Well they do not look pretty, but after twisting and thinning down the lint I was able to make some single and double twist strings for wicks.I also experimented with some jute cord as a wick. Then About halfway trough making my 5th or 6th candle I decided to turn the melting pot (one of my wifes left over jars) into a candle. It works great however I did not relize it was a garlic jar so I guess i made my first aromatic candle ;-)
Man does it smell bad!
I used a pot on the stove with the jar inside the water in the pot (as a doubble boiler) and had great sucess at melting the wax in the jar.
I think this was spawned by a phone conversation with some friends a week earlier about making some various improvised emergency tinder, everything from cotton balls with various petrollium based additives to the cotton ball used to encase a trick candle (you know the kind that dont blow out.)
The candles are for a one time use fire making session in an emergency. About 3 to 4 inches long, and they burn for more than 10 minutes (at least that was about when I stopped timming them). Unlike traditional candles after getting the thickness I wanted I added several coatings to the wick end. After submerging in warer for about one minute All I had to do was scrape the wax down on the wick end and they light right up. I still have not found anything to store them in, other than a zipper platic bag, used more to keep the wax from melting into my bag than for any water proofing.
Well about a week after this there was a rolling blackout in our area as it started to snow. I ended up using some pine sap as a fire starter in the woodburning stove and got one of the fastest fires I have ever started.