A few years ago I made a very, very simple oil lamp.
I based it on a thing I'd seen in Greece, little oil lamps using old jam jars to leave on graves.
So I bought a box of phytilakia; these are short wax-dipped wicks supplied with a little cork disc to float on the surface of the oil and a disc of monkey metal to protect the cork from the heat.
1. Place the metal disc on top of the cork float, push a wick through the holes in both.
2. Fill a jar about 1/3 to 1/2 full with some kind of vegetable oil. I've used olive oil, rapeseed oil and grapeseed oil, and all worked equally well.
3. Light the wick, the wax establishes the flame, then gently drop the float onto the oil. The oil is drawn up by the wick and burns from now on.
ΦΥΤΙΛΑΚΙΑ ΜΕΛΙΣΣΟΚΕΡΙ ΑΚΑΠΝΟ
www.simvolopisteos.gr
I've made bigger versions of this using a yoghurt jar and a 3/4" or 1" diameter punch to cut the float from a thick cork insulating tile and the metal from a beer can. Tin snips or a cold chisel would do for the disc, and any crazy knife would do for the cork.
My thought is that the float and disc should be big enough to keep the flame away from the glass, although of you use a jar that was made to withstand being sterilised and filled with hot jam, cracking should not be a big problem.
If I was to use these in camp, I'd probably carry the lamp empty and the oil separately in a small bottle, and I'd also rig up some kind of bail or maybe a handle using thicker wire. A wire coat hanger would be easily strong enough for a 500ml jar.
I'll see if I can dig out the last one I made, otherwise please remind me in the New Year to pay a tutor.
