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.

Interesting. I assume that you dipped the wick ends to keep them dry, right? Or was there some other reason that I can't think of?

And how thick are these? Skinny like birthday candles?

First, Arney I have benn working alot and have just now seen your post.

To answer your question yes The wick end was diped to water proof the candles. The thickness of the wicks is between 1/16th to 1/8th inch. Some of the finished candles are as thick 1/2 of and inch down to the size of a birthday candle.

I can't use dryer lint for anything, darn dog and cat hair stinks when you burn it. No pets in your house?

Andy, I got cats and a dog, but for some reason only seem to get animal hair in one load of laundy and it got trown out before the I got the lint out of the dryer. (The secret is in the special magnets I have in the dryer ;-).








Just kidding about the magnets.
-Joe