How to make an oil lamp. Making an oil lamp at home

An oil lamp is a homemade lamp used by our distant ancestors. The basis for it are oil and wick. Of course, the need for such a lamp has now disappeared, but it will still serve you in the country or can become an interesting element of interior decoration, especially if you use aroma oils. Make a miniature oil lamp not so difficult.

To make a miniature oil lamp, we need:

match
copper wire
thick wool thread
oil
tin cork

The thread will serve as a wick. The thicker it is, the better. Any thread absorbs any liquid quite easily, and the laws of physics lift this liquid up along the thread - this is what we will use. First you need to make the basis for the thread - the column on which it will be wound. To do this, take a match and wrap it with a tight ring of wire.

Gradually, winding the wire around the match in a spiral, we get the basis for the future wick.

When we wrap almost the entire match, we take it out of the spiral. Leave the tail below - it is needed for stability. Copper wire in the best way suitable for such manual creativity - it bends easily, and it is quite beautiful.

Now you need to wind the thread around this spiral.

From the bottom up, tightly wind the thread in a spiral, threading it a little between the rings of the spiral. From above we leave a small end of the thread, fluffing it along the fibers. If this structure is placed in a container with oil at the bottom, then the oil, having soaked the thread, will rise all the way up. That's what a tin cork is for. Drip a little oil into it and put a wick inside.

The oil itself does not burn, but the wick soaked in it burns very well. Of course, not every oil will do - you need to buy in the store what is intended for aromatic lamps and candles. All that's left is to set it on fire!

It is not necessary to use a cork - any metal container will do, into which you can pour a spoonful of oil and put the wick that we made.

Kerosene and oil lamps were widely used at a time when there was no electricity. But even today, in the event of an emergency power outage, as well as during a hike or stay in the country, you can use an oil lamp. A rarity that was popular in ancient times will be difficult to find and purchase today, but you can learn how to make an oil lamp with your own hands.

In order for oil lamp lighting to be effective, certain conditions must be met:

Far from any oil will do so that the wick burns evenly and for a long time, and, moreover, brightly. In this case, you need to choose an oil intended for aromatic lamps and candles, or sewing machines It is also good to use lamp oil. AT field conditions, for lack of other things, you can use vegetable.
The wick should have a large diameter. You can even use twisted cotton wool.
A container that is too wide, such as a saucer, is more flammable than a small one, especially when lighting an oil lamp inside a tent.

DIY oil lamp

A do-it-yourself oil lamp can be very useful when camping to light up the place inside the tent. However, you need to know how to properly make it.

The basis of such a lamp is oil and a wick. To make a miniature oil lamp, you will need materials:

Match
copper wire
Woolen thread, preferably thick
Oil
Cork from tin

A thick woolen thread will act as a wick, and the thicker it is, the better. It absorbs any substance well, whether liquid or oil, lifting this substance up. The basis for the thread should be a support, which is used as a match, on which copper wire is wound in dense rings. When the match is completely wrapped in wire, it is removed from the loop. You should get a copper spiral, the end of which needs to be slightly bent to ensure stability. After that, it is necessary to wind the thread with a dense layer on the resulting spiral from the bottom up, threading it between the rings. The end of the thread should remain free on top, it needs to be fluffed a little.

Next, you need to take a tin cork, pour a small amount of oil, enough to soak the wick from the thread to the top. In addition to the cork, you can use any metal container in which you want to place the manufactured wick.

Another option for making an oil lamp is to use an ordinary light bulb. For this you will need:

Old or new light bulb
Cotton wick
Syringe
Steel or copper wire
Oil
Set of tools

The light bulb will serve as a container for oil with a wick. To prepare it, you need to make a hole in the base: hook the protruding contact of the lamp with pliers, pull it. After that, you need to remove the black polymer around the contact and everything else that was there from the glass bulb of the light bulb.

