Candlemania

[Opsa]

Hi Sibs!

I am a bit of a candle fiend, possibly brought on by the fact that I couldn't burn them in the house when my child was younger. I buy candles all the time at yard sales, if they are in good condition, because I think they are fun and relaxing to burn.

I have actually had to restrict myself from buying candle holders though, even bargains, because I have so many all ready.

Sometimes candles do not fit well into candle holders. They used to sell these little doo-dads that fit into the holder, a sort of little gasket thingy to keep the candle (taper) upright, but I haven't seen any for sale for quite some time. Sometimes I will adjust a candle's base by putting a small roll of clay around the holder end, but that is a bit messy.

Today I had the bright idea to buy some small rubber bands and try them. I put one or two on the candle's base and it seems to do a nice job. The package I bought had many different sizes, and I suppose you could double or triple them up as needed.

I hope this help you the next time you have a wobbly taper!

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Excellent idea!

I wonder about long-term, though-- candle wax is not dimensionally stable, and over time, if under even mild pressure, can deform.  If those bands are at all tight around the stem, it could make them ooze down the line.

Of course, if you are burning them quickly, it's seriously not an issue.  But for a display that sits pretty somewhere, for a long time, it may cause an issue.  I was thinking about your plight, and I immediately thought of fabric tape-- you know-- "duck tape" only the kind that isn't silver or shiny, but is rough (fabric).  You can get this stuff in at various places, sometimes called "gaffers tape" or even "friction tape".   Being tape, you won't stretch it at all, and it's sticky enough to adhere to the candle.

Or, of course, that blue (or green) masking (painter's) tape....

[Opsa]

Hmm, good point, about the oozing factor.

I wonder if something springier would work, like foam tape, that stuff that beauticians use on hair.

[Aggie]

Of course, if you are burning them quickly, it's seriously not an issue.  But for a display that sits pretty somewhere, for a long time, it may cause an issue.  I was thinking about your plight, and I immediately thought of fabric tape-- you know-- "duck tape" only the kind that isn't silver or shiny, but is rough (fabric).  You can get this stuff in at various places, sometimes called "gaffers tape" or even "friction tape".   Being tape, you won't stretch it at all, and it's sticky enough to adhere to the candle.

Do you mean hockey tape? I'm not entirely surprised if that's mostly a Canadian name for it.

Opsa, have you thought about softening up the base of the candle, then pushing it into the holder to let the wax fill the void?  Paraffin wax should soften in hot tap water; beeswax will need a little more heat.

[Opsa]

I do that sometimes, but it does not always work if I use too little and can be a little messy if I use too much.

There is something called "tacky wax" out there that does the job without having to melt the wax. Maybe I should try to find that.

[Aggie]

Hmmm,  craft places also often sell sheets of beeswax pressed in a honeycomb pattern for rolling your own candles... maybe a strip of that wound around the bottom?

[Opsa]

That's an excellent idea! With the cells it would have a little "give" to it, so that it could conform around the candle and candleholder shapes.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

OOooh...! Good catch, Aggie!

I have made quickie candles with those sheets of beeswax.  They burn beautifully (as do all beeswax candles).

[Opsa]

Cool. Do you just roll a string in the beeswax, or do you need a waxed wick? How tightly do you need to roll it?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I have rolled it both loose and tight.  I always used pre-waxed candle wicking, available at craft stores.  You can easily make your own, though, use soft wicking, with a small weight, then a single dip into melted paraffin/wax.

The loose roll burns quickly at first, but as it  does, the melt wax flows down between the layers, and it slows down some, but still faster than tight rolls.

Tight rolling is harder to do--takes patience to get started.  Once you have a goodly beginning, it's easier.  If you warm the sheets a wee bit, it's easier.  Too warm, though can make them sticky.

I've done the tight rolls for tapers and other slender styles.  I typically used the loose rolls for those short, fat ones you stick down into something like a jar or the like.

Pressing the pre-waxed wick onto the very edge of the sheet is a good way to start, then carefully rolling/curling that-- slow and careful at the start.  

