Life wouldn't be near as interesting as it has been without some excitement. I've been blowing stuff up as part of my work in one way or another for almost 40 years. Learning and respecting the dangers of things, and not fearing them has been a constant process as I've grown older. The only thing I've come to fear is rapid deceleration from extremely high speeds. No more interest in jumping out of aircraft, or land-speed racing. Flammable liquids under pressure...and FIRE! That's an evening ritual as I settle into my rocker to read. Funny, there isn't a single warning on any of my older lanterns to keep away from children, don't breathe this, wash your hands after handling that. Nothing. They are the kind of thing that parents used to educate their children about. Some of us still are, and enjoying the time together.
The very last day before I was officially transferred to the retired list I went out with my buddies from EOD to dispose of some excess gear. I set a water shot of several sticks of C4 in the bottom of a crater. It was deep enough to cause large ripples in the ground over about an acre, but I knew the blast would be directed straight up. In this case, straight up at the canopy of an excessively curious Harrier pilot who passed by low over our range. The mud and water rose almost up to meet him, and could've been really bad for a single engine aircraft, but my estimate of his altitude was spot on. I figured we'd get a call on the radio about the timing of that detonation, which had been my decision, but nothing was ever said about it and I quietly became a retiree the next day. I wonder sometimes if the pilot ever tells stories about how he got curious and flew over a live demolition range where some smiling old guy almost blew him out of the sky.
I've used that style 5 gallon can at work. Not an easy task to pour slowly from. I'd like to actually handle a one gallon Eagle can. They look silly, but might be a start for a soldering and spot welding project. You have to keep in mind that my funnel is no more than 2" in diameter, feeding a 1/2" spout. Slow, controlled pour is the goal. Sloshing kerosene all over the place is easy. I've practiced that enough.
@hot diggity lookie here... Vintage RED 1 Gallon Galvanized Metal Kerosene Gas Oil Can Wood Handle • $31.50
@Dunerunner, there are lots of nice cans on that site. Thank you! I'll have to keep an eye on that while I try to find one in the wild.
If cans were difficult to handle ,I'd perch the can up high and syphon it ,Harbor 'freight sells a jiggle hose for syphoning I use regularly drawing gas from my 55 gallon drums, into my plastic cans, for transferring to my vehicles . I have a regular a barrel pump for the kerosene or diesel .
@arleigh, out in the barn I have a little hand crank kerosene pump setup that I use to transfer clear kerosene from 5 gallon cans to quarts. This worked well when I was just doing inside lamps. I could pump it in or out of the lamps without spills... until one winter when I brought a 5 gallon can in to warm up and forgot to hang the pump up. I learned all about siphoning kerosene. Before I noticed it about a half gallon had siphoned out onto the kitchen floor. Now I'm burning a couple Coleman kerosene lanterns or an Aida on the porch almost every night. These work flawlessly on dyed kerosene, which is easier to find, so I'm using the dyed kerosene and saving the water clear for a rainy decade. I think a traditional one gallon kerosene can would be just right to keep up with these. One can, from gas station pump to lantern fount without making trips to the barn.