Most of my preps are going to be used no matter what happens with y2k. But what do I do with all this kerosene if I don't need it? Suggestions, please.

-- Steve (bibleout@tds.net), August 03, 1999

Answers

Hello,

If you felt the need to prep for Y2k then you probably would enjoy feeling prepared for natural disasters as well. As I understand it Kerosene has a pretty long shelf life (properly stored) - I know I have plastic bottles of it 3 years + old and it burns fine in a kero lamp (I am not sure about heaters or Aladdins). Enjoy dinner by lamplight, music by lamplight, etc.......

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), August 03, 1999.

Great marinade for coyote and rattlesnake meat.

-- For (your@info.com), August 03, 1999.

Kerosene is a wonderful solvent. Cleans up greasy, automotive parts quickly. Leaves a fine oil film on metal. Loosens rusted screws. You could say it was a primitive WD40.

I am reworking an ancient 12 gauge shotgun and I used about a gallon of kerosene to clean and derust the receiver. Most was used just letting it soak for a couple of weeks. All the old screws and steel dowels came out with hardly any effort. Using a brass rod I was able to scrape the fine layer of rust from the barrel without disturbing the brown patina underneath.

good solvent....

chasin' a bird...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), August 03, 1999.

Kerosine also removes adhesive from price stickers that's left on things. To remove the kerosine film, I use ivory dish soap. It's also useful for starting fires of things that don't start on fire well. I'm using kerosine that has been in 5 gallon containers for several years in hot and freezing environments and it burns fine. It's not lamp oil, which burns much cleaner, but it's useful.

-- Programmer Farmer (farming@home.org), August 03, 1999.

Now before any one "gets me" :-) for the obvious health risks involved, one would have had to walked a mile in my families shoes for the prior couple of weeks before doing this with kerosene. So I am only answering the question Steve asked, not recommending or any thing.

We got a bunch of chicks from the local feed store, and along with the chicks came mites. Gosh, what a miserble thing to happen to a person. Can't begin to describe it. Like poison ivy but you know it is a bug.

We tried everything, home remedies, Lice Treatment from store was suggested by doctor and pharmacy, and a "skin test" of the chicken mite treatment caused a skin rash.

The elderly neighbor "kept laughing to himself, I think" and suggesting kerosense, left on NO LONGER THAN FIVE MINUTES, (neighbor said 10 minutes, I noticed "burning" somewhat after five) then wash VERY WELL, it takes alot of soap, very warm water and many rinses. Left on longer, or not washed off VERY WELL...you better believe it burns. Do section of body at a time, start at top and work down. Do not treat your whole body at once, can't wash and rinse fast enough.

Well after two days treatment, once a day...completely gone. Noticable improvement after just one treatment. At that point, I then used it on my son, then 4, and he had no problems besides the smell.

NOTE: Do not smoke during treatment! :-)

Have also seen old timers use on a group of hunting dogs with mange and it cured the mange 100%. I think that is caused by a mite also?

MENTAL NOTE TO SELF: Stock up on mite power and use regularly!!!

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

I think I read that WD-40 is mostly kerosene with some additives. I have heard of people mixing kerosene and oil and spraying it on machinery. The kerosene makes the mixture thin enough to spray, helps it penetrate between the parts, then evaporates and leaves a thin film of oil which prevents rust.

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), August 03, 1999.

Lily;

Thanks for the reminder; kerosene HAS been used for such things for a long time --- its a good little tip to remember if needed.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 04, 1999.

Use the extra as diesel fuel. Works fine lasts a long time. And if you mix Kerosene with Automatic Transmission fluid in a 1:1 ratio you have an excellent gun oil. Works on bikes, sewing machines and other light machinery also.

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), August 04, 1999.

The uses for Kero you guys have are great, but only uses a small quantity at a time. We live in an apartment and will have maybe 5-10 gallons handy. How do we dispose of that much?

-- Retroman (retro50@agapeis.net), August 04, 1999.

You might be able to give it away, and get a tax write off for doing so, through a charity or food bank in a poor neighborhood, where many people use kerosene heaters (in a neighborhood I lived in in Kansas City, the convenience stores often had a kerosene pump besides their gasoline pumps). Also, most areas have some kind of "hazardous waste disposal site" or drop off place. Call your local government.

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), August 04, 1999.

Retroman,

Buy some chickens.

Sorry, but I just had too say it! :-)

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), August 05, 1999.