You can also roll conical candles by rolling diagonally.  

If you shave crayons into very fine shavings?  You can sprinkle these in-between the layers as you go.   As the candle burns, it will reveal these pockets of intense color.   An old cheese grater works-- so long as you do not plan on using for food later.  It's really difficult to get all that wax out, for afters.  



Yeah... I spent way too many summers in kids' camps helping out with the crafts tables.  

Edit:

I just remembered another quickie technique:  taking el-cheapo white candles that are 8" or so, but really skinny. Typically used as "emergency" candles or even throw-aways for Xmas Eve stuff.   Skinny is better here-- you are only wanting these as a starting core.

You use that as a core, and roll a beeswax sheet over it until it's as thick as you like. 

Candle lighting "tapers" would also work, but I've never tried those (basically a long waxed wick, with barely enough wax to give it definition) typically used in candle lighting thingys.

Yeah... for years and years, I was the #1 candle lighter for a thing called "Lessons In Carols" a sort of mix of traditional Xmas music and classic readings.  I'd have to light roughly 100+ candles in about 15 minutes or so.  Too soon?  The first candles would burn out.  Too late?  I'd not finish in time for the crowd to get seats (the candelabras were interspersed with the crowd).   I got pretty good at lighting these things, using a classic candle lighter stick:  think a 4 foot pole, with a slim hollow brass tube at one end, slightly curved.  You'd feed the taper into that tube, leaving an inch or so out.  Light that, and gradually feed the taper as it burned (there was a lever sliding along the tube just for that).   And walking just fast enough to get from candlestick to candlestick (each which held 7 candles, typically) without blowing out the taper...  All while looking properly solemn....



Alas, safety interceded, and now they use butane "candles" which burn for hours, do not drip and can be lighted well before the start of the program and simply left going until the second show.

Boooooring.     And they stink, too... real beeswax candles smell like... well... nothing else.  Heavenly?  Yeah... that.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

As I re-read over that?

I remembered another feature of the candle lighting thingy-- it could be extended to over 8 feet in length.  And I remember standing in the isle, with an extended lighter, carefully lighting candles 5 or 6 feet from my isle, over the heads of the crowd seated nearby.   I got really good at having a steady hand and making it look so very easy.  (from the muttered comments?  The people always seemed appreciative and amazed at the same time.)  Some would politely get up and move out of the way, but that really only slowed me down-- I was quite good at it.   I never dripped on anyone in all the years I did that (annual show).

When they switched to the butane?  I quit going.   Oh well.

[pieces o nine]

^^ Opsa -- I would have suggested those tacky wax dots -- used to steady artifacts on shelves and the like. I would be worried about rubber bands or duct tape in case the candle burned way  down...  Post an update on what you do with your rolled candles.

^ Bob -- Maybe they switched to help today's altar boys persons?
I used those long church (butane lighters) in my deaconette years; they were fun.

I burned nearly every candle in the house over the last few days. I will add to this candle thread that one cannot actually boil water over votive candles, not even if you gang them up under the sauce pan. Candle-heated tea is better than nothing, but still quite an abomination.

[Opsa]

Poor Pieces! I wondered where you went and am glad to see you back.

I love the idea of the emergency candles wrapped in beeswax and can't wait to go and see if our local craft store carries beeswax sheets! That is awesome. I am guessing that you might be able to decorate them and give them as gifts, too.

I have some floating candles that I have been contemplating putting in a large bowl of water on the table. Anyone done this?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Poor Pieces! I wondered where you went and am glad to see you back.

I love the idea of the emergency candles wrapped in beeswax and can't wait to go and see if our local craft store carries beeswax sheets! That is awesome. I am guessing that you might be able to decorate them and give them as gifts, too.

I have some floating candles that I have been contemplating putting in a large bowl of water on the table. Anyone done this?

