A Lifesaving Heater From Candles

(Page 2 of 2)

November/December 1984
By Hugo I. Doc Wiener 
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The heater burned for six to eight hours with enough intensity to warm me, provided I sat immediately over it. And it didn't give me a "hot seat" . . . but it would have if I'd been careless. Of course, since I was using a wooden chair, I covered its underside with aluminum foil held in place by thumbtacks. I was also careful to see that no flammable fabric or plastic was exposed to the heat and, because a burning candle consumes considerable oxygen, made sure there was adequate ventilation in the cabin (a precaution that was all too easy to take, under the circumstances). In addition, I kept a bucket of water handy, though sand would have served as well, in case of an accident.

Not only did this little heater keep the cold at bay, which is why I'm here to write about it, but there was an extra bonus: It could bring a pint of water to a slow boil in about 40 minutes and, in an hour, heat a quart to 160°F in a shallow pan. Hot coffee and canned soup do wonders for the morale when the wild wind's whistling outside!

Heaven forbid you should find yourself in the same fix I did, but don't fret if you do: Some empty tins and some candles can pull you through!

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