Cheap Ways to Keep a Tiki Torch Burning

Do you enjoy the warm glow of a garden torch during the summer? Today, we will show you a way to keep those torches burning without burning a hole in your wallet with materials you may already have at home.

Step 1: Watch the Video

The embedded video goes through each of the steps here and shows some innovations of how you can fuel your tiki- torch other than with the traditional store-bought method.

Step 2: Use Isopropyl Alcohol As Your Fuel

Let’s start with an isopropyl alcohol blend. Put in a bit of distilled water, and then fill the torch the rest of the way with alcohol. This is 91 proof isopropyl alcohol, but lower proofs will also work.

Let’s screw on the cap and light her up.

Voila! A rather cheap way to keep the fire burning.

Step 3: Use Cheesecloth As a Replacement Wick

Pull out a roll of cheese cloth. Cut off a small section. Roll the piece you cut off tightly. Feed the rolled cheese cloth through the wick hole and cut to length.

Let the alcohol absorb up the cheese cloth. And now you have a homemade wick with homemade fuel.

Step 4: Add Your Own Citronella Oil

If you happen to be growing citronella in your garden (or to really get enough citronella oil to actually repel mosquitos, lemon grass or nard grass are recommended), just cut off a few sprigs, place them in a glass jar, cover with isopropyl alcohol, cover and let sit for three days, strain out the plant, and use the alcohol.

Step 5: As an Alternative, You Can Use Cooking Oil As Fuel.

But what if you are out of isopropyl alcohol but really need to get your torches burning? Let’s try some cooking oil.

Pour the cooking oil directly into the torch and place the wick into the oil.

Turn the torch upside down to help the olive oil soak up the wick. When you see the oil coloring the wick and feel it on your fingers, it is ready to light.

Of course, it smells a bit like you are cooking french fries, but in a pinch, you can light your torch with cooking oil - and almost any cooking oil will work.

Comments

[Spartan-Desroyer]

What ratio for the water to alchohol?

[BestGardenChannel]

1:10 at most. The alcohol is the important part. The water just helps with wicking.

[sassycass1]

Can you add citronella or other essential oils to this to keep the mosquitoes away?

[BestGardenChannel]

Yes.

[MelindaG21]

Does it have to be distilled water?

[BestGardenChannel]

No

[TerryA29]

Thank you so much! This was exactly what I was searching for!! I have so many torches that need filled and I was putting off buying the citronella oil since it’s so costly .... boy am I glad I did wait! Thank You Again

[mrsmerwin]

why do you add water to the isopropyl alcohol?

[BestGardenChannel]

Water has stronger capillary action than alcohol, so it helps it move up the fuse. Oil is worse than both alcohol and water, hence why i suggest tipping the torch to get it started.

[mrsmerwin]

Thank you. This will come in handy this summer.