Liquid olive-oil candle help

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dacq

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I have a small plastic container with a round base, filled with water & olive oil. It has a lid, which I put a hole in. I soaked a wick (18/50 2mm thick) with the mixture & threaded it through the hole, leaving 2cm above the lid. I lit it but it burnt all the way down to the lid and expired. I've seen YouTube videos of such things working. What's wrong?
 

DeeAnna

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I don't make things like this, but the oil lamps I own have very large, loose wicks for use with lamp oil (odorless kerosene). I don't think your wick is anywhere close to large and open enough to wick up olive oil.
 

IrishLass

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Right here, silly!
I make something similar to the OP (at least I think I do... maybe.... based on the description).

In any case, what I make is known as a 'floating candle' or a water/oil candle. Daqc- is that what you are talking about?

If so, I use these for mine: http://www.createforless.com/Pepperell-Candle-Wick-Floating-Kit/pid265612.aspx I bought them at HobbyLobby. They are cheap (less than $2.00) and they work great.

If that's the kind of 'candle' you're talking about, and you are trying to DIY from YouTube videos, I'm afraid I won't be of much help to you, because I tried to make my own DIY floating wick assemblies as per a few you-tube videos myself, and failed miserably. After my 3rd failed attempt, I found the above product from HobbyLobby, and am so happy with it. It works so much better than anything I tried to rig up, for sure. lol

To make mine, I take a decorative glass container, put some decorative rocks in the bottom, fill it about 2/3 of the way up with water (which I color with food coloring), pour about 1/2" to 1" of olive oil in it, and then I set the floating wick thing on top, just like what is shown in the following video, only I use my own glass container: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfRmSRTFc_U[/ame]



IrishLass :)
 

DeeAnna

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I get the "healthy" aspect if you are talking about eating the fat ... but how does this relate to candles??? How is canola any less toxic than any other oil?
 

Prysm

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I use the water floating wick candles from Hobby Lobby. Keep a container of cheap cooking oil and you have a candle in an emergency.
I used them during 6 days of no power after tornadoes in 2011.

I could put them in a shallow bowl and sit in in a sink and it was a night light.
 
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