The Basics Of Oil Lamp Parts And How The Lamps Work

By: Joanne Dorin


Oil lamps date back to our ancestors but today they still serve a variety of purposes. Many collect antique lamps, other purchase new modern lamps as part of their dcor, and others keep oil lamps on hand as an emergency lighting source. So perhaps it's time to learn the basics of oil lamp parts and how the lamps work.

Oil lamps are a very basic form of lighting with very few parts making up the lamp. There is the fuel bowl, wick, gallery, collar, burner, chimney or shade. So when it comes to repairing these lamps they are very straight forward.

To use your oil lamp you will need to fill the bowl with oil. Remove the chimney, and then unscrew the burner from the bowl. The wick is attached to the burner so it's easiest if you just let the burner hang slightly over the side giving you enough room to pour the oil in. Fill the lamp but leave at least 1" from the top. Screw the burner back on and you're ready to light your world.

When you are ready to use your lamp turn the wick up about " then light with your lighter or match. Put the glass chimney back on the lamp. Never use the lamp without the chimney. Adjust your flame to the correct height so that it's not smoking. If it's smoking you need to lower the wick.

If you haven't used the lamp before you'll want to give it about a half hour prior to lighting. This will allow the wick to soak up the oil so that it stays correctly lit.

When you are ready to put the lamp out cup your hands near the back of the chimney then blow towards your hands. Your breath will travel down the chimney and extinguish the flame. Never roll the wick into the burner to put the flame out. This can cause an explosion. And remember not to touch the chimney because it will be really hot!

Over time soot and smoke build on the chimney which makes your lamp look ugly and deteriorates the quality of light the lamp throws. Clean the chimney at least once a month and after every use is actually best. Crumbled newspaper works well to clean the chimney.

You will also need to trim the wick regularly. Roll the wick up " through the tube of the burner then trim off the burned tip with your scissors. There are 3 wick shapes - the flat, crowned, and pointed. Each produces a different type of flame.

You can buy lamp oil at any department store like Wal-Mart, Target, or Superstore, and you can purchase it online. You can buy oil lamp parts online at one of the many websites that sell such products.

Replacement wicks in all three styles are readily available. A wide selection of burners can be found including slip, hinged, duplex twin, eclipse, star, and plug in burners. Replacement Cosmos, Matador, Eureka, Benzo, Colza, Beaconlite, Aladdin, and Queen Anne burners are all available.

Replacement Eureka, Cosmos, and Bayonet collars are available, and you can also purchase kits to convert your oil lamp to an electric lamp.

There are many different chimneys' that are used by all the different oil lamps. These include Duplex, Aladdin, Cosmos, Comet Bulge, Matador, Cornet Tram, Bulge Chimneys, Pine Chimneys, Slim Bulge, Belge, Pixie, Kosmos, and Lamplighting.

Replacement and original tulip shades, globes, beehive shades, Aladdin domes, domes shades, and antique shades are available in cranberry glass, opalescent, etched, cobalt, optic, cased, frosted, opaque, ribbed, crackle, and cognac glass to name just a few.

Now that you know the basics about oil lamps and using oil lamps you're ready to order oil lamp parts online.

Joanne is an author of Decorz.com. If you're looking for more lighting decor ideas for your home visit http://www.decorz.com.