Things You'll Need
Glass bottle or jar with metal screw on lid
Vegetable oil
Sawdust
Copper sulfate
Water
100% cotton wick a little longer than your container
Hammer
A nail
Pliers
Craft knife or scissors
Oil lamps come in many different varieties. From glass to wood, they create a warm glow for your home and yard. By adding colored flames, you can match your decor, create themes for parties, holidays or just accent an occasion. There are several ways to create color flames, but the easiest is to purchase specialty oils, which will burn in a variety of colors. These treated oils contain salts and metals that burn in different colors depending on the additive in the oil. With a few supplies both a simple lamp and the oils can be made at home.
Making the Lamp
Step 1
Score the lid with a small "X" using the craft knife or scissors. Using the hammer and nail, poke a hole in the lid in the middle of the X. Cut along the small X with the knife or scissors. Use the pliers to pull back edges of the hole along the X. Make sure the hole is large enough to let the wick through.
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Step 2
Pull the wicking through the hold in the lid so 1 inch is above the lid. Use the pliers to clamp the edges of the hole around the wick to hold it in place.
Step 3
Place the lid on the container to make sure the wick touches the bottom. Trim the wick above the lid to ½ inch.
Making the Oil for a Colored Flame and Adding it to the Lamp
Step 1
Combine equal parts copper sulfate and water. Stir until the copper sulfate dissolves.
Step 2
Soak sawdust in the water overnight. Remove remaining water. Allow sawdust to dry completely.
Step 3
Place sawdust in your glass container. Add vegetable oil and stir. The container should only be half to three-quarters full.
Step 4
Place the lid on the glass contain so the wick hangs in the oil. Let sit overnight so the oil soaks the wick.
Step 5
Light and enjoy a green-flamed candle.
Tip
Use different chemicals in the sawdust to get different colored flames.
Yellow - Sodium chloride (table salt) Purple - Potassium chloride Orange - Calcium chloride Red - Strontium chloride Blue - Copper chloride Carmine - Lithium chloride If you don't want to make the oil yourself, consider buying prepared oil. These oils come in all colors and some are even scented.
Warning
Keep oil lamps away from children and pets. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Wear rubber gloves when handling chemicals. Store all chemicals in air-tight containers in a cool dry place. Do not burn wet sawdust.
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