I will have a look at some second hand Tilleys on the well known auction site and maybe get a gas one as well.
As a rough guide how long would a mantle last ?
I think in my longer term plans a nice big solar pannel for charging a bank of batteries would be the most effective and flexible of options but the costs are a little steep for me at the moment. MrsCC has already decided that the next bit of spare cash we get is hers as I've spent a fair bit this year I have a couple of the small solar trickle chargers for keeping my leisure battery topped up when not in use but it would need a much bigger (and more expensive) panel to actually replace the charge if I am using the batteries
Once they have been lit mantels become very brittle,they are fine when lit but they are easily broke moveing the lamp no matter how care full you are. When i used to go beach fishing i always carried a couple of spares as often just walking from car to beach a mantle would break, then now and again they would "pop" when lit, at other times they would last ages so theres no hard and fast rule im afraid.
Trying putting a mirror behind your candle or lantern! it does work! personally in a SHTF situation i think i would probably get up at dawn and go to bed when it gets dark- which is fine for the summertime but this time of year i would need some artificial light for about 4 hours hence my stock of candles, torches and lanterns.
Northern Raider wrote:But not about oxygen depletion or carbon monoxide
Lol, for a photo like that the passing out was worth it
Natural caves tend to have a good oxygen supply as there's water, and thus air around it, flowing through them. A closed, man-made space like a mine would present more likelihood of a bad air situation. Bunkers have a ventilation system for this reason. Candles are not recommended in an underground space with the possibility of explosive gas build up.