Of course, you can use matches or a lighter to light a candle. It may be necessary to tilt the candle or use something a little longer, though, to light it properly. Pay attention to advise on how to light a candle so they burn more evenly.
You are supposed to use matches, heating elements, magnifying lens, battery and foil, flint, or lighter.
For more information, keep reading.
Ways to Light a Candle
With increasing levels of difficulty, this article lists all the techniques for lighting a candle without a lighter.
There is always a way to light a candle, whether you are without power at home or on a camping trip without lighters or matches.
Matches
When it comes to lighting candles, matches are the most frequently used alternatives to lighters.
They are widely available and simple to use, among other things. They most likely exist in your home already. You can therefore get a match stick right away if your lighter breaks.
But in comparison to using a lighter, using matchsticks is much more cumbersome. Considering that matches must be thrown away after being used just once. A candle can even be lit with a lighter, according to some, who also claim that it is much simpler.
When there isn’t much candle wax left and you can’t fit your hand through the container’s opening, using matches can be difficult.
There are other approaches you can take to get around this problem of confined space.
Read about:
Heating Elements
After using matches to light a candle, these are the next best options.
Your home may have a stove burner, oven, space heater, or even a toaster as heating sources!
The apparatus that is used the most frequently among these is a stove burner.
Magnifying Lens
It can be challenging to carry out this method because it is a little complicated. The fact that this method can only be used when there is plenty of light is a significant drawback.
So, if you’re trying to light a candle in the middle of the night without power, this method won’t help you.
You only need a magnifying glass and a piece of paper for this technique. Once you have both of these things, you must use the magnifying glass to direct light onto the paper until it ignites. After that, light the candles with this paper.
It’s likely that you’ll take some time the first few times you use this technique. For the paper to finally ignite, the magnifying glass’s angle may need to be adjusted several times.
To get the ideal angle, keep adjusting the magnifying glass’s angle until you notice a bright spot of light on the paper.
Keep the magnifying glass at the same angle for a while; this is crucial. The paper can now heat up sufficiently, which eventually causes the paper to catch fire.
Make sure the piece of paper is not too small as a precaution. Otherwise, if the paper catches fire, your hand might also burn.
Battery and Foil
This process may also be challenging. However, this method can come in handy if you’re outside and have no other options.
A battery and some tinfoil are all you need. It doesn’t matter what kind of battery you have—AAA, A, C, or D will do!
After that, use these instructions to light your candle.
- An inch of tinfoil should be cut. It ought to last twice as long as the battery you’re currently using.
- Tin foil should be folded in half.
- Make a point out of the folded end that is about ¼ inch wide.
- Unfold the tinfoil.
- Place the battery terminal with each end of the tinfoil in place. Put both ends on the candle wax.
The middle portion of the foil should now begin to warm up immediately. Your candle can be lit because it will be hot enough!
Flint
When you are outside, such as on a camping trip, this method of lighting a candle can be especially useful.
Simply strike something containing iron with the flint to start a fire. It’s likely that this will be a metal object, like a tent stake made of non-galvanized metal.
Keep rubbing the two objects firmly against one another. As a result, sparks will be produced.
Therefore, how do you light a candle? You could always have a paper-filled fireproof cup in front of you. Be sure to rub the metal and flint object against the paper as well.
As a result, the paper will come into contact with the sparks and catch fire. You can light your candle by placing the wick of the candle close to the paper.
Lighter
Make sure the location of your candle is appropriate. Wear heat-resistant clothing to prevent setting the area on fire. Remove any paper or other flammable materials from the area as well.
Cut the wick. The length of your wick should be about 1/8 of an inch. Because a long wick can present a safety risk, trim it back to this height. Use scissors in the absence of a wick trimmer.
Grab your barbecue lighter. Not for smoking, these lighters. They have a long barrel that is used to light a grill. These can be found with other lighters, but you can also find them in the barbecue section. A shallow candle can be lit with a cigarette lighter, but a deeper candle won’t work well because you risk getting burned.
Make a slight candle tilt. You probably won’t need to tilt a longer barrel completely sideways to light it, but you can still do it. Your dominant hand should hold the lighter, while the non-dominant hand should hold the candle. You won’t need to tilt the candle at all if it is short enough to use a cigarette lighter.
Flick the lighter on. Move the button on the side or top to alter the flame’s height. Turn it towards the “-” to make the flame smaller. Additionally, before pressing the trigger on a lighter, you typically need to push a safety. As you squeeze the trigger, keep it down.
Hold the lighter against the wick. Put a flame inside the candle. Allow the flame to contact the wick’s tip. Once it starts to burn, keep an eye on it and remove the lighter. In order to extinguish the flame, let go of the trigger. Next, position the candle upright on the ground.
Burning a Candle Evenly
The first time around, avoid trimming the wick. Some claim that trimming a candle’s wick before using it for the first time makes the flame burn unevenly. Wax melting can begin more effectively with a larger flame.[18]However, make sure to watch the burn carefully at all times.
First time, give it enough time to burn. At the very least, your candle should burn for an hour for every inch of its diameter. The candle must burn for four hours if the top of the candle is four inches in diameter.
Don’t burn it for brief intervals. Burn it for longer periods of time at a time rather than shorter ones to avoid tunneling after the initial burn. Shorter stretches won’t melt the wax as far out as you’d like.
Use the foil trick. Wrap the top of the candle with a piece of foil that has been folded over several times. It should be tipped just enough to create a small lip over the candle’s top.
FAQs
How Long Should You Burn a Candle for the First Time?
Solution: Particularly for their first burn, candles are supposed to burn for at least one hour per inch of container diameter. Therefore, if you purchase a new candle with a diameter of 3 inches, you should burn it for at least 3 hours (though not more than 4 at a time).
Is It OK to Burn a Candle All Day?
In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
Why is the First Burn of a Candle So Important?
The candle’s first burn is an important step to avoid tunneling. On your first burn, you want to completely and evenly melt the top layer of wax. If you do not, a “tunnel” will form in the center of the candle, creating a memory ring. When the first-burn is not long enough, tunneling occurs.
Can You Leave a Candle Burning Overnight?
No, you should not leave a candle burning overnight. This poses a serious fire risk and may start a major house fire.
Are Candles Unhealthy?
Exposure to chemicals emitted by scented candles “is so low that they pose no significant risk to human health,” she said. “Even the most frequent consumers of scented candles and other fragranced goods do not put themselves at a significant risk of harm.”
