$1 Emergency Oil Lamp-DIY

Being here in tornado alley we have lost power more than once. Depending on the power company is not the smartest thing in the world. You should prepare your homestead to have adequate lighting in case you loose power at night, or worse-Days! Here is how you can make your own Mason Jar emergency oil lamp for dirt cheap.
During my routine check of our flashlights, I noticed that one of the kids left a light on and killed the battery. Obviously that isn’t good. These Mason Jar oil lamps are cheap, easy, and do NOT require batteries!
Items you will need:

• Mason Jars. I used quart wide mouth jars.
• 100% cotton wick
• Bailing wire
• Wire cutters
• Needle nose pliers
• Olive oil

*Note:
You can find used jars on craigslist or yard sales. The cotton can be from an old sock or similar.
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1. Cut about a 12 inch piece of bailing wire. Using the needle nose pliers,  bend the end of the bailing wire in the shape of two circles to weave the wick through.   Then bend the wire up in the shape of a “U” so the top of the wick will be about 2-3 inches from the bottom of the jar.
2. Bend the other end of the bailing wire over the lip of the jar so the bottom of the wire does not touch the bottom of the jar.  This way you will be able to unhook it from the rim and set it down in the jar and put a lid on it for storage.
3. Take 8-10 inches of 100% cotton and weave into the circle end of the bailing wire.  Use the pliers if needed to tighten the wire enough to keep the cotton from falling out.
4. Hang wire with wick over the jar lip.  Fill jar with olive oil to just under the wicks end. Other oils can be used, but I know that olive oil does not smell or smoke.
5. Let it soak for an hour or two giving the oil to work its way up the wick.
6. That’s it. Light it and try it out. Once you are done, grab the wire and place into the jar and place the lid on it for safe storage.