Waxed Hemp Wicks With Holders
by amtrudell in Living > Decorating
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Waxed Hemp Wicks With Holders
Instead paying a lot of pretty pennies for wicks and holders at Michael's when I wanted to make some beeswax tea lights, I decided to make my own.
The wicks work well. I may do another Instructable on beeswax tea lights using them.
The wicks work well. I may do another Instructable on beeswax tea lights using them.
Materials and Tools
To make the wicks and their holders you will need:
1. hemp twine for the wicks
2. an aluminum can to cut up for the holders
3. scissors to cut the hemp and the aluminum
4. a bodkin or awl for piercing aluminum pieces
5. a beeswax applicator for sewing thread and/or twine. You can use a piece of beewax without the holder as well.
1. hemp twine for the wicks
2. an aluminum can to cut up for the holders
3. scissors to cut the hemp and the aluminum
4. a bodkin or awl for piercing aluminum pieces
5. a beeswax applicator for sewing thread and/or twine. You can use a piece of beewax without the holder as well.
Prepare Holder Pieces
Cut the bottom and top off the can. Trim up the edges so they are neat.
Mark the resulting triangle into half inch strips. I stopped marking after five strips since each will be cut into 4 rectangles and I'm only making twenty tea lights.
For thicker wicks / bigger candles you may want larger holders. The working ratio for the rectangle dimensions is 2:3. If you want 1 inch squares for your holders, cut the rectangles 1 1/2 inches long.
Mark the resulting triangle into half inch strips. I stopped marking after five strips since each will be cut into 4 rectangles and I'm only making twenty tea lights.
For thicker wicks / bigger candles you may want larger holders. The working ratio for the rectangle dimensions is 2:3. If you want 1 inch squares for your holders, cut the rectangles 1 1/2 inches long.
Prepare Wick Pieces
Two foot lengths of hemp twine are nice to work with for wax coating. I have a beeswax holder for coating thread or light twine (you might find one in a sewing supplies store). Alternatively you can use a chunk of beeswax without a holder. Draw the hemp twine several times through the beeswax to coat and stiffen it. You can also melt beeswax in a shallow pan and dip the twine in it to coat it.
Cut the stiffened twine to the wick length you'll be using, allowing at least a quarter-inch to be secured in the wick holder.Dra
Cut the stiffened twine to the wick length you'll be using, allowing at least a quarter-inch to be secured in the wick holder.Dra
Secure Holders to Wicks
Pierce the holder a third of the way along its length. Make the hole large enough to insert the wick, but not too oversize.
Insert a quarter inch of the wick through the hole. Fold a third of the length of the holder rectangle over the wick end. Press closed.
Straighten the main length of the wick and be sure it extends at a right angle from the holder.
Insert a quarter inch of the wick through the hole. Fold a third of the length of the holder rectangle over the wick end. Press closed.
Straighten the main length of the wick and be sure it extends at a right angle from the holder.
Here are the wicks in use: new and unlit as well as lit. The "holder" for the lit tea light is actually the bottom of the pop can I cut up for the wick holders.