Making an oil lamp is fairly easy and all the materials needed may already be available at home. You can customize it to your liking using aromatic oils and other fun accessories, such as pine twigs. In this article we will show you several ways to make an oil lamp. In addition, we will also provide some ideas so that you can adapt them to your taste.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making an Oil Lamp with Corks and Glass Jars
Step 1. Prepare the materials needed
This lamp is very simple and easy to make. You only need a few ingredients so it's perfect in case of an emergency. Here are the materials needed:
- Mason jar or glass bowl
- 100% cotton rope or lamp wick
- Craft knife
- Scissors
- Cork
- Nails and hammer
- Olive oil
- Water (optional)
Step 2. Find a piece of cork
You can use wine corks or buy a bag of craft corks at a craft store. You can also use sheet cork with a thickness of at least 0.5 cm.
Step 3. Cut the cork so that the bottom is even
Cut the cork horizontally using a craft knife. If you're using a flat, thick cork, there's no need to cut it. The cork serves to keep the wick floating.
If you are using sheet cork, cut it into small circles or squares. The piece of cork should be small enough to fit in a jar, but also large enough to support the weight of the wick and not sink
Step 4. Use a needle or nail to make a hole in the center of the cork
The hole should be wide enough that you can insert the wick, but not so wide that the cork comes off when you hold the wick upside down.
Step 5. Pull the wick through the hole in the center of the cork
The length of the wick above the hole should not exceed 2.5 cm.
Step 6. Cut the wick to fit inside the jar
Hold the cork by the side of the bottle in the or full position. Cut the wick until the tip touches the bottom of the jar.
If you don't have a bottle, you can also use a pretty glass bowl
Step 7. Fill the jar with olive oil until or full
Olive oil is perfect for use because it produces a clean fire. In addition, olive oil does not contain harmful chemicals and does not leave an unpleasant odor.
If you want to save oil, use water and oil in a balanced ratio
Step 8. Place the cork on top of the oil
If possible, try to make it float in the middle.
Step 9. Wait 15 minutes before turning on the wick
This way, the wick gets enough time to absorb the oil so it's easier to ignite.
Method 2 of 4: Making an Oil Lamp with Wire and Jars
Step 1. Prepare the necessary materials
To make this lamp, you will need a jar and a piece of wire. This lamp is perfect for those who have a jar, but the lid is missing or won't punch holes in the lid. Here's a list of materials needed to make this type of lamp:
- Mason jar
- 100% cotton rope or lamp wick
- Olive oil
- Scissors
- flower wire
- Wire cutting pliers
Step 2. Cut the wicks with scissors so they can fit inside the jar
The bigger the size of the wick, the bigger the flame. If you want a small flame, use a candle wick #2 or 0.5 cm.
Step 3. Cut a piece of thin wire using pliers
The wire should be long enough that you can hook it around the mouth of the jar when bent. You will use wire to hold the wick.
- Do not use plastic-coated or painted copper or zinc/galvanized wire.
- Do not use scissors as you could injure yourself and blunt the scissors.
Step 4. Place the wick in the center of the wire, then bend it in half
You clamp the wick between 2 pieces of wire. The end of the wick should not exceed 2.5 cm above the edge of the wire.
Step 5. Twist the two wire halves gently
The wire should be tight enough to hold the wick, but also loose enough to allow you to pull the wick up and down.
Step 6. Place the wick in the center of the jar
It doesn't matter if the wick protrudes slightly into the jar. If it's protruding too far into the jar, try lifting it a little closer to the lip of the jar.
Step 7. Hook the end of the friend on the lip of the jar
Now, the wire should hold the wick just inside the mouth of the jar. If the wire doesn't hold its shape, you can wrap another piece of wire around the neck of the jar to secure the wire holding the wick to the jar.
Step 8. Fill the jar with olive oil about or full
Olive oil is very suitable for use because it does not contain harmful chemicals. In addition, olive oil produces a clean flame and does not emit unpleasant odors.
Step 9. Wait about 15 minutes before turning on the wick
This way, the wick gets enough time to absorb the oil, making it easier for you to ignite.
Method 3 of 4: Making an Oil Lamp from a Jar with a Lid
Step 1. Prepare the materials needed
This lamp is ideal for patios, but is a little more difficult to make. However, the results are worth your hard work. Here's a list of materials needed:
- Mason jar
- 100% cotton rope or lamp wick
- Olive oil
- hammer
- Screwdriver or nails
- Pliers (optional)
- Two wooden blocks
- Tape (optional)
- Washer (metal ring) or nut
Step 2. Place the lid of the jar upside down between the two wooden blocks
If the lid consists of two separate sections, set aside the ring section as you will be using the disc section at this time. The two wooden blocks should be placed about 2.5 cm apart from each other. The slit should be right in the middle of the dish.
