Making oil lamps

To make an easy modern recreation of a period oil lamp you will need:

• A vessel - search your local op-shop for a shallow bowl, ashtray, fake lamp, beaker or similar in glass, stone, ceramic or metal.
• some wicking- apparently cotton mop heads work as well, if not better than commercial wicking (and a lot cheaper)
• oil - buy some cheap olive oil at the supermarket. Don't worry, a small bottle should last you plenty of time
• a way to hold up you wick - you can just drape your wick over the side of the vessel, or you can wind a triangle out of some wire around an eyelet shape to hold the wick, or with some work and a washer create a flowating wick, both of which work better for hanging lamps
• a saucer - if you drape the wick over the edge of your vessel, it will drip oil. A saucer underneath your lamp will save the tablecloth, and keep the autocrat happy at feasts.

Assemble your components and test out your new lamp. Tell your friends.

see also:

• oil lamps
• lighting
• candles