Next, you need to check the wick for suitability: set it on fire, and look at the result. If it gives loose ashes, then the wick will burn well. If the fibers begin to turn into something resembling plastic, such a wick is not suitable for an oil lamp. It is necessary to measure the required length of the wick so that it is completely immersed in the flask from the lamp, looking out of it by about 1 cm.

To fill a glass flask with oil, a 10 ml syringe can be used. When the oil in the flask runs out, you can always add it.

From the wire you need to make a holder for the wick. To do this, with the help of pliers, the wire is bent in the form of a spiral with a wide base. On top of the wire, you need to make a slight rounding so that it holds on to the top of the bulb from the light bulb.

After making the base, the wick is soaked in oil, and lowered into the flask, fixed with a wire. If the cotton wick on the wire does not peek out of the light bulb by about 1 cm, it will create a lot of soot. The oil lamp is ready, you just need to light the wick and make sure to change the oil in time and tighten the wick as it burns. By the way, this lamp will be a great interior decoration. But for this it is necessary that it be located on a stand. To do this, you can use a metal hanger or a piece of copper wire, twisting it in the form of a wide spiral, and fixing the light bulb on top with electrical tape or double-sided tape.

Another option for making an oil lamp is using a glass container and the bottom of an aluminum can. The concave part of the bottom is cut off from the jar, in which two holes are made - for the wick and the air outlet, in order to slightly reduce the buoyancy of the wick. A wick is passed through one of the holes, for example, from a bandage. It is wetted with oil, set on fire and lowered into a glass container filled with oil. Instead of one wick, you can make three or four, but in this case you will have to make the float from the aluminum bottom more convex so that it is not flooded with oil inside the glass jar.

The advantages of a lamp inside a glass jar: the flame is not blown out by the wind and is protected from accidental tipping over, convenient during transportation, does not require constant supervision. And the use of several wicks allows you to adjust the brightness of the glow and the duration of the lamp burning.

The oil lamp or candle is one of mankind's oldest forms of light sources. According to Wikipedia, there are stone oil lamps that were used from 10,000 to 15,000 years ago! Today we're going to talk about how oil lamps work, what type of oil and wick to use, and how to make a beautiful canned oil lamp in just a few minutes!

Three reasons to fall in love with oil lamps:

The lamp in the jar is easy to make but so attractive. It only takes two minutes and a little vegetable oil and water!
Such a lamp is safer than candles. If the oil lamp is turned over, the flame is immediately extinguished by the oil and water. However, do not leave the lamp unattended!
Bright long burning. One tablespoon of oil can burn for two hours!

These oil lamps can be an inexpensive source of light, but they are also great for decorating a dinner party or party!

How do oil lamps work?

The earliest oil lamps used vegetable oil as fuel, while later versions used kerosene or lamp oil to impregnate the capillary wick. This version is made with vegetable oil.

What type of oil and wick should I use?

Lamps that use kerosene or lamp oil have specially made wicks. Long cotton wicks are not suitable for vegetable oil lamps because vegetable oils are highly viscous.

Long wicks simply don't pick up enough oil and go out. Floating wicks work great with all vegetable oils!

Materials:

large floating wicks
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
bank or Glass bottle
decorative elements (flowers, pine cones, pebbles, etc.)
herbs, spices or essential oils

Step-by-step instruction:

Step 1: Collect glass bottles and jars, fill them with flowers or other decorative elements. Fill with water.

Step 2: Pour a little vegetable oil on top until the oil forms a layer about half a centimeter thick.

Large floating wicks are supplied with discs and small waxed wicks. Insert a piece of wick through the center hole in the disc and lay it over the oil layer.

Now light your oil candle and enjoy the beautiful light!

Flowers and fruits will last a whole week in water.

Pine cones, pebbles, beads are also great additions! Red viburnum berries, cranberries and softwood paws are great for decoration.

To extinguish the flame, simply cover the candle with the lid of the jar. Floating wicks can be left inside.

After repeated use, the waxed wick will burn out, just replace it with a small piece of pre-waxed wick that can be cut into small pieces. A floating disk can run for a very long time.