Step 3. Make a hole in the lid of the jar
Position the nail or screwdriver fixed in the center of the lid. Use a hammer to hit the nail/screwdriver through the cap. After making the hole, set the hammer aside, and wiggle the nail/screwdriver while pulling it out.
Step 4. Enlarge the hole if necessary
The hole should be large enough that you can insert a string or wick. The holes must also be tight enough so that they can hold the string/wick when placed on top of the jar. If the hole isn't wide enough, use pliers to peel the edges of the hole toward you.
Step 5. Slide the wick through the hole
The end of the wick should stick out at the top of the cap. If necessary, you can wrap the ends of the wicks with tape first. This will prevent the wick from unraveling as you slide it through the hole.
Also, you can use 100% cotton rope
Step 6. Consider slipping a metal nut over the wick
The nut will hide the hole in the cap and make the lamp look neater. The end of the wick should protrude no more than 2.5 cm above the nut. Make sure the inside diameter of the nut is the same as the axis.
If you're using tape, make sure you cut out the piece that's wrapped around the tape once the wick has slipped through the hole and nut
Step 7. Fill the jar with olive oil until or full
You can also use other types of oil, such as citronella oil or lamp oil. However, olive oil is the safest because it does not contain harmful chemicals.
Step 8. Put the lid back on the jar and wait 10-15 minutes
This way, the rope or wick can absorb enough oil so you can ignite it.
Method 4 of 4: Changing the Oil Lamp to Taste
Step 1. Consider changing the lamp to taste before adding oil
In this section we'll give you some tips to make your lights look beautiful and smell good. It is not necessary to apply all the ideas given here. You just need to choose one or two things that you like the most.
Step 2. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or candle fragrance to the oil lamp
This step will make the lamp emit a fragrant aroma when turned on.
- If you want a calming or relaxing scent, use lavender or vanilla.
- If you want a refreshing scent, consider using lemon, lime or orange.
- If you like a fresh and comfortable scent, maybe you can choose eucalyptus, mint, or rosemary.
Step 3. Insert some twigs of your favorite herbaceous wood
Not only will this make the jar look prettier, but the herbs used will give the oil a subtle aroma when it burns. Herbs that are very suitable for use include:
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- lavender
Step 4. Give the jar a touch of color with some orange slices
Cut a lemon, lime, or orange into thin slices and place in a jar. Place the orange slices against the walls of the jar so that the center is almost empty. Not only does the orange slice add a touch of color to the jar, but it also gives the oil a pleasant aroma when it burns.
Step 5. Decorate the jars by adding other elements
It's best not to overdo it because there won't be enough oil in the lamp to turn it on. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
- For nautical or beach themed lights, you can fill the jars with shells and sea glass.
- For a party light, try adding a few pieces of cedar, holly, and pinecones.
- For a more aromatic party light, you can add pine twigs and cinnamon sticks.
Step 6. Consider adding a few drops of food coloring if you are also using water in the lamp
Partially fill the jar with water and add some food coloring. Use a spoon to stir the water, then add the wick and oil. The water will pool at the bottom of the jar and the oil will float to the top, giving it a streaky effect.
Tips
- You can also use a glass bottle to make an oil lamp. You just need to make a hole in the cap to insert the wick.
- Consider using a different type of oil, such as citronella oil or lamp oil.
- Make sure the wick is near the oil. Otherwise, the wick will not light up.
- If you want to save oil, you can use water and oil in equal ratios.
- Consider using used oil for lamps. Used oil may no longer taste good for cooking, but it still burns well.
- You have to cut the wick periodically. A charred wick will not burn properly. You can simply tug on the wick slightly until you see a new part of it under the cork, wire, or metal cap. Cut the charred part using scissors.
Warning
- If you want to turn off the lights, you'll need to use a metal bucket or pan. Don't try to blow it out like turning out a candle.
- Be careful when turning on the lights. Sometimes, the resulting flames are higher than you might think.
- Make sure you place the lamp on a stable surface. The lamp may cause an oil fire if rolled over.
- This type of lamp can produce a very high flame when first ignited. Therefore, try to keep it away from combustible materials, such as bushes or curtains. The flame will gradually shrink to its normal size after a few minutes.
- Never leave a burning oil lamp unattended.
