Really easy tin candle lantern...

[Nifeman]

Hey fellers, made a tin candle lantern today in about an hour. I started with an empty coffee container that Miss Tudy gladly gave me.
First I punched some holes in the back for air and the top for escaping heat, then 2 in the sides for my bail (an old metal coat hanger).
Then I soldered 3 pieces of tin on the front sides and bottom to hold my lens (piece of thin elk rawhide) in place. There is already a lip on the top edge of the can to hold the rawhide from falling inside.
Lastly, I cut the elk skin to fit the opening (leave a tab on top so you can pull it out to light the candle) and put in a squat beeswax candle. And there you have it.
This is a good project when you got nothing better to do on a rainy day...Bud

 

[JayDee Flohr]

Neat build. I'll have the wife save me a can or two of hers so I can make one.

 

[blacksmithman64]

that is SLICK! I'm afraid I'm gonna have to copy that! One thing though, if I may say...hit that coathanger with some sandpaper or steel wool to get rid of the greenish coating! :thumbsup:

 

[BillinOregon]

Nifeman: Awesome little project. How does the rawhide stand up to the heat?
Another way to spiff up that coathanger bail is to just throw it in the fire and let it get fire-blued.

 

[mikemeteor]

cool. :thumbsup:
I'm curious like Bill:
Hows come that hide doesn't scorch/dry out/crack ?
did you treat it with something ?

I may give that rig a try.
Might have to modify it and go with a SPAM can... that'd be more my style. :shake:

 

[Nifeman]

cool. :thumbsup:
I'm curious like Bill:
Hows come that hide doesn't scorch/dry out/crack ?
did you treat it with something ?

I may give that rig a try.
Might have to modify it and go with a SPAM can... that'd be more my style. :shake:

1st, thanks for looking.
The rawhide is just normal rawhide, not treated with anything. The holes for air must keep out most of the heat and the candle sits far enuf away to not hurt it. As far as dryin' out it's already good and dry.
It's more of a nite lite if ya got to get up and make a midnite run outside the lodge :grin: ...Bud

 

[mikemeteor]

It's more of a nite lite if ya got to get up and make a midnite run outside the lodge :grin: ...Bud

gotcha.
Seems like every year I'm makin more of those nitetime runs outta the lodge. :haha:
And at my camp, that means negotiating a ladder out of the loft... and THAT demands a good nitelite!

 

[mazo kid]

Very clever! You could use Votive candles for that shorty lantern.

 

[gmww]

That is very cool. I wonder if it would make a good emergency light/heat for a person stuck in the snow in their vehicle.

 

[Nifeman]

That is very cool. I wonder if it would make a good emergency light/heat for a person stuck in the snow in their vehicle.

I think it would be an excellent source. It throws a quite a little bit of heat from the top, especially if you use a beeswax candle. And it doesn't take up a lot of room...

 

[omarick1948]

That is very cool. I wonder if it would make a good emergency light/heat for a person stuck in the snow in their vehicle.

Any light and heat would be welcome in a vehicle stuck in the snow! :shocked2: ... Crack a window open though! :wink:

 

[FPDoc]

It would be safer than an open candle when sitting huddled under a blanket as well.

 

[blacksmithman64]

folks, I was at a thrift store yesterday where I scored two high carbon USA knives fer a dollar. While perusing the merchandise I found a "cache" of holiday tins at 25 -50 cents apiece! Now if ya pick thru 'em and git the ones without the embossed lids and the ones what don't look like santa or a snowman,you got the fixin's to make this here lantern! :hatsoff: hats off again to Nifeman; I am ALWAYS bustin' lanterns!

 

[Birdman]

Just make sire if yer gonna have the lanturn lit for any length of time to pull the bail handle away from the top towards the back and away from the heat. If not yer gonna get a quick n painful suprise in the way of burnt fingers. Its a great idea but I wonder if maybe going just a tad bigger where you could fit in one of the small galss votive holders might make it a bit safer. the glass would hold the candle away from the flams and also hold the wax as it melted. Wouldn't have to be all that much bigger n still serve the same purpose. Great idea, n yea I'm gonna play around with it, as mentioned it should work great undewr a blanker when hunkered up against a tree trying to stay warm, way better then an open candle. YMHS Birdman

 

[roger zavoda]

sure is a nice piece a work. im trying now to make one of these , i put my can in the fire place :rotf: i mean my project, but find i couldent get all the printed material off the can , howed ya do that? also whered ya get that thin a piece of raw hide? any other info?

yella bar

 

[Nifeman]

sure is a nice piece a work. im trying now to make one of these , i put my can in the fire place :rotf: i mean my project, but find i couldent get all the printed material off the can , howed ya do that? also whered ya get that thin a piece of raw hide? any other info?

yella bar

I used a propane torch on mine. Then I used a piece of 400 grit wet or dry paper on the stubborn stuff that just didn't want to give it up.
My wife does my sheath work for me so I just went thru her stash of elk rawhide till I found a thin piece :idunno: ...
I have another empty can, but this time I found a source for isinglas (mica) that would look a little more period....Keep workin' at it (I know ya can do it :wink: )...Bud

 

[roger zavoda]

where in gods name do ya get mica from?

 

[Nifeman]

Online or if you have an AC Moore store nearby...

 

[Woods Dweller]

Definitely doing one of these! :thumbsup:

 

[roger zavoda]

is ac moore a hardware store? maybe ill check that out.
thanx