How to Make Granite Candles

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Things You'll Need

  • 0.75-inch thermal glass wick tubes

  • Wicks

  • Pieces of polished granite slabs

  • Glass bowl, tube, ashtray or vial

  • Heat-resistant glue

  • Tape

  • Safety glasses

  • Small funnel

  • Scissors

  • Drill press

  • Bit rated for granite

  • Lamp oil

Granite slabs come in lots of colors to fit your decor.

Granite rock candles add a mystical feeling to a room as the flames appear to spring from the rock as if by magic. They are fairly simple to make. Drilling through the granite is the hardest part, requiring a diamond bit and a cooling fluid such as water or oil. Check out the resources if you're having problems drilling through the granite.

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Step 1

Clamp rock securely on the drill press stage.

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Step 2

Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the granite with the drill press and a bit rated for granite.

Step 3

Drill a small 1/32-inch or larger hole in the granite. Put it near the first hole. The smaller hole must be able to feed air into your oil reservoir.

Step 4

Put the glass wick tube into the hole. Thread the wick through the tube and then tape the outer piece on the top so it won't slip down into the tube while you're working.

Step 5

Glue the rock on top of the reservoir using the heat-resistant glue. This is an optional step that provides a safety factor in case the rock is jostled.

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Step 6

Trim the wick to 1/2-inch high with the scissors.

Step 7

Fill the oil reservoir by pulling the glass wick tube and part of the wick up and inserting the funnel into the hole. Pour the lamp oil into the funnel slowly and then replace the wick tube and wick into the granite rock.

Tip

Try an automotive store for the heat-resistant glue. Often these glues are available for working on engines. Instead of gluing the top rock to the reservoir, consider gluing other pieces of rock around the reservoir to stabilize the top. This will allow you to remove the top for refilling or rewicking easily.

Warning

Never hold the rock by hand when drilling. Wear a dust mask while drilling. Tie back hair or wear a hat while drilling to prevent it being caught up in the drill. Roll up sleeves while drilling. Loose clothing can be caught in the drill and pull you into the drill. Do not wear gloves when using a drill press.

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references & resources