Video: Five ways to make emergency candles

No one is quite sure when exactly load-shedding will be something of the past, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Here are five emergency candles you probably never thought of:

Orange and cooking oil: Slice an orange to remove the top part of the peel. The center pith makes an instant candle. Just pour a bit of oil over the pith. If you use a larger orange, you will get a longer-burning candle. Clementines are easier to peel and work just as well, though the burning time will be shorter.

Butter: Cut a slice of butter into a rectangle, insert a wick, light it and you’re done. Make sure to place the butter on a glass or metal surface. You should get about one hour of light per tablespoon.

Tuna can: If you’re out of fresh oranges or butter, check your pantry for a can of tuna, salmon, anchovies or any fish packed in oil. Poke a hole in the top of the can with a screwdriver and insert a wick, making sure to spread the oil through to the top, then light it and enjoy.

Crayon: This may not be the first thing which comes to mind, but a crayon is a self-contained candle: all you have to do is light it. The paper wrapper acts as a wick and the wax keeps the flame going. Make sure to melt the bottom of the crayon lightly so that it will stick to a metal surface. More than one crayon can be wrapped together with foil to make a larger candle or an effective fire starter.

Cheese wax: Cheese wax may be a nuisance when you’re trying to slice some cheese, but in addition to keeping cheese fresh, it is also a great material for making a candle. Any waxed cheese will do. Slice the wax off and mold it into a cylinder shape and then insert a wick. The more wax you have, the bigger and longer-lasting the candle. Make sure you have a flame-resistant base to hold your candle.

Click on this video to see how it’s done:

Additional source: https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/6-ways-make-emergency-candle.html