Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/463

Rh long over the fire. As soon as it is completely melted and skimmed, a certain quantity of water, proportionate to that of the tallow, is poured in, for precipitating the impure particles to the bottom of the vessel. This, however, should not be done till after the three first dips; as the water, by penetrating the wicks, would make the candles crackle in burning, and thereby render them useless. To purify the tallow still more, it is strained through a coarse horse-hair sieve into a tub: where, after having remained three hours, it becomes fit for use.

Wax Candles are of various kinds and forms; they are made of cotton or flaxen wieks, slightly twisted, and covered with white or coloured wax. This operation is performed either by the hand or with a ladle. In order to soften the wax, it is first worked repeatedly in a deep narrow cauldron of hot water; then taken out in small pieces, and gradually disposed round the wick, which is fixed on a hook in the wall, beginning with the larger end, and diminishing in proportion as the neck approaches; to prevent the wax from adhering to the hands, they are rubbed with oil of olives, lard, or other unctuous substance. When it is intended to make wax candles with a ladle, the wicks being prepared as above-mentioned, a dozen of them are fixed at equal distances round an iron circle, which is suspended over a tinned copper vessel containing melted wax; a large ladleful of which is poured gently and repeatedly on the tops of ihe wicks, till the candles have acquired a proper size, when they are taken down, kept warm, and smoothed upon a walnut-tree table with a long square instrument of box, which is continually moistened with hot water, to prevent the adhesion of the wax. In other respects, this mode of making wax-candles corresponds with that of manufacturing them by the hand.

From the increasing demand and price of wax, various experiments have been tried, in order to discover proper substitutes, which might possess similar solidity. We are informed by a foreign journal, that this desirable object has been satisfactorily attained, by melting down an equal quantity of tallow and resin. In order to ascertain the truth of this assertion, we were induced to repeat the experiment, but without success: for, though the two substances incorporated, they had not a sufficient degree of cohesion; and, when moulded into a proper form, the tallow burned, but the resin dissolved, and separated from it.

In September, 1799, Mr., of London, obtained a patent for new modes of improving the form, quality, and use of candles, and other lights, made of tallow, wax, spermaceti, &c. This invention the patentee founds on four principles: 1. On the fabrication of the body of such lights, prior to, and independently of, the wicks which may be subsequently applied to them. 2. On the application of moveable wicks, which may be applied to, or extracted from the candles, or lights, any time after they have been made. 3. On the using of fixed, or ordinary wicks, for those lights or candles, at any period subsequent to the making of either; and 4. On placing the inflammable substance, while in fusion, in a close vessel, and mitting