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Best long lasting SHTF candles?

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rhizhiy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Been hit by Sandy and was without power for 9 days.

Had a few flashlights, but long term without chargers would call for more permanent solution.

Looking for best long lasting candles.. I read that some even have 7+ days of constant burning time.
 
#4 ·
I stock the 5-hour emergency candles you can buy at Dollar Tree. Six for a buck. They do last 5 hours so they're a reasonable alternative.

http://www.dollartree.com/Luminessence-Emergency-Candles-6-ct-Packs/p306374/index.pro

You can also make your own emergency candles out of liquid paraffin, lamp wick and some small canning jars; here's the link to how to do it:

http://saltnprepper.com/diy-100-hour-candles/

I've actually stocked the materials for this (the paraffin, lamp wick and canning jars).

But in the end, I find candles to be probably the best alternative. I've got 30 packages of the Dollar Tree candles, or 180 of them. I figure if I can't use them they'll be very good barter or just helpful in a short-term disaster.
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
#10 ·
Crisco.

I kid you not. Well, any cooking lard. Pull the wick from a decorative candle. Insert it in a drinking straw. Push the straw into the Crisco, leaving the wick behind.

Damn, didn't think it would work either, but it sure does. Saw an article online were it'll last anywhere between 70 to 100 hours.

Can of Crisco, $2.50. Repeating how it works, priceless.


Yeah, you can buy emergency candles ahead of time. This works in a pinch. Say you got one decorative candle that normally only burns and hour. A quick adjustment and you've got a candle that'll burn a week.

Not at the point I want to start making my own wicks. But if you want to try, here's some directions:

1. Cut three strips of cotton string to the length of the candle plus 4 inches.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. salt, 3 tbsp. boric acid and 1 cup of water in a bowl. Soak the strips in the mixture for 12 hours. Soak more strips if you are making more candles.

3. Dry the strings by hanging them or laying them out in the sun. Drying times depends on how warm the air is.

4. Braid three strips together tightly. Tape the end of the three strands to a flat surface to keep the braid from unraveling at one end. It also makes it easier to pull tightly.

5. Saturate the wick by dipping it in wax. Dipping the wick in wax makes it stiff. The wax coating also makes lighting easier. Use scissors to hold the wick to avoid burns. Let the wick dry.

6. Tie the wick to the metal or paper piece. This piece holds the wick in place when the wax is poured.
 
#13 ·
The best deal I've found on candles are at Dollar Tree. Goose3 already mentioned the 6 pack of 5 hour candles for a buck. But I buy the bag of tea candles more often. You get 16 candles for $1 and each candle will burn for 3 hours. I've tested several. It's a good value.
 
#14 ·
searching4itnc said:
Crisco.

I kid you not. Well, any cooking lard. Pull the wick from a decorative candle. Insert it in a drinking straw. Push the straw into the Crisco, leaving the wick behind.

Damn, didn't think it would work either, but it sure does. Saw an article online were it'll last anywhere between 70 to 100 hours.

Can of Crisco, $2.50. Repeating how it works, priceless.


Yeah, you can buy emergency candles ahead of time. This works in a pinch. Say you got one decorative candle that normally only burns and hour. A quick adjustment and you've got a candle that'll burn a week.

Not at the point I want to start making my own wicks. But if you want to try, here's some directions:

1. Cut three strips of cotton string to the length of the candle plus 4 inches.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. salt, 3 tbsp. boric acid and 1 cup of water in a bowl. Soak the strips in the mixture for 12 hours. Soak more strips if you are making more candles.

3. Dry the strings by hanging them or laying them out in the sun. Drying times depends on how warm the air is.

4. Braid three strips together tightly. Tape the end of the three strands to a flat surface to keep the braid from unraveling at one end. It also makes it easier to pull tightly.

5. Saturate the wick by dipping it in wax. Dipping the wick in wax makes it stiff. The wax coating also makes lighting easier. Use scissors to hold the wick to avoid burns. Let the wick dry.

6. Tie the wick to the metal or paper piece. This piece holds the wick in place when the wax is poured.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm saving these directions, "just in case." I'm also going to try to find that site I saw the 75 ft. roll of candle wicking and order it. After seeing how much effort is involved in this, that roll of wicking doesn't sound NEARLY as expensive now. :)
 
#15 ·
Crisco is used by some candlemakers as an additive for candle paraffin. You don't see it used much because it smokes badly. As in, smokes up your walls and furniture. Ick.

Candlemaking is more complicated than it looks. The wick has to be matched to the candle wax formula, and if it isn't right, the flame is too big (like that oil lamp on that link!!) or it goes out.

I'm lucky, I have 8 cases of candle wax, the additives, wicks, and a big melting pot in my preps. :D Left over from a candle business.
 
#16 ·
Done some research on candles because i discovered that having a candle burning in my room warms it jst enough during the winter , but the soot is an issue.So i did some investagating and found that the candles used in churches are mostly Bee's wax because they burn hotter and less soot and that is more important then time . what you breathe matters.
So that is what i buy Bees wax , and make my own candle in a metal coffee can .
ideally though ,in east asia schools they take garbage and cook it down and make alcohol,and give it to the children for alcohol lamps do do their studies at home .
It's not rocket sciense ,, well for some of you it is , but but for most people it is not all that difficult to make or even buy a still .
A still can also be useful for making distilled water for drinking or batteries or what ever else you need distilled water for .
A friend would distill old beer,and make something pretty hard , not my thing .
Alcohol is an easily renewable resource comming from organics .
Check out alcohol lamps on line .
 
#17 ·
I agree that the Catholic traditional devotional candles, 10" tall, are a good idea. They are very inexpensive and will burn 4 - 6 days. They are available in clear/plain containers as well.

Personally, I like the idea of votive candles. They are short so holders are easy to come by and they are less likely for fall over reducing the fire hazard. Here is a source for a gross (144) for about $25.

I like the idea of using Crisco. Using a straw to insert the wick is pretty clever. I mentioned it to my wife and she also thought it was a good idea. Then she wondered how much greasy soot burning Crisco would produce.
 
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#20 · (Edited)
Around a number of Jewish holidays the Memorial Candles are on sale, I've gotten them for as little as 4 for $1.00. They last 24+ hours and then you have a glass holder you can use with tea lights. There are also Shabbos candles that last for about 3-4 hours.

I find them a nice size to put in the cup holder in the bathroom. (the memorial candles in glass holders)

The Jewish candles are not religious items, but are used as part of religious observance. So you aren't stepping on anyone's toes using them. Sometimes you'll see them on closeout when they switch suppliers and you can get boxes of 72 Shabbos candles for a couple of dollars.
 
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