Water Candles

[angiem2]

Just thought I'd tell you about one of my favorite things to keep on hand for when power goes out etc.

These are wicks in a floating base. The ones I have are with plastic of some type, but could be other materials (if you were making some). the wicks are about 3/4 inches long.

You get cooking oil and pour it in a bowl, glass, whatever of water. Once the oil rises to the top, you float one of these wicks on it.... there are little channels that allow the oil to get to the wick. As long as there is oil, the wick will burn. Over night, two or three days, whatever.

I like these cause you can have cheap cooking oil do duty as cooking oil and as lighting oil.

also, if these tip over and you have enough water, it self extinquishes, so a bit less of a fire hassard.

I have put one burning in a container and set it in a sink overnight for a nightlight before when the power was out, and it was enough light to navigate by.

They are about $5 or so for a box of 100 wicks and 8 floating things. I got this a Hobby Lobby - but you have to look for them in the candle section.

Angie

[bbird]

Hi Angie ;D

So they are like floating candles, without the wax....just the wick? That sounds really cool, and something I have never seen before. I'll have to keep my eyes out for them. I don't think we have a Hobby Lobby here.

Thanks for letting us know about them.....fascinating!

[auntieemu]

So the wicks are held up by the floating base and draw the oil up to burn like a kerosene lantern? Cool. Might be a good idea to have these on hand.

[angiem2]

Yes, they just float on the oil, and when all the oil is buned water will go to the wick and put it out.

I like them cause a whole box will fit into a coat pocket and you'll usually always have some type of light.

conceivably, you could fill a tub with water, put in a bunch of cooking oil (anytype) and float as many of these on it as you wanted for a decent amount of light....

They are really cool, If you cannot find them and want some - I'll check the Hobby lobby when running around and let you know how much they are and I can pick some up and mail them to you.

Angie

[auntieemu]

We are not far from a Hobby Lobby, I'll check it out next trip. Thank you though. ;D

[Deleted]

These are neat! I'm not near a Hobby Lobby so I Googled "water candle" and found this site => www.buyacandle.com/shop_watercandlepage.html

/VM

[Deleted]

So "Un-Candles" are becoming popular again? Remember those? I had a set of them that I loved - I used them all the time, but the containers were tall and graceful, so as soon as I got cats and dogs, I had to quit using them. But not before 2 of the 3 were broken. I still have the last one, and I use it as a vase for dried flowers (up on a HIGH shelf). Still too many cats and dogs!

~Lannie

[painteddaisy]

That sounds pretty cool.

I wish we had a good hobby store near me, I just hate going into the city looking for one thing.

But these make me think of those pots of whale or seal oil that Inuit people burn, not only do they provide alot of light but heat also! I've always wondered how they do that, and if we can make them with an alternate oil. I shall do some research on it because we all need heat too!

[Deleted]

Cool! I'm gonna have to go get me some. Hurricane season around the corner you know...

[angiem2]

The ones in the site are the ones I have....

I use them when ice or tornados take down the power lines, (or some guy trying to knock down a power pole with a car).

And sometimes I use them cause I want to.

Angie