One point that cannot be stressed enough when choosing an oil or kerosene burner for your oil lamps is that the fit between burner and lamp collar must be very good. That is, the threading in the collar of your lamp must fit the threading on the base of the burner you intend to use so that there is no wiggle or wobble whatsoever when the burner is screwed down.
Remember, a lot is "riding" on your oil burner and a loose or otherwise ill-fitting kerosene burner can create a fire hazard. Also, it is possible that an incorrect fit between the lamp collar and the burner can result in a failure of the burner to support the weight of your glass lampshade and chimney. Even if you never intend to burn kerosene in the lamp, or you plan to use an "electrified" burner or adapter, a poor burner-to-lamp-collar fitting can result in your lamp falling apart and breaking.
The best way to avoid an incorrect burner-to-lamp fit is to carefully test the burner for a proper fit before you add fuel or glassware to the lamp. Test the fit by screwing the burner down in a normal fashion until it is tight to the lamp. The burner should thread smoothly and snuggly into the lamp collar.
With the burner attached, place one hand firmly on the lamp base or column, to hold it in position, while with the other hand apply a semi-vigorous rocking motion to the oil burner. Rock the burner back and forth with a lightly upward pulling pressure. If the threading is a poor match, the burner will either "loosen up" from your rocking motion, which you will detect, or will pull free of the lamp collar altogether.
If you are unsure of the burner size you need, measure the inside diameter of the lamp collar. Then, check lamp parts catalog descriptions for kerosene burners that require a lamp collar that is the same as your measurement. The No. 2 size collar/lamp is most common in North America but smaller and larger sizes are not uncommon. If you are unsure about choosing a kerosene burner for your oil lamps, please check with a dealer.
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