I've done the floaty candle thing-- for my mother.  (She got a set at one of those "white elephant" parties).    It ended up being kind of messy and short.  The floaty candle was about 1/5 the size of your typical votive, and burned about as long (1/5) before the water snuffed the 'fuse'.    Meanwhile there's wax-melt here and there making kind of a mess in the whole glass water container. 

It was ... amusing for a single event thing, just because it was water and fire in one place.   However, your basic votive candle setup was more satisfying and typically included lovely scents. 

I suppose you could put scents/herbs into the water, and if you kept replacing the floaty candle, the water would eventually warm up enough to release the scents....? 

On the other hand?  A repurposed fondu pot, filled with potpourri and a wee bit of water, over a smallish votive candle to just warm the whole, works significantly better... just take care that the water does not evaporate before the candle goes out, or the potpourri can burn, changing a lovely scent event into more of a "who set off the smoke alarm" annoyance. 

I used to have a miniature "crock pot" electric wet-potpourri thing, but I don't remember what happened to it... hmmm... I must see if I can find that thing.  I really did like it.

But wet potpourri is different from the dry sort, as water brings out different chemicals, and the very low heat (below water's boiling point-- see Pieces' comment... ) and the water vapor carries the whole into the room quite nicely.  Typically much more intense, than just the dry stuff.

On the down side, when the thing quits being "scentful", you have what is essentially wet near-compost.  Not unlike used tealeaves or old coffee grinds.  Don't leave it overnight, or it'll become a haven for mold....     (.... now who would do **that***....? )

[Darlica]

I'm completely fascinated by the combination fire and water (ice) When I hag a larger home I used to have a crystal bowl with water some flower and a candle in it on the table.
   
However, I'm not fond of floating candles they do make a mess in the container.
I use very thin cuplike candle holders made of glass and a tea candle.


Like these.



As for stabilizing candles in the holder. Use a thin strip of tinfoil around the base of the candle, it won't melt and it is reusable.

[Opsa]

I'm completely fascinated by the combination fire and water (ice) When I hag a larger home I used to have a crystal bowl with water some flower and a candle in it on the table.
   
However, I'm not fond of floating candles they do make a mess in the container.
I use very thin cuplike candle holders made of glass and a tea candle.


Like these.



As for stabilizing candles in the holder. Use a thin strip of tinfoil around the base of the candle, it won't melt and it is reusable.

That is so pretty, Darlica! ...and foil! So simple and efficient. Thank you!

I love fire and water, too- the reflections are wonderful.

I have a set of little Partylite goblet-style candle holders that are supposed to hold Partylite candles which melt completely into liquid wax and look oh so pretty- like wine with flames, but are freakin' expensive! So I took some tea candles and floated them in water in the goblets, and it worked great. The only thing is that the metal tea candle holders will rust, so you have to empty them after use.

I love Darlica's little floating holders, though. Gotta look for them.

[Griffin NoName]

Chanuka candles are notorious for not fitting the Menorah. The traditional cure is to pad with tinfoil (as Darlica said). Since Menorah candles are always the same size whereever one buys them I cannot work out why they never make Menorahs to that size - or change the standard size of the candles. Maybe there is something about it in the Bible and it would be a sin. Anyway, next time you see a Menorah with candles, I bet it has tinfoil.

[pieces o nine]

Darlica:  what a pretty set-up!  Am I remembering correctly that you made the ice luminarias last winter?

I picked up a dozen discontinued votives in square glass containers from an outlet shop several years ago, for almost nothing. Probably discontinued because the container was slightly too large for a votive and slightly too small for the next size up, and molded to look like heavy, mouth-blown objects. I put white sand in the bottoms under votives, or floated tea light candles (local hobby store carried a brand in clear plastic cups that never melted or burned, I don't know how) in water. Easy to clean up either way, and made a nice elemental mix for rituals. I also felt completely safe putting one on each step in my apartment for gatherings -- no worries about fire from out-of-sight candles, as the surrounding sand or water would stop any tea light that tried to flare up.

