Candle making - flame boost?

[Pattree]

Someone may know.

I’m in the process of making a candle lantern. It is designed to take a 35 - 40mm dia candle. That way it will take tea-lights if it must but something more substantial as standard. I’m testing the airflow using a 35mm x 50mm high votive (8hr) candle.

Problem is that the flame is the same as a tea light. What do I do/buy to produce a (much) bigger flame?

 

[Glow_worm]

Larger diameter candles can take a larger wick without developing bad habits- and a bigger wick will give a larger flame as long as the airflow through the lantern is enough. If restricted the mixture becomes too rich and sooting occurs.

So source or make candles with a wick of greater thread count.

Or redesign for multiple wicks.

That's the lot. Otherwise you're on the evolutionary path to the hurricane lantern, i.e. great big flat wick burning fuel in a format to suit (always liquid).

 

[demented dale]

Great stuff. I just started making candles. Here what I came up with. Its great to do. The moulds were a bit pricey but I recouped the outlay in no time. I make some everyday x


.

 

[slowworm]

Problem is that the flame is the same as a tea light. What do I do/buy to produce a (much) bigger flame?

As said, a bigger or better quality wick will help. Some waxes will also give out more light than others.

I'm not a fan of modern decorative candles as they don't seem to be made for light but rather just for looks.

You could try and find a candle made for giving out light, or make your own.

 

[demented dale]

Someone may know.

I’m in the process of making a candle lantern. It is designed to take a 35 - 40mm dia candle. That way it will take tea-lights if it must but something more substantial as standard. I’m testing the airflow using a 35mm x 50mm high votive (8hr) candle.

Problem is that the flame is the same as a tea light. What do I do/buy to produce a (much) bigger flame?

putting a small mirror inside those lanterns is a good idea. I thought that you got double the light at first but I realized that I just redirected and focus the light I had. Good for illuminating one area though . x

 

[Pattree]

A reflector is part of the design brief. I think I can handle that but later. Right now I’m burning candles in a glass jug to be sure that there is enough air flow - There is!

Thanks guys. Bigger wicks. Now to find a way of re-wicking a candle.

 

[Glow_worm]

Such a thing exists as a wicking needle!

Also, candle wick is traditionally measured by thread count, so you can determine what you have and order something suitable larger. A 15 thread wick for example is also written as a 3x5. Three woven strands of 5 fibres.

 

[stonepark]

A reflector is part of the design brief. I think I can handle that but later. Right now I’m burning candles in a glass jug to be sure that there is enough air flow - There is!

Thanks guys. Bigger wicks. Now to find a way of re-wicking a candle.

Votives and tea lights are designed to melt into a liquid and have minimal flame of 1cm or thereabouts which is why they are so thrifty with small wicks.

For light you need a pillar candle which is designed to stay solid such as these which have a 2cm to 2.5cm flame height.

 

[Pattree]

I think that those are if the dimensions that I have - maybe 10mm shorter.
They didn’t cost that much though. They were £2.50 for twenty.

I have an eyed leather needle that might work well if heated up.