Since winter is coming and we also may be in for some rough times due to war I thought this recipe may be useful. I found two sites and the other one says to use a 3# coffee can and up to 3 zinc cored wicks per coffee can. A source of zinc cored wicks is www.lonestarcandlesupply.com . Supposedly one 3# can will burn for 26-30 hrs and keep a 9X12 room above freezing. The canned candle when being used must be placed on a heat proof surface & away from pets & kids since they will get really hot! Here's the recipe:

Emergency Candles

ingredients

2 C. fine sawdust

1 lb. melted wax

Chip or cut up wax into small pieces, and melt over water, never directly over flame or burner. It can be melted in the same container you're going to use for the candle. (empty tuna can, coffee can, etc.)

Put the sawdust in a shoe box and pour the wax over it. Mix it until it holds together well when squeezed in your hands. Pack and press the mixture into the can tightly and firmly.(Careful it may be hot!)

Make a hole with a long knitting needle. Add the wick, all the way down. Pour melted wax over the top to secure.

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 03, 2002

Answers

Here's the other recipe in case you want to try both types. I cut & pasted it as printed.

Emergency candles They are a good heat source and can be used to cook on also. They were pretty easy to make and not too expensive either.

Supplies required: 46 oz metal can 1 1/2 obs Candle wax--not paraffin( someone else said paraffin is OK) 1 candlewick-approx. 10 in w/wire inside 2 (46 oz) cans of very fine sawdust 1 #10 can to melt the wax in

Fasten the wick to the bottom of the can w/masking tape. Wick should extend 1-2 inches above the rim of the can. Melt wax in a #10 can inside a pan of water over Medium Heat. DO NOT BOIL. 145 degrees-melting point 160-170 degrees-pouring point If it is much hotter the wax will ignite! Reserve 1/4 c of the wax for the top of can.

Pour sawdust into the disposable roasting pan. Slowly pour wax into the pan while stirring with a stick or wooden spoon. (paint stirring sticks work well) Continue stirring until cool enough to stir with hands. (This begins to resemble brown sugar or graham cracker crust!)

When mixture holds together when squeezed in your hand, it is ready to put into the can. If the mixture sticks to the bottom of the pan, add more sawdust...It will NOT be ruined if add more wax or sawdust.

Scoop the mixture into the candle can a little at a time...packing it down-tightly- while holding up the wick. Pack it tightly with a stick or spoon or spice jar bottom. Continue a little at a time -packing tightly until when packed down it's within 1 inch from the rim of the can.

Then pour 1/4 cup of plain wax on the top to seal it in.

Three candles will heat a 9 x 12 ft room for 24-30 hours. Can will be HOT, so be sure to place it on a non-burning surface. Candle will be smokey when first lit until the 1/4 cup of plain wax is burned off.

HINT: Tight packing and fine sawdust yields larger burning time.

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 03, 2002.

Good tip, Kathy! I'm going to try them sometime!

-- Bonnie (51940@aeroinc.net), September 04, 2002.

Thanks Kathy for posting this info. I'm going to fire up the printer and print these instructions out. Thanks again! :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), September 04, 2002.

in cub scouts,, we used to take a 3-4 in strip of cardboard, roll it tight till you got a cylinder, tape it with masking tape. Pour parrifin, (stubs of candles that mom just "wouldnt throw away,, cause they are still good", but wouldnt use), and pour over the cardboard, to be used as an emergency firestarter,, even used it a few times since I moved here,, wet wood can be such a pain to get going on a cold morning,, but once the cardboard gets going,,,,,

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), September 04, 2002.

Kathy , does it make a difference of whether the saw dust is pine or hard wood ?

-- Steve (Unreal@home.com), September 04, 2002.

Steve, I really don't know. I never thought about that. :( We only have hardwood sawmills nearby. Doesn't softwood burn faster/hotter but hardwood lasts longer? If that's the case I wonder if a mix of both wouldn't make it start easier but still last longer. I'm making some of these for Christmas presents for all the campers & travelers on my gift list. I'm taking the high heat paint and painting the coffee cans black,green & brown. I think they would be great to have in vehicles during any emergency.

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 04, 2002.

Kathy , I wondered because pine usually has an unpleasant odor . Even when burnt outside in a camp fire ,it's odor can get over powering . Where oak and hickory have a more aromatic odor.I was wondering if it would be the same in the emergency candles ?.You mentioned high heat paint ,to paint the cans with .I figured high heat paint is the same as what they paint outdoor barbaque grills with and wood stoves ?.I'll probably try making one or two. It would be good to keep one in the car when driving long distance in bad weather conditions.

-- Steve (Unreal@home.com), September 04, 2002.

Yes, the high heat paint is the same as what's used on BBQ grills. I could only find black,brown & green. Our son & DIL live in Colorado and go camping in the Rockies so I figured they should have these candles as part of their auto emergency kit. Good idea about the pine, I'm allergic to wood- an odd allergy I know but the worst wood is pine. For me even shopping in a store that just mopped with Pinesol will set off an asthma-like attack so I think I'll stick to the hardwood sawdust. Why is it what we love the most is the worst things for us? I am the original 'tree hugger' and live in the woods but no matter how much exposure to wood I have, I can't seem to get over my respiratory reaction to wood.

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 05, 2002.

to get HIGH HEAT paint in other colors,,, go to an autoparts store,, adn get HEADER paint. ITs whats used to paint exhaust headers with. I know that those come in a larger varity or colors

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), September 05, 2002.

Thanks Stan, I went to the parts store today. I found Ford Blue, Chevy Red and a Dodge Green. Auto Zone called it engine paint but told me it's the same as header paint both are high heat. So now my candle cans will look spiffy!! :)

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 07, 2002.

engine paint is good to 2000 F,, header,, isa 2000 Plus that,,,.. would all depend on how ot the can gets,,, but should work, and you will smell it,,, if it isnt to snuff,,,

Still waiting on the mold candle for ya,,,,,,, Ill make a few plain beeswax color,, and see if you like it

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), September 08, 2002.

Actually, I have a question: If the sawdust candle were to be used in a tent, is there a danger of carbon monoxide fume poisoning? How urgent is ventilation?

-- Linda Scott (msmccrackin@yahoo.com), November 18, 2002.

most tents arent air tight,, so that shouldnt be a problem. But if you have a flame in a tent, make sure its in a metal contain, that cant be touched by anything/anyone

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), November 23, 2002.