Opsa:  you might try glass votive holders in a shallow bowl of water for the look, without the mess. Pedestal or ornamental holders that accept either small tapers or votives could be very pretty, and you could incorporate Bob's suggestion for essential oils in the larger bowl without worry about unexpected flammability.

Bob:  I had one of those votive oil burners also. I think everyone has to "boil" it dry once to learn about sudden Essence of Acrid. 

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Anyone have experience with classic paper-bag "luminaries"?  

Piece's mention of candles up the steps, reminded me of a camp I did, oh, in the early 80's?  It's been a bit.  

But anyhow, someone wanted to do a sunrise service on top of a fairly high/steep hill (we called it a mountain, but it was about 5-6 stories up--seemed worse, as the path was quite steep, if paved.  Not stepped, though....)

Anyway, someone then wanted these paper-bag luminaries lighting the path up to the top, for that sunrise event-- early in the morning, it'd be quite dark (camp-- outdoor lights few and far, none on that path).  

And, I still do not know how, I got roped into lighting these damn things before anyone else was up.... and I did.  Get up by 4am, trudge up the path, lighting a paper-bag with sand in the bottom, and a squat metal-encased votive nestled in the sand -- I quickly learned to pick up the candle, light it, and then quickly put it back--holding it sideways so as to not burn my hand-- quick so the paper didn't scorch, but not so quick as to blow it out....

... and these things were about 1 every foot to foot-and-a-half or so.   Up a very steep slope.  For about a longish block.  Both sides.  

Lucky me-- the various groups who made the things (earlier the previous day) were also tasked to setting them in place ahead of time.  Fortunately, it did not rain that night, or else it'd have been a mess.

But I got it done, before anyone started up the trail...

... and I had the last laugh:  it turned into a cloudy day, and the sun never really did come "up" in the traditional sense.  



But the luminaries were a huge success.  

The following summer?  I made certain to have other responsibilities, so I was unable to help a second time...

[Opsa]

I love to see luminaries, but I have never dared to do them myself.

I have gotten the clear plastic cup tealights, and they are amazing. I try to nab them at Wallyworld when they go on clearance after a holiday.

Great idea- to get some chunky glass holders to put in water (and sand sounds nice, too). Another excuse to buy candle holders! Yeee!

Griffin- I might check the menorahs for foil when no-one's looking!

I still don't know what to do with these floating candles, though- put them in little aluminum pie pans with glass rocks at the bottom?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I love to see luminaries, but I have never dared to do them myself.

Nowadays, people "cheat" and use electric or LED things-- not nearly as warm as an actual flickering flame.  But a **lot** less of a fire hazard too.   Paper bags can burn quite quickly... However, if you put a couple of inches of damp sand in the bottom?  And place it on something solid (inflammable) like dirt, gravel, or pavement?  The burning bag simply burns down to the sand, and goes out.   If you have left the bags out overnight (unlit) they typically absorb quite a bit of moisture (if it's fall/winter) anyway, and are not all that flammable anyway. 

Still.   Stuff happens... and if it's windy?  Flammable debris could easily blow up and against the bag or even knock it over, letting the flame get to the paper/debris... and then to the yard.. and then... well....

So I'd definitely avoid these if there was any sort of wind and/or you did not have suitable non-flammable surface to put them out on.   I'd say, wood of any kind would be worrisome (like a porch or deck or wooden steps). 

On the gripping hand?   You could opt for a lovely flower-pot's base-- you know, those shallow unglazed dishes you place under flowerpots?   That ought to work as a fireproof base.

In fact?

Unglazed flowerpots, with a bit of cardboard blocking the bottom hole, and some nice damp sand in, and then a little votive nestled into the sand?   Ought to work nearly as nice as a paper-bag would.

Yes, you'd lose the nice through-the-bag effect, but you'd still get that ambient open-flame effect by reflection.   

Or go with glass containers, as Darlicia has shown us previously-- or was that ice?  I forget.  I think hers were tinted ice blocks with candles-in.  Lovely.

I still don't know what to do with these floating candles, though- put them in little aluminum pie pans with glass rocks at the bottom?

