melt too easy.

Plus you can get reflectors for top or side of lantern.
Watch out for the top one, comes in two pieces you put together. Can cut you like an Ulu knife.
Click to expand...

Somewhere I read that Citronella will attract bears - don't know if it's true or not.

Doc
 
Ha. Repels small pests and attracts big ones. I can imagine a critter being curious about a fragrance like citronella.
 
10 x 3 x 9 = 270 hours of citronella emmission. Your island might not be free of bears once you've burned all those candles.
 
They're great -- I've had one for 20 years. Had to replace the glass chimney recently, and got one for four bucks off the shelf at REI. How many things are that consistent and serviceable anymore?

I just back from a quick camping trip, and it was great. It's much nicer light than an LED, and it helps beat the chill in a tent.
 
Never had one, but always kinda wanted one. They're $15+ around here, so I've never picked one up. I might try to trade for one soon, after having seen them in action.
 
Thanks for your responses guys. Couple questions..

Heard the UCO candles dont drip, true?

Is the chain from the bottom there so it can be hung upside down? (again, I'd think it'd drip, but thats why I asked the first question)
 
I have one that I use for emergency power outages and camping. Really nice for what they are. I have the reflector and the shade and they seem to work OK. Will probably start going with the tea light version from now on though. Easier and less moving parts.

This is one source for high quality beeswax candles, survival candles, and candles to fit the UCO lanterns.


http://www.philoxia.com/
 
Loosearrow, the reflector is store bought, comes in two pieces that you snap together.
 
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