This is the last item on my lengthy prep to-do list. I've searched high and low, every cranny and nook, and can't find paraffin for my Dietz oil lamp. I've called every hardware store, every camping store, every army surplus store, and no one has it. Most haven't even heard of it!

TIAFYH.

243 hours...

-- counting down (the@hours.now), December 21, 1999

Answers

Kerosene.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 21, 1999.

I got all of mine at two places. WalMart and Ace Hardware. The best I can do for you is give you the info off the bottle which reads:

Lamplight Farms at Menomonee Falls, Wi 53051

Taz

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), December 21, 1999.

We have a Dietz oil lamp as well....found "ultra refined lamp oil" at our local Academy (sporting goods store). We tried it in the lantern, and it works just fine. No odor and seems to burn cleanly. It cost $1.99 for a quart.

-- Birdlady (Birdlady@nest.home), December 21, 1999.

I bought super pure liquid parafin from a restaurant supply. They sell it for fuel for buffet chafing dishes. It is as pure as the ultra pure lamp oil at Walmart, but it was cheaper.

-- mostlylurking (mostlylurking@podunk.texas), December 21, 1999.

Counting Down,

My friend got his from www.watertanks.com. I called him to find out: He ordered it last week and said it was delivered in two days. Hope this helps.

-- (resolved@this.point), December 21, 1999.

The supermarkets carry paraffin in with the canning items. Comes in blocks like butter. No problem getting it here in So. Calif. This is a rural area, and both major supermarket chains carry it.

Good luck

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 21, 1999.

Um, no, you don't want to use *wax* in a kerosene lamp!

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 22, 1999.

I got paraffin at Wally World. Couldn't find it at first, so asked the stock bot. He said he never heard of it but then I explained it was blocks of wax used in canning, and he took me right to them.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 22, 1999.

Paraffin will work okay in the Dietz lamp, but kero is cheaper. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THIS: some of those Dietz lamps -- in fact all of the one's I've tested -- are laeky. You tilt them sideways and the fuel leaks right out of the crappy soldered joints where teh reservoir meets the "armatures" haolding the chimney. IN other words, you gots to be real careful. I tried these out a year ago, and then returned everysingle one of them to my local G.I.Joe's and told them why they shouldnot stock them anymore. Cheapo Dietz's, made in China, red-painted, and will make Y2K a FLAME-AWAY for amny amny unhappy people who did not have time to prep earlier and better. Don;t be among them. If you have a Dietz, test it. If you must use it, use it on a non-porous surface like the kitchen counter, or even set it on an up-ended bucket in your ktichen sink. Keep away from pets and kids. It is an extreme fire hazard.

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 22, 1999.

Thanks again for the input. Taz, your "tip" got me on track. I live near Lamplight, so I gave them a call. They gave me a rather lengthy list of distributors, including K-Mart, Walmart, Target, Ace Hardware, etc. They also have a store at their factory, for those who live in the area.

I went to K-Mart, and found plenty-o-paraffin in the lamp section. Picked up 2 bottles (22 oz.) at $2.99 each. There were plenty in stock.

I've tested the Dietz, and it's just fine. Thanks for the word of caution, though.

220 1/2 hours and I'm good to go...

-- counting down (the@hours.now), December 22, 1999.