FAQ's
Here you find answers to frequent questions, further hints, ideas, burning instructions and more. Click on the question you are interested in and you will immediatly jump to the answer.
Why my Floating flame burns only for a short period?
How long does my floating-flame burn?
Can the float of my floating-flame get burned?
How do I extinguish my floating-flame?
Does vegetable oil smell when burning?
Is floating-flame expensive?
Can my floats sink?
Where do I get spare wick?
May I burn any vegetable oil?
Can I create wicks from tissue-paper?
Why does my floating-flame smokes when it burns?
Why my floating-flame makes a crackling sound while it burns?
I burn candles regularly. How can I save money?
Can I use any container for my floating-flame?
May I use a plastic container to burn floating flame?
Are floating-flames safe?
What is the difference of floating-flame and usual floating candles?
Do you have ideas how to decorate floating-flame?
In the majority of cases the reason is the oil. Only use fresh vegetable oil before its expiry date. The newer the oil the longer the burning time. You may well use low-priced vegetable oils.
Why my Floating flame burns only for a short period?
In case the wick holder in the center of the float has been cut or pierced and the wick has been pulled through down into the water; your floating-flame will burn only for a short period as it will absorb water and the flame extinguishes.
Do not place the float with the wrong side into the glass onto the oil. The wick has to be up. Only in this position oil can flow over the grooves to the wick. Do not light the bottom side of the wick holder as this burns the float.
You may have inserted a wick which is too short. The best length is 18 mm.
You may simply have added not enough vegetable oil on the water. Make sure that the entire surface of the water is covered by a closed layer of vegetable oil.
When observing these points you will enjoy floating-flame for many hours.
How long does my floating-flame burn?
This depends on two major factors: the quantity of oil you add and the durability of the wick. The more oil you add to fuel your floating-flame, the longer it will burn. Floating-flame burns vegetable oil and not the wick. The main function of the wick is to absorb oil. Anyway lifetime of any wick is not endless. One wick is good for the average of minimum 12 hours. However we have experienced floating-flames which burned well over 24 hours and more.
The quantity of oil consumed again is influenced by the length of the wick. Take the following guidelines: Wick too short - no flame, small wick - little flame, long wick - bigger flame, and too long wick creates smoke. A bigger flame certainly consumes more oil. A layer of approx. one centimeter vegetable oil and a wick of 18 mm length in a standard wine glass will low you to enjoy your floating-flame for up to approx. 20 hours. One liter of vegetable oil is enough for more than 1000 lightning hours.
If you want to extinguish floating-flame before the oil is burned off, simply submerge the float with the wick shortly. The float will buoy-up again by itself and you may light again.
A float can burn when the glass is too narrow and the float cannot freely swim on the oil. The float may than cant between the sides of the glass and can not lower itself with the oil. In such case the flame may scorch the float. Can the float of my floating-flame get burned?
Make sure that your glass is wide enough to allow the flout to freely swim on the oil. Also make sure that there is always enough water under the oil which will extinguish the flame once the oil is burned.
Floating-flame extinguishes by itself when the oil is burned off and water will reach the wick over the grooves in the float. How do I extinguish my floating-flame?
To extinguish at any time in between simply submerge the float with the wick shortly into the oil by utilizing a tooth-pick, cutlery or similar. Likewise traditional candles do not blow out to avoid smoke.
You may simply light floating-flame again. Once the wick has once absorbed oil you may even submerge the wick down into the water as oil repels water. The float will buoy-up again by itself and you may light again.
No. Pure food grade vegetable oil, like sunflower oil is odorless and burns odorless. Simply test yourself at home. Take a bottle of vegetable oil, open and sniff at. Does it smell unpleasant or does it smell at all? The same you will smell when burning the oil with floating-flame.
Olive-, safflower- and similar oils may have certain degree of scent. Inexpensive vegetable oils usually burn best and odorless. Does vegetable oil smell when burning?
No, not at all! In theory you need to buy floating-flame only once in your life. They are reusable again and again and you will have them ready at home for any kind of decoration you want to create. Where else you can find such? Is floating-flame expensive?
You may use floating-flame at any occasion, at Christmas, at a wedding, on birthdays, as a festive table-decoration, at any kind of party, as garden-lantern or simply for a cozy or romantic evening at home.
