I really enjoy browsing the thrift stores for preparedness supplies. I’m usually there looking for something else specifically, but it never hurts to browse the “miscellaneous” section or the camping/outdoor gear or look for canning jars or candles. Sometimes I don’t find anything, but sometimes I do. The last couple of times I’ve gone, I’ve found oil lamps. Oil lamps that have never had oil in them. They are super clean and the wicks are dry as a bone. And for $2.00 each, how can you pass that up?
The funny thing about these oil lamps is that every one of them has the top of the wick burned like someone tried to light it and it didn’t work so they gave it to the thrift store.
Just so you know, if you’ve got an oil lamp, it needs oil in the oil reservoir (usually the bottom of the lamp) to burn. The wick will not make a flame all by itself. So now I know you all won’t be taking your oil lamps to the thrift store, just get oil for them and they’ll work fine. Lamp oil is great, but in an emergency any oil will burn in it. Even rancid cooking oil from your storage room (although it probably won’t smell too nice). Great for when the power is out. You get lots more light from these oil lamps than you do from candles. And besides, they look nice around the house, so you won’t have to pack them up somewhere in a box–just use them for decoration until you need to use them for light.
Gotta love the thrift stores.
Keep preparing! Angela
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Valerie says
I LOVE oil lamps! I often find it funny what people choose to get rid of. Sometimes I wonder "why" a certain item would be discarded. :) Beautiful lamps and such a bargain too! :)
Dunappy says
In our area a great score like that is not likely to happen. There are so many people here who live without electricity that event the little kids know how to use an oil lamp. But on the up side, it's really easy to find oil lamps and lamp oils in the stores because so many people actually need it. We have at least a half a dozen here and actually need to use them at least one time per winter because of the bad power company.
Anonymous says
I have them here in OR, but originally from FL….We call them
"Hurricane Lamps"…. for obvious reasons :)
marci357
Kelle says
We have lanterns and we use them all the time, not because we are off grid but because we enjoy them :o)
Hey I'd like to share something we found, it's called "Klean Heat", it's a kerosen alternative. It burns with little to no smoke and no smell and is far cheaper than lamp oil and burns more efficiently as well. We bought ours through Home Depot and it was $18 a gallon.
We pick up all of our candles(pillar and taper) at secondhand stores, often they are in bundles of 5-10 for as little as a $1.
wolfe says
One of my favorite things to do is window shop for old tools. You'd be amazed how cheap and useful they can be found, not to mention the fun in trying to figure out the ones you find but have no clue what they are for.
Jack says
Never thought of looking for oil lamps in thrift shops… I have a few hurricane lamps in the event of an emergency along with a few bottles of oil… Great idea. Thanks.
Anonymous says
These lamps can burn kerosene. Lets get it over with now and warn newbies out there NOT to try white gas, gasoline, and other high-combustibles in these.
Where I came from these pretty glass ones were just 'Parlor Lamps'. Then there were sturdy versions usually made of brass for yard lamps. Hurricane lamps were the enclosed ones that had a door you could open to let the light out, or close to keep the wind from them. Usually pierced with little holes all over.
You can buy new wicks at Hobby Lobby. I stock a whole box full.
Michaela Dunn Leeper says
Lovely lamps! I recently found some on clearance at Family Dollar for $2 a piece. I picked up the last 6 they had.
becky3086 says
I have several that I have got from the thrift store and 2 very nice ones that I got from the flea market for $5. I try to keep a store of lamp oil and am glad you reminded me because I know I need more before winter.
Bloggers says
I love oil lamps and I have gotten all of mine from thrift stores and yard sales, but I have noticed the last few times I have seen them at any of the thrift stores here in southern Indiana, they have them marked really high. Like all of mine I have not paid more that $2.00 to $3.00 for well now the same ones are $10.00 – $20.00 and for cheap ones too that I can go to True Value and buy new for $6.99!! Thrift stores are getting so ridiculous in their pricing on things anymore.
Morris says
I just ordered three new oil lamps through Sears.com. I got a confirmation and almost immediately, a notice that they had shipped, all the same day. $4.99 each plus $5.00 total shipping for the three (or more, same shipping cost). It would cost more than $5.00 to drive to Sears even if they had them in stock, or to order and have them delivered to the store for pickup. Can’t beat that deal.
Emanjamin says
I am a bit late to the post here, but I shit-you-not… I bought two of those same style lamps at the local goodwill and salvation army stores! Each $4.99 barely used. I got the left one and the center one! Crazy
Emanjamin
Jane says
I have gotten rid of some of mine…gave them to my grown kids!
I have gotten some really cool ones at garage sales, a uranium one for 3 bucks! They do not give off radiation.
DO NOT let the kids take out to bring in the dogs! So I have purchased several hanging (Hurricane)ones at Family dollar for out side use and there are hooks and nails in the garage for placing these.
Also I have used all of mine I have one that back burns! The fire tries to back down the wick! So I have ordered a new burner. I also had hubby make some brackets for hanging some so I can use one to light 2 rooms. I have the one in the middle It was brand new 2 years ago I paid 15 dollars, It came with a bracket so it hung on the wall with a reflector.
I love this one! I have it upstairs in the hall so you can see the hall, stairs, into one bedroom, and the toilet and one sink with the door open! Great location! I am collecting them now and the kids like that I have some small handheld ones they can carry…They are teen boys. They do see how conveinant it was when we went without power for 3 days last February. They also add heat. We used the pellet stove at night with our generator.
Also when flies get into the house we light one and place on the stove top or in the sink. they are drawn to the light and fly into the flame. YEAH!