How to Make an Oil Lamp?

Have you ever thought that the cooking oil can be used as energy to maintain a fire? Our Cooking Oil Lamp will show you how to create a lamp using the cooking oil. This self-made lamp can be a great idea to decorate the kids’ birthday party.

Ages: 5+              Est. Time: < 10 mins

 Safety 

1. Beware of fire burn.
2. Adult supervision.
3. Make sure there are no flammable materials around.

 Materials List 

• Disposable cup (any small container)
• Water
• Cooking oil
• Cotton rope (braided material)
• Lighter
• Plastic bottle
• Scissors
• Pen
• Cooking Oil Lamp

 Instruction 

Step 1/5 – cut a circle out of the plastic bottle that is slightly smaller than the mouth of the disposable cup and drill a hole in the center of the circle.

Step 2/5 – Fold the cotton rope to make a thick wick and put it through the hole in the plastic circle.

Step 3/5 – Pour water into the cup and pour the cooking oil on the top.

Step 4/5 – Put the circle with the wick into the cup. The circle should float on the top of the oil with part of the cotton out of the oil. The circle is used to keep the wick out off the oil.

 

Step 5/5 – Light the wick and you have a cooking oil lamp.

 Troubleshooting 

Why did my fire go out just after a while?

—Make sure you use the braided material as a wick and keep the wick out of the oil.

 Scientific Description 

Oil is a kind of flammable material. The oil is sucked by the cotton rope because of the Capillary Action. Capillary Action is the ability of a liquid rising up and defying gravity in a narrow room. The oil is burnt at the end of the rope and more oil is sucked there until the oil in the cup is used up and the fire goes out. The Alcohol lamp in the lab shares the same principle, Capillary Action.

 Extensions 

You make a pumpkin oil lamp at Halloween.