I did a little basement experiment this afternoon (I've been expelled from experimenting in the kitchen). Along the same principle of the Nuwick candle (that has several wicks to use depending on if you need light, heat or cooking temperatures), I tried the same philosophy (in miniature) using a tea candle and Kevlar string as wick material.

I lit the tea candle and let in burn until there was a little puddle of melted wax. Then I took two pieces of Kevlar string, about a half inch longer than the candle-cup is in diameter, saturated them in the melted wax and laid them across the top of the tea candle, so there were four wick sections sticking out about a quarter inch off each quadrant of the side of the little tin cup. I then lit these four Kevlar wicks; each little section of Kevlar wick burned with a large (albeit smokey) flame with plenty of heat to heat a cup of water in a few minutes. With a little more experimentation (wick size and placement) this could be another optional use for the tea candle.

And Kevlar, with it's heat resistant properties, works very well as alternate wick material.

Pretty fun experiment, but I'm not sure I'd be breathing that stuff in. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This is from the MSDS: "Fire Fighting Procedures: WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS. KEEP
PERSONNEL REMOVED AND UPWIND OF FIRE. WEAR FULL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (FULL
BUNKER GEAR)." It also mentions that the finish can come off as a fume, the fibers are an irritant and that you should probably do your experiments under a vent hood.

You got pics? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was wondering what the down-side of burning kevlar would be... ditch it and try the same thing Nu-Wick uses... cotton pipe cleaners cut to length and soaked in melted wax... works like a charm <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

The Kevlar hardly burns as all, it hust wicks the wax. I thought about the pipe cleaner; it's a good idea. I'll try it.

I'm sure it's very minimal in terms of exposure, but I'd rather breath natural fiber carbon than: TEREPHTHALOYLCHLORIDE/P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE (PARA-ARAMID POLYMER) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good idea with the pipe cleaners. I've never dealved into wicks and natural cordage that might burn well.. this seems like a fun thing to try.

So what you're saying is I shouldn't add this stuff to my pipe tobacco? And the sweater I have that's marked, "Made by Monsanto" might not be too natural?. Life without chemicals is just impossible!

I'll report back next week after trying the less-toxic wick materials!

Been there, done that... cut the COTTON (yes they make polyester) pipecleaners into roughly two inch lengths, bend a circle into one end using about half of the length, turn the straight part up, drop it into liquid wax, and viola, you have a moveable wick. Three or four of these in a shoe polish tin full of wax, and you have a very effective pocket light/heat source that will burn for 3-10 hours depending on the amount of wicks you light at one time... BUT... don't use the shoe polish for your wax, the whole surface of the wax burns, and you then have a couple ounces of napalm in the can (although, this in itself makes an impressive, effective improvised anti-personnel weapon) <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

Life without chemicals may be impossible, but that doesn't mean I want to start snorting them <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

I agree that life without chemicals is just impossible! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The flat shoe polish tin is a good idea. What about one of those "curiously threatening a law suit if you even consider using our tins for any other reason", tins.......
All snorting aside..... Those should work great!...