Oil (Pop-Soda Can) Lantern

This is an instructable of how to make a oil lantern out of a couple soda cans.

This is a list of recommended tools and materials. Two soda cans, scissors, pliers, pocket knife, glue, and wick material.

First step is to cut the cans, you will be using the bottoms of the cans mated together to form a fuel reservoir and burner. The first image is for reference. You can make the reservoir larger but the larger it is the harder it is to get the fuel to wick unless it is a thin fuel. Using the pocket knife puncture the cans about an inch from the bottom and use scissors to finish cut and to clean up the edges.

Punch a slit into the center of one can bottom using a pocket knife. Then using the thumbtack punch holes around the slit to serve as fill holes. Be sure to punch at least one hole on the upper rim to work as a vent when filling. For the wick I used an old sock that I cut into a strip and folded over.

Now force the two cans together my inserting one into the other. Working with this short of cans with usually cause some crinkling but that is okay. Beware that when the bottom can rim meets the top of the other can it will usually cause the bottom can to rip. Next add glue to the mating rim to seal be sure to get glue into the crinkled spots. I use gorilla glue because it is strong and expands in the cracks. I have also used JB weld on similar projects. Now the burner/reservoir is complete.

Using the pliers bend the pop tab lower edge up so that you can keep the pushed down tab in a more neutral position. Then cut the window out to make the reflector. Add glue to the lower edge and a piece of clear tape(used to hold the reflector in place while glue dries). Now let the lantern dry overnight, remove tape, add fuel, and you are ready to go. Beware that the reflector/hanger gets really hot!

Here is the finished product.