Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Considering, or completed a DIY prepper project? Made something using traditional methods? Post it here!
grenfell
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Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by grenfell »

mcprepper wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 7:34 pm I don’t throw anything out! It has to have legs and walk away by itself. I’m with you on the tins front though I’ve never made it to 12 years … I bet it didn’t taste that much different?
If anything it was better than I remember . I never really liked rice pudding as a kid . It was a texture thing rather than a taste problem and I’m beginning to wonder if my mother wasn’t using the right rice when she made it as we very rarely had tinned stuff.
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mushroom
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Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by mushroom »

If you watch the old Ruth Goodman series 'Monastery Tudor Farm' she makes rush lights in that from reeds and sheep's tallow!

I had a go at making my own candles this year and it proved really successful. I collected old bits of wax (various burnt out candles and a few from the recycling centre shop for pennies etc) bought some wick off ebay and gave dipping my own candles a go. I melted down the wax in a old metal container (using the bain marie method), cut the wicks and dipped away. I couple of hours work and I got around 20 pairs of candles and lots of wax left for more. I tried burning one the other day - 2.5 hours and it was still only half way! That's a few Christmas gifts sorted as well as stock for ourselves!

As an aside I seem to have not been able to log on here for couple of years and finally it let me the other day! Nice to be back!
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GillyBee
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Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by GillyBee »

Those candles are impressive. Well done!
mcprepper
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Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2024 5:11 pm

Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by mcprepper »

I agree - those candles look great! I’ve never tried candle making but I’ve got plenty of used ‘ends’ sitting in a drawer that could go to good use. Thanks.
“Rotation, rotation, rotation”

You never get a disappointed pessimist.
mcprepper
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Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by mcprepper »

mushroom wrote: Thu Nov 28, 2024 10:48 am As an aside I seem to have not been able to log on here for couple of years and finally it let me the other day! Nice to be back!
Hello mushroom and welcome back! I’m new on here but finding it really useful to have experienced preppers on hand to ask questions to and stop me from wasting money!
“Rotation, rotation, rotation”

You never get a disappointed pessimist.
ForgeCorvus
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Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:32 pm

Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by ForgeCorvus »

Welcome back Mushroom.

First, a quick safety tip:
NEVER MELT WAX OVER DIRECT HEAT, ALWAYS USE A WATER BATH OR DOUBLE BOILER
I've seen a wax fire and they're bad, like napalm filled chip-pan bad.

If you're dipping candles use the widest container you can, this is because the wax level in a narrow container will drop quite fast and you'll end up with parsnip shaped candles ( they burn down really quickly at the start and then get slower and slower)

Play with wick sizes, the thicker the candle the thicker the wick needs to be. If its too thin the wick drowns itself and the candle goes out, but if its too thick the candles will burn down too quickly and the flame will gutter (Originally, wicks were twisted and had to be trimmed to prevent guttering. Modern wick is braided and bends over so the tip of the wick burns away in the air, keeping it at the right length)

The pointy ends can be trimmed off your dips (theres no wick down there) and added to your next melt.

I love the colour you got there Mushroom
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mushroom
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Re: Traditional way of lighting - making rush lights.

Post by mushroom »

ForgeCorvus wrote: Fri Nov 29, 2024 9:13 pm Welcome back Mushroom.

First, a quick safety tip:
NEVER MELT WAX OVER DIRECT HEAT, ALWAYS USE A WATER BATH OR DOUBLE BOILER
I've seen a wax fire and they're bad, like napalm filled chip-pan bad.

If you're dipping candles use the widest container you can, this is because the wax level in a narrow container will drop quite fast and you'll end up with parsnip shaped candles ( they burn down really quickly at the start and then get slower and slower)

Play with wick sizes, the thicker the candle the thicker the wick needs to be. If its too thin the wick drowns itself and the candle goes out, but if its too thick the candles will burn down too quickly and the flame will gutter (Originally, wicks were twisted and had to be trimmed to prevent guttering. Modern wick is braided and bends over so the tip of the wick burns away in the air, keeping it at the right length)

The pointy ends can be trimmed off your dips (theres no wick down there) and added to your next melt.

I love the colour you got there Mushroom
Thank you... and all good to know! I think mine must be beginners luck, as the one I have burned so far was great, no guttering and lasted between 4-5 hours!
I weighted the lengths of wick using a little metal nut tied on the bottom! That meant they came out straight when fist dipped, not wonky! Then snipped the nut off the bottom after dipping!