Learn how to make an easy DIY olive oil lamp for when the power goes out. With just a few supplies you probably have around the house, you will be prepared for any outage.
I first learned about olive oil lamps when I was researching cleaner alternatives to kerosene oil. Olive oil lamps have been around for a long time, they were even used by Ancient Egyptians.
I know what your thinking, that’s great Amanda, but I can just go to the store and buy candles. Easy Peasy. No DIY involved.
Why, yes, you can. But, there are a few reasons I have chosen to burn more olive oil lamps than candles. Check them out below.
Candles vs. olive oil lamp
- Candles can get pricey when you are buying the good stuff. By good stuff I mean, natural beeswax candles. Remember, whatever is in that candle will burn into the air. However, olive oil lamps are very economical to make. And, you don’t have to buy the expensive oil either, a generic olive oil will work great.
- Candles do not last as long. Depending on the size of the candle, during an outage, I can burn through them pretty quickly. However, olive oil lamps last a very long time.
- Candles are messier. Okay so maybe not all candles are messier, but the tapered ones are (which I love). Olive oil lamps are all contained with no drip or mess.
- With all the shortages in the stores, why not have a supply of olive oil lamps. Who knows when candles will fly off the shelves too! An olive oil lamp gives another source of light in an outage, in case candles can’t be found.
Now, I still use candles in the house, but I like to balance it with olive oil lamps in power outages. Here in the country it isn’t uncommon to have the power out for a week or more.
Plus, they’re just plain pretty to look at! I am all about being pretty and functional!
You can use any kind of glass or ceramic container, I like to use old teacups or small mason jars. In fact, most, if not all, of the supplies for this lamp you probably already have in the house.
Have I convinced you yet? Okay good, then let’s dive in. You will find that it is super simple to make!
Supplies for olive oil lamp
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small glass jar, ceramic tea cup, or something similar
cotton wick (you can make your own with plain ol’ cotton string, see below)
olive oil
20 gauge wire (I use jewelry wire, like this)
Boom, that’s it!
How to make an olive oil lamp
Okay first let’s start with the wick. Now, there are two ways to go about this. One, buy it. I recommend something like this.
Okay, the second way is to make it. Don’t freak out, I mean if you are. It is really simple. Just grab some cotton yarn and braid it.
You want the length to be the size of your container from the bottom to the top, with about 1/2″ extra.
Another way to make your own, is to crotchet it. In this picture I crotcheted a single chain and then went back through and added another single crotchet into the top of each chain.
Okay, we got the wick. Whatever you decide to do, just remember to cut it 1/2″ longer than your container.
Now, let’s talk containers. I have used small mason jars, a small gravy boat, tea cups, and espresso cups, and they all work great. The main thing is to make sure your containers aren’t tall, the size of a tea cup is as tall as you need to go.
Once you have decided on a container, it is time to measure the wire.
Let me stop here and add, if you use a gravy boat, it has a nice little spout where the wick can lay. If you want to add wire you can, but I haven’t found it necessary because of the spout. So if you really want a simple project, go with the gravy boat!
You want enough wire to wrap around the bottom inside of the container and come back up and wrap around the wick. I would wait to cut the wire until you have actually fitted the container with the wire.
Start by wrapping one end of wire three or four times around a pencil/your daughter’s gel pen. Slide it off the pencil, this is where the wick will pass through.
Keeping the part you wrapped at the top of the container, take the wire down into the container and wrap one time at the base and bring the wire back up to the top. I know this might sound confusing, but hopefully the pictures help bring some clarity. Once the wire is back to the top, bring it over the side to form a little handle. If you are using a teacup, the wire can be hooked onto the handle instead of making your own handle.
Now, you can cut your wire.
Remember the top where the wire wrapped around the pencil? This is where the wick will pass through. Once the wick is through, clamp the wire a little to keep it in place. Lay the bottom part of the wick in the container.
Now, fill the container with olive oil, stopping just below the part of the wire that is holding the wick.
Make sure to let the wick sit in the olive oil for several hours before lighting. This allows the olive oil to really soak into the wick.
As you burn the lamp, the olive oil will eventually go down and need to be refilled. Also, I have never had a problem with the olive oil going rancid and I have stored the lamps, with oil in them, in the pantry for months in between uses.
Congratulations you DIYer, you are one step closer to self sufficiency! And if you need an extra visual, check out this tutorial on my YouTube channel!
~Amanda
