Ravenlore Bushcraft and Wilderness Skills. Bottle Lamp

Bottle Lamp.

As a kid I was a great fan of the Wombles. As an adult I still like to see a bit of Wombling and this was an idea that I was given at a Winter meet up in Scotland.

Firstly you need to cut the base out of a 2 litre milk bottle. Other sizes can be used but the 1 litre ones are a bit small and leave the candle flame a bit too close to the plastic.

Next, cut a cross in the plastic cap that does not quite come to the edges.

You should now be able to push a candle through the cross and the points of the cross will grip the candle quite firmly.

Now tie the bottle, through the handle, to a convenient tree or post.

Light the candle and screw the cap back onto the bottle with the candle inside. Adjust the candle position to ensure the flame is clear of the plastic bottle.

You do need to keep an eye on the candle to make sure it does not burn all the way down to the cap and set light to the bottle, but as you shouldn’t be leaving a naked light unattended anyway, that won’t be too much trouble.

A little sand or soil dropped into the bottom of the lamp does add a bit of extra safety but I’ve never needed it and it could make it more difficult to change the candle when it burns down.

With a decent candle these lamps provide a surprising amount of lighting around the camp for a few hours. The candle stumps are also a good size for using in tin can lamps or lighting a fire with.

Many thanks to Craig for this original idea. ( I just wish I could remember your surname. )

Bushcraft and wilderness skills should always be practised with respect for the environment and other users of the outdoors. Leave No Trace.