Emergency candles on the cheap

[Bettacreek]

Most people talk about candles for when power goes out and I was thinking about something I read the other day. Dip cattails into wax, let dry and simply light for a candle.
I have yet to try it, so I cannot guarantee it, but as soon as I can find some old candles or wax, I'm going for it. I have the cattails just not the wax, lol. As soon as I try it, I'll let everyone know. It'd be a lot cheaper than having to make full wax candles.

And, since this is "emergency candles on the cheap", might as well list some other ideas...

I like the idea of oil candles (just need a fire-proof container, a wick and regular oil or lard).

I *think* I remember somewhere that in a total pinch, you could use toilet paper for a wick. Twist it up, dip it in wax and let it dry.
The cattail fluff can supposedly be used the same way, again, never tried it.

Any other ideas?

 

[Woodland Woman]

I got a lot of candles really cheap in clearance sales after Christmas!

 

[MorelCabin]

That sounds like the kind of candle you would ude in an igloo or something...where you have a vent hole in the roof for all the smoke
When you do try it let us know how it goes, it really sounds more like a torch though, doesn't it?

 

[Denim Deb]

Hey Betta, too bad you're not closer. I have a whole ton of candles someplace that I've been meaning to melt down, just never have the chance. If you were closer, I'd share them w/you. Instead, maybe I'll just go and get a bunch of cattails and try this.

 

[ORChick]

I keep every candle end that is too short to be burned. We often eat by candlelight, so candle ends are common. I save them by color (though this isn't strictly necessary) - red and orange; white, ivory, yellow; green, blue - otherwise it all ends up a muddy brown - though that burns just as well . I buy wicks, though I imagine making them would be something to learn if needed. I have found that empty frozen juice containers make good molds, the 12 oz ones are good. This all feeds my (not so) latent pyromania tendencies . When I have enough candle ends, as well as sufficient frozen juice containers (harder now, since I don't buy much juice), I put the (dedicated to that color wax) tin can in a saucepan of hot water (a double boiler, sort of), and let the wax melt. I weight a bit of wicking with a spare piece of metel (a washer or screw or something like that) and set it in the juice container, and then pour the wax in. As it cools it will contract, and I need to pour a bit more in to fill it properly. I use a wooden skewer or chopstick to lean the wick against to keep it centered. When the wax is completely hard I use a can opener on the bottom end, and then snip and rip the cardboard. I have a number of these emergency candles, and a lot of wax bits just waiting for a cool day, and a fresh supply of juice containers. Another way to do it, and one I am thinking of trying, is to use recycled mugs (Goodwill) to pour the wax into.

 

[raro]

ORChick, you are brilliant. I have a bunch of candle bits and was debating how to put them all together, and you just saved me a lot of trial and error!

 

[lwheelr]

The traditional candle for poor people was not made from beeswax or paraffin. It was tallow. Beef fat, rendered down. I expect that elk, moose, deer, etc, would work also (if you can get enough off them). Not sure about goat.

It burns with a peculiar smell. But is perfectly usable, cools fairly hard.

There may be some trick to using it that I am unaware of, I intended to experiment a couple of years ago when we cut up half a beef, but never got to it, life sort of ran away with me.

Laura
Mom to Eight, Web Designer, Milker of Goats, Feeder of Chickens

 

[ORChick]

ORChick, you are brilliant. I have a bunch of candle bits and was debating how to put them all together, and you just saved me a lot of trial and error!

Oh ... thank you

 

[country freedom]

I got a lot of candles really cheap in clearance sales after Christmas!

Same for myself - every holiday, and whenever any stores near me put candles on sale or clearance!
I also go to thrift stores regularly, and I let family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers know that I will take any candles they don't want any longer.

I remelt the candles, and remake them again.
I am never without candles!

 

[freemotion]

I'd suggest trying that cattail candle outside....sometimes they explode as they dry and it could be dangerous if they are in flames! When you try it, be sure to have someone video it so if this happens, you can put it on youtube for all the latent pyromaniacs here.