Introduction: DIY - the Floating-Snowflake-Light - Oil Lamp

By
About: My name is Sabine. I'm a hobbyist with a variety of interests, including 3D printing, tinkering, music, stories etc.

In the month of may I published an Instructable "DIY - a New Floater for My Bee-Oil-Lamp" and announced further models.

So, here is a little idea and short, easy Instructable of a floating disc to insert a wick, put it in a glass, vase or jar with water and salad oil, inflame it and you've a lamp for hours to run.

Please

  • take all necessary safety precautions while working with heat, sharp objects, electricity, vapors or resulting gases, bright light and whatever could endanger your health.
  • never leave open fire/flames unattended.

Supplies

  • 3D-printed Floater
  • Container (glass, vase or jar)
  • Water
  • Food coloring (yellow)
  • Oil (rapeseed/canola oil)
  • Wick
  • Decoration
  • Sissors
  • Lighter
  • Tweezer
  • 3D Pen
  • PLA Filament (white/gold)
  • Software: Gimp

Step 1: ​The Floating-Snowflake-Model and 3D-Pen-Printing

I've found a nice (macro) picture of a snowflake on Pixabay.

I removed parts of the the background in Gimp and modified it for my purposes. I made an ink-print, put a glass plate on and 3D modeled with my 3D pen.

The wick holder looks a little bit like a beehive, I guess.

Step 2: ​The Floating-Snowflake-Light

First I've prepared the floater. I inserted the wick into the little holder of the floater and cut off +/- 15 mm of the wick.

Second, I have this large glass and

  • added a little bit of the yellow food coloring
  • filled it up with water
  • poured between 5 to 8 mm of the rapeseed oil on the water
  • placed the floater carefully on the oil surface *)
  • made sure the wick absorded the oil
  • inflamed it.

*) The floater will descend till it hits the water surface.

Please notice:

The floater won't "float forever". It will reach a point - after a day or two - and descend to the ground of the jar. Maybe it is to heavy, or the construction itself has to be reconsidered - I'm working on it. The oil also won't last very long in good condition. Therefor I recommend using the light two days in a row and then replace the water and oil, clean the floater and container and start again.

Step 3: ​Thank You …

... for reading, watching and paying attention. Using my 3D Pen again after awhile was really fun. I think, I have to use it more often, maybe to decorate other 3D prints.

Please let me know if you've made one as well.

Hopefully Auf Wiedersehen in one of my next Instructables.

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