Frnc wrote: ↑Sat Mar 29, 2025 9:35 am
I don't like candles. Too risky. Never leave one unattended. I do have a bag of the tea light ones, for prep only. But I prioratise torches.
Fair comment. No kids in the house and always have them on flat surfaces etc. Fire extinguishers in most rooms and only use them when we’re going to be around. We burn quite a few, anyway, so have a good routine but your concerns are certainly very valid. We do have lots of torches but my OCD personality (which comes to the fore during prepping moments) pushes me to have more of everything - torches, candles etc etc
mcprepper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 7:29 pm
Stumbled across pillar candles today in Tesco reduced from £3.75 to £1.25 - there was a whole shelf of them - bought a load but not ‘all of them’ by any means as didn’t want to be seen to be ‘stockpiling’ and wanted to leave plenty for others. No idea why no-one bought them- they were unscented and grey - perfect to me as we hate the smell of scented candles and couldn’t care less what colour they are. Planning a return visit soon … bloody love a bargain!
"I'm helping out with a friend's wedding" is a useful cover story
Other good ones include
"Its for the Cubs/Scouts/DofE"
"Its great set dressing"
"I'm taking this lot to a foodbank/dining club/soup kitchen"
And the ultimate for dealing with nosey parkers
"I want it/them for a LARP event"...... Especially if you can then start to bend their ear about your forthcoming game and have a companion hussle you away with the words "Don't bore people with that!"
Brilliant!
As it turned out, I went back the following week and they still had loads left - they had been reduced twice more to 48p! Thought I was seeing things … Bought another load and to hell with what people think
mcprepper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 7:29 pm
Perhaps test burn one before buying more, might be a reason they're discounted....
Hmmm - that is a very good point and one I hadn’t thought of … I now have a cupboard full… let’s hope they burn ok …
If not, you've now got a load of really cheap wax to make better candles from.
Under wicking* is a common issue with 'budget' pillar candles.
Some of them are a thin skin of paraffin wax (or sometimes Bee's wax) with most of the mass made up of high Sterate wax, it tends to be white, opaque and 'crumbly looking'.... Not very pretty though. Don't worry about it, just melt the lot and cast or dip your chosen style of candles
* The wick is too thin to produce a big enough flame to melt the whole width of the candle
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
Londonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
Brilliant! 