Understand how the wick works. For oil or kerosene lamps, the standard wicking is woven natural cotton or hemp fiber--a distinct variety of Cannabis sativa that uses the core fiber of the plant. (See Resource 3)
Soak the new wick in kerosene so the kerosene will burn, not the wick.
Pick one of the three trimming styles: flat wick, pointed wick and crowned wick. Cut the wick and feed it through the adjustment mechanism after removing the chimney--the glass top that goes over the wick in the lamp ensemble.
Check the adjustment mechanism that holds the wick in place to see that the bottom half of the wick dips into the kerosene in the fuel tank.
Raise the wick one-quarter inch and light with stick box matches or utility lighter. Replace the chimney securely. Control the size of the flame by adjusting the length of the wick with the adjustment mechanism where the chimney and fuel tank meet.
Lower the wick into the fuel in increments if the flame begins to smoke.