DIY Alcohol Lamp

My first time using instructables so here goes.

Alcohol lamps are super easy to make with just a few items that can be found around most households.

The only material that you might not have hanging around are wicks, cloth or cotton wool can be used but you can probably get some from your local hardware store.

I have a video on Youtube if any clarification is necessary. It can be found at the bottom of these instructions

1. A mason jar
2. Ethanol (Isopropyl alcohol can be used)
3. A drink can
4. Wick
5. Scissors
6. Drill bits
7. A sharp knife
8. Something so puncture holes in the jar lid
9. Drill

First we will take the lid of the jar and make the necessary holes for the lamp.

Marking the holes

Mark three holes on the top with a marker. The center hole will be where the wick passes through into the fuel below so it will need to be slightly wider than the width of the wick. The two holes either side will be air inlets.

Puncturing the lid

Using a sharp object (I used a small screwdriver) make three holes through the lid on the marked locations.

Widening the center hole

Now using the drill make the center hole wider so the wick will be able to pass through.

Cutting the can

Take the drinking can and draw a cut line around the can (about 2/3 of the way up) and cut around the line.

The bottom half will be used to make the snuffer (a cap to extinguish the flame) and the top half will be used to make the wick guard.

Making the wick guard

Take the top half of the can and cut around the top forming a metal strip.

Next roll the strip into a coil and save it for the next step.

Making the snuffer

Take the bottom half of the can and make small cuts (about 1/2 a centimetre) around the sharp edge.

Fold the tabs that have been formed into the can so the edge is no longer sharp

Re-shape the can into a cylinder.

Cut the wick to size

Now take your wick and cut it about twice the height of the jar.

Wrap the guard around the wick

Take the metal coil that we made in the previous step and roll it around the wick, leaving a small length of wick (about 1 centimetre) poking out of one end.

Fit the wick to the lid

feed the wick through the center hole in the lid and fit the wick guard in the top so it's nice and snug.

Add the fuel

Take your ethanol or isopropyl alcohol and pour some into the jar.

Tighten the lid

Screw the lid on and make sure it is tight.

Soak the wick

You can either wait for the alcohol to soak up into the wick or add a little to the top for use right away.

NOTE: The alcohol lamp is designed for use with ethanol, isopropyl or methanol. Use of any other types of fuel may result in a hazardous setup.

Now your alcohol lamp is ready for use, just light the wick!

If anything is unclear, here is a video of me making the alcohol lamp.