Some flowers will pop up, but you can keep them down with other decorative pieces.

Add food coloring to water for a special effect!

Olive and sunflower oils burn cleanly, without smoke.

Artificial plants can also be used for decoration, just keep them safe from flames.

The article was prepared based on www.apieceofrainbow.com.

How to make an oil lamp

To make a miniature oil lamp, we need:

match
copper wire
thick wool thread
oil
tin cork

Gradually, winding the wire around the match in a spiral, we get the basis for the future wick.

When we wrap almost the entire match, we take it out of the spiral. Leave a tail at the bottom - it is needed for stability. Copper wire is best suited for such handicrafts - it bends easily, and is quite beautiful.

Now you need to wind the thread around this spiral.

It is not necessary to use a cork - any metal container will do, into which you can pour a spoonful of oil and put the wick that we made.

Every housewife dreams that the house was warm and cozy. But sometimes it is not easy to choose accessories to create the very necessary comfort. A special role in creating a competent interior is played by the choice of lighting. Today, there are a lot of options for this: sconces, original chandeliers and shades. And for lovers of twilight and a romantic atmosphere, an oil lamp is perfect. Unlike all the options listed above, it serves more as original item decor rather than lighting fixture. Although it all depends on the size and wick. Some of these lamps are quite bright.

What is an oil lamp?

A familiar name that immediately evokes a certain image in your head, isn't it? In fact, the oil lamp has not always been the way we used to imagine it. From the name it is clear that such a lamp works by burning fat or oil. The principle of its operation is similar to the device of a kerosene lamp - a container with fuel, a wick and physics, according to the laws of which, oil or fat always rises along the fibers.

About the use of lamps

The first oil lamps appeared in the Paleolithic era, only then they were made from clay, stones, copper, and later other metals. Such lamps were popular with the Eskimos, and until the 19th century, slightly modified, they were used as firing clocks (similar to sun clocks).

In Russia and Canada, the so-called kudliks are widely used - stone cups with a wick lowered into them and filled with fat, oil or lard. In some places they are still used, and the peoples of the north with the help of such lamps have learned to heat their homes.

Today, the oil lamp is no longer so popular, and it looks different: all kinds of candles, bottles, jars with decorations, and even original lamps in the shape of conventional lamps and spirals. And its functionality has changed - instead of lighting - decor.

Wick and oil for the right lamp

It does not matter whether you decide to buy a lamp or make it yourself, it is important to choose the right oil for an oil lamp, because the quality of the product and the brightness of the lighting depend on it.

Today you can find special lamp oil in the store. It can be of two types: on a vaseline basis (clean, transparent in appearance) and olive with impurities (more cloudy), and if necessary, even ordinary sunflower is used. But in order for the oil to rise and evaporate well, it is important that the wick for the oil lamp be of high quality.

DIY oil lamps

Any souvenirs self made have always been valued much higher than the factory and common to the masses. This also applies to oil lamps, which are not difficult to make with your own hands. Even if you haven't done it before hand made, you can easily cope, and your family and friends will be pleasantly surprised. For work you will need:

oil container;
wick or string;
large needle or hook;
support for the wick (wire, cap or cork).

Any container will do: it can be a beautiful small vase, a glass bottle, or even an ordinary jar. As a decoration, you can use glue to apply on outside sequins, drawings, etc. In general, whatever comes to mind. In the meantime, the container dries up, proceed to the creation of the wick.

To do this, take a woolen cord or a special wick that can be bought in stores. If you are making a lamp in the shape of a bottle, it is better to use a cork or a metal cap, and for a vase, cork material, because it does not sink and almost does not burn. Using a needle or a crochet hook, thread it through the chosen base so that the cord sticks out 1.5-2 cm up, and the long end is no less than the distance to the bottom of your future lamp.

It remains only to fill the container with oil, fix the wick and let it soak for a while. Your gift is ready!