hmmmm...used to be that there were a number of shelves full of the stuff - and cheap, too! Now, it's just gone...

-- dan (dbuchner@logistics.calibersys.com), June 23, 1999

Answers

walmart and kmart both sold out of replacement wicks here. Just a few bottles of oil.

-- steve (steve@NWMo.com), June 23, 1999.

I have been watching the lamp oil and lamps in Wal Mart here in Ky. They are both selling fast. One day the shelves are completely full and two days later, they are half gone. It is a cycle.

Bottled water is a big seller, too.

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), June 23, 1999.

Same here, in southern Ohio. Meijer's has lamps, then a few days later ...nothing.

Found two beautiful old glass lamps at a garage sale two weeks ago. The owners seemed clueless when I mentioned y2k.

BTW, any advice on storing lamp oil? Is it safe just to stick the bottles in a closet? Is there anything I should specifically avoid?

-- persistant cookie (in@my.browser), June 23, 1999.

As far as I know, as long as the containers are closed tightly so that the oil doesn't evaporate, it shouldn't matter where you keep it...

-- dan (dbuchner@logistics.calibersys.com), June 23, 1999.

Buy kero, clear if possible. Our propane rep (a good guy) said that he thinks reports of headaches from "red" kero are strictly a result of occasional, slight mixing of red kero with diesel by propane dealers (since mixing is the ultimate goal 99% of time for their customers). He said that stipulating they take kero for lamp use STRICTLY from their core kero supply should prevent any noxious experiences. FWIW.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 23, 1999.

Here in Phoenix, replacement gas mantles have been stripped from the shelves at Wal-Mart.

It's SLOWLY dawning on the sheeple that 'it's all going away in January.'

-- K.Stevens (kstevens@it's_all_going_away_in_January.com), June 23, 1999.

fortunately there is still plenty left at this point and the store shelves keep refilling. Make hay while the sun shines!! Never think you have enough stored!

-- winna (??@??.com), June 23, 1999.

(small correction: it is my propane dealer but they also deal diesel. Had propane on the mind ...)

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 23, 1999.

Instead of lamp oil or kero try oderless charcoal lighter. The lamp manufacturer recos it as a substitute for lamp oil. I tried it and it works great. It is one forth the price of lamp oil and more readily available.

-- Jimstan (jimstan@slac.stanford.edu), June 23, 1999.

My Costco and Sam's stores here in Phoenix are out of generators and have been for some time. My Sam's now has zero Corona Grain mills. I figure that store sold about 400 while they were in stock. We have yet to see any blue 55 gal barrels.....but I got mine from Pepsi. Sam's have a box with 2 2 1/2 gal arrowhead water containers (with spigot) filled with water for under $4. I have not seen any wicks at Walmart for months....if they come in they go right out.

-- rb (phxbanks@webtv.net), June 23, 1999.