Four candles (well 3) UCO candles to be precise

[Yorkshire Andy]

Well I've had a UCO candelier for a good few years think the last set of candles I bought were about a fiver for 3 .. nearly had a heart attack at £9 . And £15 for the bees wax variety . so in true Yorkshire man style I shouted how much?! And set about trying to get them cheaper ..

So say hello to the silicone mould I found on eBay for £24.99

So it's arrived I also ordered some pre made/ waxed wicks for something like £4 delivered for 100 ( 6" wicks )

So first thing the silicone mould didn't come drilled so I used a 2mm drill ..

Then used some long forceps to push the wick through the hole

Then pulled roughly level so the metal base of the pre made wicks sat level with the top / bottom of the mould and first attempt I used a bit of stiff plastics to hold them central cut at equal spacing (this has melted ) I plan on getting a bit of aluminium from work and cutting slits in it for next time..

I set up a bains Marie using the wifes best pan and a old enamel cup on the gas stove and crumbled a couple of old candles into the cup

Then poured the wax carefully into the mould having misted the mould interior with silicone spray to make removal easier...


And left to cool

If this works well I'll order some bees wax

To be continued

[Nurseandy]

Following with great interest. I do like my uco's

[Yorkshire Andy]

Following with great interest. I do like my uco's

The mould is currently in the freezer (managed to find some space before Christmas )

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334450062221 ... media=COPY

I got the tapered one


Wicks

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185275121931 ... media=COPY

[Yorkshire Andy]

The freezer has sped things along these were made of the remains of a pillar candle which were about done for

So not the cleanest wax but as good as free as it's have gone in the bin shortly and a new candle dropped in the pillar jar...

They are a touch shorter than original UCO candles but not a great worry

DIY:

Original

[Yorkshire Andy]

Left is DIY candle right is original

If anything the wicks I got look thicker than UCO but not really an issue assuming it might burn a bit quicker but when saving that amount I'm not too fussed

[Adjee]

Good to see nothing is going to waste, we keep bees so once a year we make our candles out of the beeswax we recover.

[jennyjj01]

Following with great interest. I do like my uco's

I'd never heard of a UCO candlelier, but this intrigues me.

What's the consensus about the cost effectiveness of candles, generally, and what's the cheapest ('Jenny Tightar5e) way of sourcing candles on a run-time basis? I'm guessing that a simple way of finding the best VFM would be by finding the cheapest cost per kg wax? then making fat candles that don't dribble much?

Size and Shape: Larger paraffin candles (such as 3-wick widejar candles or large pillar candles) offer the most extended burn times and better cost efficiency on a per-hour basis.

Paraffin wax at about £5 per kilo seems to be an aspirational price. Could someone try to persuade me to get some, as I really never tried candles since 1973. They were like gold then, so could have some barter value, at least?

Andy. In what way do these UCO candles stand out in your extensive lamp collection? Is it just a case of diversity being good?

[Yorkshire Andy]

Diversity being good but a safe(r) enclosed flame is always a good thing Vs a open flame it's also protected from any wind / breeze

The little candles in the lantern have a run time of approximately 9 hours each due to the way the units hold the candle and hold a wax pool in the holder a spring plunger keeps the candle shoved up so they maintain a constant light in the same position.. so in terms of quantity of wax Vs run time they are more efficient

Most big pillar candles tend to "tunnel" so you end up sat in the almost dark as the flame vanishes into the candle

[jennyjj01]

Diversity being good but a safe(r) enclosed flame is always a good thing Vs a open flame it's also protected from any wind / breeze

The little candles in the lantern have a run time of approximately 9 hours each due to the way the units hold the candle and hold a wax pool in the holder a spring plunger keeps the candle shoved up so they maintain a constant light in the same position.. so in terms of quantity of wax Vs run time they are more efficient

Most big pillar candles tend to "tunnel" so you end up sat in the almost dark as the flame vanishes into the candle

Thanks. Good point about the tunneling. Do I understand correctly that these UCO lamps hold three candles which burn simultaneously for 9 hours or so at a retail cost of about £10 for the three?
No wonder you sought the DIY route. I like the idea of the shaped burn zone.

I don't understand the basics of how an inch tall tea light can burn for 8 hours almost like one of these five inch thingies. Is it different wick type and different brightness?

If I were to set aside, say £100 for emergency candle light, what would the panel recommend for max VFM, assuming it was a one off investment ( I.e spend on candles, not equipment)
Anything from a big bundle of tealights, to a sack of wax and a roll of wick and some scavenged coffee jars.


Sorry to hijack the thread, by the way.

[Yorkshire Andy]

When you think you can pick up 200x 8 hour tea lights for less than £20

How many will you need


I've a big box of tea lights and little lanterns to hold them

Similar to these

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/enrum-lant ... lsrc=aw.ds


I've also a big box of pillar candles and some big jars

Similar to these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cylinder-Hurri ... d_source=1

Nothing awe inspiring but another option don't discount the warmth given off by candles either