How to make a torch for less than a dollar

With only a few "household items" you can make a torch that's relatively safe* that can last for up to an hour.

*I am not responsible for anything you do with the information provided in this guide ... not that you couldn't figure this out on your own or anything ;)

Step 1 Supplies

For this project you will need an piece of 100% cotton cloth* (I used an old under shirt) a sturdy stick or a scrap piece of wood a stapler a hammer and tiki � torch oil or kerosene

*Has to be 100% cotton (or Kevlar ) please don't use any material that melts when burned.

Comments

[AJMansfield]

I made a torch like this using a piece of metal window screen mesh, and used lighter fluid for the fuel. It worked ok, but it dripped sometimes, any ideas how to make it work better?

[nrork]

Reminds me of the ones I used to make when I was a kid. Except I used toilet paper instead of cotton-- I'd kinda twist it and wrap a whole bunch of it around one end until it looked like a huge cotton swab, and then I'd drench it in whatever cooking oil my mom had.

Lots of fun, I lived in the country so it got nice and dark at night. They burned pretty bright, I don't think they burnt for a full hour, but long enough to have fun with it for awhile.

[ARVash]

Could be useful for when the power goes out and zombies attack :D

[Shut Up Now]

you may wanna sharpen the end like a spear for when the zombies attack. Not IF. i said WHEN!!! AHH!!

[Kush_Slayer]

sharpen the end like a spear? shotguns are used for the zombies

[O_Kodama]

shotguns require ammo and ammo is to heavy to be lugging around. the best weapon anyone could use is a katana.

[shenrie]

yeah because anyone can use a katana and it keeps you at a distance from zombies

[needs_more_to_do]

First of all..... close range/mele weapons are terrible to use against zombies.
Imagine you've got an open wound on your arm from the time when you killed a tank with nothing but plasma grenades/socks filled with explosives covered in grease and you're chopping off zombie heads with a broken beer bottle. suddenly zombie blood splashes into your arm. then you become  zombie and thats no good.
i mean, have you ever seen Kill Bill? when people get any kind of injury they seem to spray blood like fountains and i know thats exactly what real life is like because movies dont lie. i'd immagine you'd get blood all over you hacking zombies up with a fancy-pants blade. unless of course you're blade from the movie Blade. he kills like, 50 blood covered vampires in a room that has blood all over the floor and walks out without a single drop on him. amazing really.

Second... Zombies aren't real. Duh.

[goldedrago]

Why aren't melée wepons great?!? Guns don't last forever and trust me I wish they did but blades don't need reloading or bullets if a zombie apoclypse ever happend you would be the first to die because you'll be shooting and run out of ammo and be like I wish I had a melée weapon while your being eaten!!!!

[shenrie]

Yes they are too real, ever heard of rabies?

[dla888]

My child I think it is time you learned that Movies are not always right or truthful. Don't you watch mythbusters?

Also Zombies(if they existed) do not have a circulatory system. They are dead. SO that way their blood can't spray. It can splatter.

[needs_more_to_do]

 lolwut

[James (pseudo-geek)]

yup.

[mushfiqc]

How do you kill something that's already dead? O_O

[shenrie]

they are "dead"

[extrordinary1]

Blow it's head off so it can't see ya!

[EnigmaMax]

UH you shoot em in the head.

[Lance Mt.]

Repeditivly untill you cant call it a head, then you work your way down

[EnigmaMax]

You only have shoot them in the head. or use a chainsaw.

[monkeydavis-1]

just as long as the brain is destroyed-- shoving a crowbar through the eyesocket and using a swirling motion will suffice. haha, there should be a list of "zombie prevention" instructables.

[cwallace3]

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Survive-a-Zombie-Invasion-1/step3/Food-and-Water/

[P.I. Kitty]

You read the Zombie Survival giude by Max Brooks didnt you

[EnigmaMax]

why would you prefer a crowbar? yes, its good in survival situations, but if a zombie running is at you, I think your knee-jerk response would be to keep it as far away as possible. So the best thing would be to use a semi-auto rifle of some sort strong enough to pierce the skull to the brain, like a M1- Gerund or the Henry .44. wow, A zombie-education rant. Doesn't happen on this site too often, does it?

[trevor3693]

you would be suprised at all the zombie rants.

[O_Kodama]

as i stated earlier, guns are nice but they require ammunition. if you read "the zombie survival guide" by max brooks you will be very well prepared.

[EnigmaMax]

so, a gun isn't better or worse then a club, or vice-versa, it's all in the situation really. If you're being attacked by a horde of zombies, like 20 or more, then you don't want to go charging with your crowbar. you'll just get surrounded. but if it's a small group, or individuals, then hack them away. shooting them will waste ammo. unless if it's a really big zombie.

[dontkillpenguins]

a zombe elephant

[toogers]

the best would be a crossbow with a string tied to the arrow, and the other end to the crossbow. no need for extra ammo, yet it's effective from a range.

[datgnat]

Various weapons fill various needs. I need clothing made out of lots of different weapons--ouch; they're sharp and scrapy and hot--best to wear my bacon underwear beneath!

[Dr. Pepper]

Sweet!

[iman]

not realy three or four dollars a bottle

[electrician13]

also it a can

[electrician13]

if your talking about an arizona iced tea can there $1 in new jersey, USA, for that matter probalbly $1 all over the USA

[shenrie]

they're*

[mach9]

The conversation seems to be focused on fuel...but wicks are made of fiberglass...wouldn't fiberglass sheeting make a better material and last longer. Can be picked up at most auto and boating stores.

[shenrie]

What are you even talking about?

[Entropy512]

Fiberglass allows for a reusable torch (since it doesn't burn), but it isn't too absorbent so couldn't hold much fuel in this design of torch.

The real Tiki torches use a fiberglass wick dipped in a reservoir of fuel (similar to an oil lamp) - It doesn't result in nearly as large of a flame or as much light as a fuel-soaked rag, but it's fully reusable, just refill the fuel.

[lemonie]

Glass fibre insulation is good. I recommend over-wrapping either cotton or glass fibre with wire mesh. This protects from damage & helps keep your wick on the stick. It's also good for 'footballs' i.e. packing a wire mesh ball. (be aware that glass fibres can cause skin irritation)

[bloodymess]

actually, I think the wicking you're talking about is made out of kevlar.

[electrician13]

for a soaking can an arizona ice tea can would probalbly work best