Dateline: 20 December 2016

This blog post continues the discussion of the Bright Betty emergency oil lamp concept. This post focuses on the materials needed. A future post will detail how to make your own.

Mason Jar Mugs

The glass jars, called Mason Jar Mugs, can be purchased new, or found at a lower cost in thrift stores and yard sales. The thick glass is heat resistant, though the top portion will become hot during use. The handle remains cool. Canning jar lids and rings, sized to fit the jar, are needed to seal the unit when not in use.

A “Safe” Fuel

Hollowick Liquid Wax Lamp Fuel, a high-quality odorless and smokeless liquid paraffin, also known as liquid candle wax, is recommended. This fuel is classified as non-toxic, non-flammable, and safe for tabletop use.

Wick

The recommended wick is 1/8" round fiberglass wick, available in various lengths from TheWickStore.com (item #1284). A 12" length is used in the example, but a shorter length may be adequate.

Wire

18-gauge galvanized steel wire, commonly found at home centers, is used to create a spiral wick support and handle.

Wick Tube

A wick tube is needed to securely hold and allow for fine-tuning of the wick height, which controls flame size.

The example uses a 1/4" outside diameter soft copper refrigerator tubing. When cut, the tubing’s inside diameter will grip the wick and allow for manual adjustment with needle-nose pliers. Flaring one end of the tube creates a seat for the wick.

Pre-made wick holders are available, though not used or recommended in this example. Online searches and retailers like TheWickStore.com offer alternatives, like inexpensive thermal glass wick tubes.

A future blog post will detail the steps to create the wick support, as shown below.

CLICK HERE to go to Part 3 of this series.