A pretty (faceted) crystal punch bowl works quite well.  Keep the water level below the rim, and you'll get lovely candle-flame highlights through the cut crystal facets.

You can add pretty rocks or marbles in the bottom, if you like,  or even plastic flowers (sunk with weights/stones).  

No need for special containers, so long as the floaty-candles don't burn right next to the glass sides.   That is much less likely in a large bowl, not all that full, as the sides are nicely sloped away from the flame(s).   Or you could anchor the floaty candles with a little string and a small weight, like a nut or washer or fish weight.  If you use steel, watch out for long-term immersion, it can rust and stain your glass bowl-- not permanently, but annoying if unnoticed.   I suppose you could drill a hole in a penny?     I just used fishing line and a classic lead fishing weight (one with a hole in the top).  I anchored the line to the bottom of the candle, by heating a needle and melting a little hole, then forcing the line (with a knot) into it, then pressing it closed with my fingers.  Worked well enough.   When the floaty candle burns low enough, the water will run in and quench it anyway, long before it gets to the anchor knot-- or that was how it worked for me anyway.

[pieces o nine]

Back in the 80s I received a lovely Toscany crystal faceted bowl, which doesn't "go" with anything, so it's held my collection of amusing cocktail napkins in the depths of the cupboard...

Now I'm inspired to bring it out, fill it with water, toss in gently add some tinted glass marbles, and float some seasonal tealights.   Oh! this brings to mind a photo of crystal bowls heaped with clear, transparent blue, and silver round glass Christmas balls, arranged on a mantel with glass candlesticks and lit white tapers and votives -- very attractive, especially at night! Perhaps you could combine all these ideas for a knock-out centerpiece at Thanksgiving or Christmas?


hmmmmm... checks the googles to see if that pic is on-line... no, but this is a safe & interesting luminaria variation and here are a buncha ideas -- bet the bay leaf or citrus slice ideas would smell wonderful!

Since Menorah candles are always the same size whereever one buys them I cannot work out why they never make Menorahs to that size - or change the standard size of the candles. Maybe there is something about it in the Bible and it would be a sin.

I can't believe that was overlooked in Levitivus, which covers all of life's other possible emergencies...   

Looking for an ice + menorah centerpiece for you, the googles inexplicably suggested this:

Even if there were 8 candles, I think this would also be a sin (with or without tinfoil)! 

[Opsa]

It is wicked wahsome!

Such inspiring ideas, sibs!

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

You took the words out of my mouth, Opas.

[Griffin NoName]

Looking for an ice + menorah centerpiece for you, the googles inexplicably suggested this:

One must assume google is not of a religious bent.

[pieces o nine]

Perhaps it is Reformed...       

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

 

[Darlica]

I must confess, that particular bowl with candles isn't mine.
However I have the same type of candle holders and I have used them in a similar way. No pics of that though. Sorry if I was unclear.

I've made luminaries by using small glass jars and wrap them with a string of unevenly spaces glass beads for summer use (I'll see if I can find any pictures). For the winter... well I do like to play with ice. I hope I get to do that this winter too.

Paper and open flame is a stupid combo, too many risks, but it can look really pretty. I made some for a friends party a couple of years ago but I used electric tea candles for them, it would have been embarrassing if my little contraptions had burned down her house!

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Out of doors, in damp weather, with sand in the bottom?  I really don't see a real risk with paper luminaries, given those conditions--especially if they are set up on pavement/dirt, and little or no wind.

But indoors?  Not a chance.

[Griffin NoName]

The Luminaries just won the Mann Booker prize!!!

[Opsa]

Mr. Ops' office had a gift exchange, and he brought home this simple little candle holder (pictured below). I have used it just about every night since it got here. Little tea candles fit perfectly in it, and I like the simplicity of the design. Part of the charm, I suppose, is that I always have a bunch of tea lights, and this makes them look nice.

[Griffin NoName]

Pretty.

[Aggie]

Very cool design, and nice workmanship.