Why do hurricane lanterns look like that?

Hello! I want to add some nuance to the discussion because of course there's plenty. Kerosene isn't the only fuel that these lanterns are capable of burning, and some options that are available now are less unpleasant for indoor use. And as a matter of fact, one of the things these are still useful for is emergency heat since they're putting out quite a lot. However, not every fuel is safe to use in them so my official advice is don't use these lanterns indoors at all. The room I film in is quite poorly ventilated without the HVAC system running so it was a pretty non-ideal situation, but the room smelled like an airport and my throat was getting irritated. It's unpleasant and makes me feel terrible for the millions of people who still rely on kerosene for their lighting fuel. (also, to be clear, kerosene by itself isn't the problem - kerosene heaters are widely available, but modern designs can burn the fuel much more completely for a safer and much less unpleasant exhaust. These lanterns literally haven't changed since the 19th century)

I've never been so adequately humbled by a high end Deez Nuts joke

“My lamp runs on jet fuel” sounds a lot cooler than it actually is.

Heya, have really enjoyed this series. I'm a Chemical engineer and specifically work with combustion processes. For heat output, we actually care quite a bit about preheating combustion air with waste heat because it improves fuel efficiency as you're using less of the energy from combustion to get the air to the flame temperature. Realistically, for light output it probably doesn't make a meaningful difference to the fuel consumption. I'd hazard it was more likely that they Dietz was probably trying to look at air preheat for flame stability, as combustion tends to be better behaved & more stable when heat is already present.

I wish I could up vote twice. One for the Dietz Nuts joke. One for Baja Blast lamp

"We call ourselves Dietz Nuts" that hit me like a fucking truck

"we call ourselves Dietz nuts" "Bofa deez lanterns" perfect

We had the dead flame lanterns when I was growing up in case power went out during storms. It definitely saved us when our city got hit with a blizzard for a week and the grid went down. The lanterns provided both light and a bit of warmth. It was a really poignant moment in my life, and to this day, my dad still has these lamps. Have a follow. The way you spoke was relaxing and informative. I also love the bloopers.

This is absolutely fascinating to me. I can remember my Dad's lantern as he walked home in the summer as he would spend the night at a tobacco barn curing bright leaf tobacco. No flashlight just his lantern. Memories from the late 1940s. No electricity until I was 3 yrs old. I still have 2 lamps and one of his lanterns. Thank you.

"I've always had a fascination for these" The entire basis of this channel and it's fantastic lol

The deadpan “Dietz Nuts” joke had me pausing to 😂 😆 🤣

15:22 BOFA DEEZ LANTERNS. HE KEPT GOING. MAN'S UNSTOPPABLE lmao I love finding fellow quiet types with surprisingly risqué humor. Youtube got it right recommending this channel to me

You keep saying it's extremely unpleasant... yet that's a smell that we LOVE... it reminds us of camping and power outages & board game nights with family.

“Except I kept reading, and I found… typos…” I fucking love this guy.

His voice, his tone, his tempo, his pauses, his timing, his composure, his usage of physical gestures... The guy's speech skill is near impeccable.

Used a couple of cheap hurricane lanterns from walmart in deer camp this past fall and they worked great! Bright and steady light outdoors, felt just like electric, and no fussing with brittle mantles of propane lanterns, although those are definitely brighter. One of them did spill inside a tent, so I wouldn't resort to that, but outside, around the bonfire they were great.

15:17 "we call ourselves Dietz nuts." <-- That has to be the most perfect, unironic, I dare you to even grin delivery of a Dad joke I've ever seen. In my life. The Report of the Week, if they could do it, might have more impact, but it would be a near thing.

That “Dietz nuts” joke hit me like a freight train

"Why in the world would you need 31 minutes to explain this?" 31 minutes later "I'll be damned"

Appreciate the t shirt, grew up in the 70's over in the UK and reminds me of being poorly and off school watching kids TV on BBC 1 😀