Oil lamp - comfort and originality in one bottle

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Every housewife dreams that the house was warm and cozy. But sometimes it is not easy to choose accessories to create the very necessary comfort. A special role in creating a competent interior is played by the choice of lighting. Today, there are a lot of options for this: sconces, table lamps, original chandeliers and shades. And for lovers of twilight and a romantic atmosphere, an oil lamp is perfect. Unlike all the options listed above, it serves more as an original decor element than as a lighting fixture. Although it all depends on the size and wick. Some of these lamps are quite bright.

What is an oil lamp?

A familiar name that immediately conjures up a certain image in your head, doesn't it? In fact, the oil lamp was far from always the way we used to imagine it. From the name it is clear that such a lamp works by burning fat or oil. The principle of its operation is similar to the device of a kerosene lamp - a container with fuel, a wick and physics, according to the laws of which, oil or fat always rises along the fibers.

About the use of lamps

The first oil lamps appeared in the Paleolithic era, only then they were made from clay, stones, copper, and later othersmetals. Such lamps were popular with the Eskimos, and until the 19th century, slightly modified, they were used as firing clocks (similar to solar clocks).

In Russia and Canada, the so-called kudliks are widely used - stone cups with a wick lowered into them and filled with fat, oil or lard. In some places they are still used, and the peoples of the north have learned to heat their homes with the help of such lamps.

Today, the oil lamp is no longer so popular, and it looks different: all kinds of candles, bottles, jars with decorations and even original lamps in the form of ordinary lamps and spirals. Yes, and its functionality has changed - instead of lighting - decor.

Wick and oil for the right lamp

Whether you decide to buy a lamp or make it yourself, it is important to choose the right oil for an oil lamp, because the quality of the product and the brightness of the lighting depend on it.

Today you can find special lamp oil in the store. It can be of two types: on a vaseline basis (clean, transparent in appearance) and olive with impurities (more cloudy), and if necessary, even ordinary sunflower is used. But in order for the oil to rise and evaporate well, it is important that the wick for the oil lamp is of high quality.

DIY oil lamps

Any handmade souvenirs have always been valued much higher than factory-made and common ones. This also applies to oil lamps, which you can make yourself.quite easy. Even if you have not done hand made before, you can easily do it, and your relatives and friends will be pleasantly surprised. For work you will need:

• oil container;
• wick or string;
• large needle or hook;
• support for wick (wire, cap or cork).

Any container will do: it can be a beautiful small vase, a glass bottle or even a regular jar. As a decoration, you can apply glitter, drawings, etc. to the outside with glue. In general, whatever comes to mind. In the meantime, the container dries up, proceed to the creation of the wick.

To do this, take a woolen cord or a special wick that can be bought in stores. If you are making a lamp in the shape of a bottle, it is better to use cork or a metal lid, and cork material is suitable for a vase, as it does not sink and almost does not burn. Using a needle or a crochet hook, thread it through the selected base so that the cord sticks out 1.5-2 cm up, and the long end is no less than the distance to the bottom of your future lamp.

It remains only to fill the container with oil, fix the wick and let it soak for a while. Your gift is ready!