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How to Make a Light That Burns

Before the invention of electricity, the only way to illuminate the dark was to use fire. One way to use fire for light is to burn a candle. A candle is made with rope for a wick that is encased in wax. You can make your own candle to burn for light by using paraffin wax, using materials that you'll likely have in your own kitchen.

Things You'll Need

Orange juice concentrate container
Cloth
Vegetable oil
Paraffin wax
Stove pot
Metal coffee can
Crayon
Spoon
Cotton string
Ruler
Scissors
Wax paper
Pot holder
Pencil
Tape

Instructions

- 1
  Wash out an orange juice concentrate container with soap and water. Wipe the inside of the can with a cloth to dry. Apply vegetable oil to the inside of the can: this will be the mold for the candle.
- 2
  Fill the stove pot with two to three inches of water. Turn the burner on the stove to "High." Set the pot of water on the burner.
- 3
  Set a metal coffee can in the water. Cut 1/4-pound of paraffin wax into chunks and place them into the coffee can. To color the wax, add one crayon of your choice to the melting wax. Mix the color into the wax by stirring with a spoon.
- 4
  Measure a length of cotton string that is three inches longer than the mold with the ruler. Cut the cotton string to this length with the scissors.
- 5
  Dip the cotton string in the melted wax on the stove. Lay the string in a straight on a piece of wax paper to dry.
- 6
  Remove the melted wax from the stove pot with a pot holder and pour the melted wax into the mold.
- 7
  Insert the wax-coated cotton string into the mold. Lay a pencil across the top of the mold. Apply a piece of tape to secure the string to the pencil. Allow 24 hours for the wax in the mold to harden.
- 8
  Hold the mold upside down and tap on the bottom. This should force the candle out of the mold.

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