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Braided Cotton Wick, Soaked in Borax and Salt
A wick is usually braided cotton. It draws the melted wax or oil up to the flame. Braided flat, it curls over into the flame as it burns and trims itself. Wicks are soaked in borax and salt dissolved in water. Braid three strands of cotton thread, soak the braid and dry it.
The picture: a wick standing from a candle, its tip curled over.
Beginner
A day, mostly drying
Instructions
1
1
Make three strands
Make three strands
Cut cotton thread into equal lengths a little longer than the wick you want, and group them into three equal strands (step 5).
Materials for this step:
Cotton Thread30 mTools needed:
Scissors
Ruler2
2
Braid flat
Braid flat
Clamp the ends and plait the three strands firmly and evenly, keeping the braid flat. Tie off the end.
Tools needed:
C-Clamp3
3
Soak
Soak
Dissolve a tablespoon of borax and a tablespoon of salt in a cup of warm water, and soak the braid in it for a few hours.
Materials for this step:
Water0.25 liter
Borax Powder15 g
Salt15 gTools needed:
Balance Scale
Glass Jar4
4
Dry
Dry
Hang it straight on the rack until fully dry. Cut it to length for candles, or leave it long for a lamp.
Tools needed:
Drying RackScissors5
5
Thread needed
Thread needed
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Materials
4- 30 mPlaceholder
- 0.25 literPlaceholder
- 15 gPlaceholder
- 15 gPlaceholder
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