Compare with standard wax-candles. They burn down and you have to buy a complete new candle.
For floating-flame you basically do not need to buy any replacement. Water and vegetable oil you most likely have at home anyway and wick is fairly inexpensive. One liter of vegetable oil is enough for more than 1000 lightning hours. You will hardly find any type of candle light which is more economical than floating-flame!
No, floating-flame floats are 100 % unsinkable and will stay always floating on the water or oil. Even if you submerge them in the oil or under water they will always buoy up again. Can my floats sink?
As a result we can suggest extinguishing the flame without smoke by shortly submerging the float into the oil. Once the wick has absorbed oil it will repel water and you may light your floating flame again.
There are other products with just an open salient downwards to create a small air bubble. If you submerge such floats or do not position them 100 % horizontally onto the liquid than the air will disappear and such floats will have no ability to buoy up again.
Use only round cotton wicks. Same you might find in better do-it-yourself shops. You possibly will create your own wick from normal tissue-paper. Take a piece of approx. 3 x 3 cm kitchen tissue-paper, firmly coil it up, take a scissor and cut a piece of 18 mm. Than insert the self-rolled wick into the center of the float. You may also order replacement wick from us. Where do I get spare wick?
Back to Top
Each vegetable oil can fuel floating-flame, the less expensive the better. More expensive vegetable oils, like olive-oil, safflower-oil and similar also burn but may not burn odorless. May I burn any vegetable oil?
Caution! Floating-flame is intended to work with food grade vegetable oil only. Do not substitute any type of lamp-oil, paraffin, petroleum or any other mineral oil.
Yes, you may create your own wick from normal tissue-paper. Take a piece of approx. 3 x 3 cm kitchen tissue-paper, firmly coil it up, take a scissor and cut a piece of 18 mm. Than insert the self-rolled wick into the center of the float. Can I create wicks from tissue-paper?
Likewise traditional wax candles it smokes when the wick is too long. The oil does not reach the upper part of the wick anymore and this part of the wick burns and creates smoke. Trim the wick a little with a scissor. Should the flame extinguish when doing so, simply light it again. Why does my floating-flame smokes when it burns?
Like all candles a flame gives a crackling sound when getting in contact with water or moisture. When the oil is burned off water will flow over the grooves in the float to the wick and extinguish the flame. When the water will reach the flame you will hear a crackling sound. This is of no harm but we suggest you submerge the float shortly to end the flame.
Store your wick in a dry place to avoid absorption of moisture. Why my floating-flame makes a crackling sound while it burns?
Use floating-flame! Floating-flame produces a similar environment than candles at a considerable saving to you! You may substitute candles by floating-flame or arrange beautiful settings of both floating-flames and traditional burning candles.
I burn candles regularly. How can I save money?
One liter of vegetable oil is enough for more than 1000 lightning hours. Floating-flame can be reused again and again and wick is fairly inexpensive. You will hardly find any type of candle light being more economical than floating-flame.
Always use a container that will not permit the flame to come in contact directly with the glass. For example, a fish bowl shaped glass is not a good idea because the opening at the top is narrower than the middle. Thus the flame may float under the sidewalls of the glass of the bowl and cause the bowl to crack. Use an open top glass or bowl! Can I use any container for my floating-flame?
Yes! The distance between the center of the float and its outer edge is enough not to let the flame burn the plastic. You may utilize acryl-glass or any other plastic containers. Floating-flame also works with non-returnable thin one-way cups or mugs. Likewise glass containers make sure that the container does not curve over the flame. May I use a plastic container to burn floating flame?
Yes, floating-flame is a safe product. Are floating-flames safe?
Our floats are examined and floating-flame has been granted a sanitary epidemiological certification to be non-toxic.
Floating-flame extinguishes by itself when the oil is burned off and water will reach the wick over the grooves in the float.
However observe the general rules for all candles. Do not burn unattended. No candle is a toy. Not for children under 8 years. Chocking hazard small parts.
Both floating-flame and floating candles create a light that is unsurpassed in beauty when it comes to candles. They combine the brilliance of flame and the reflection of water. What is the difference of floating-flame and usual floating candles?
The wax of floating candles allows the flame to shine only upwards and part of the sides. The float of floating-flame is transparent and enables the flame shining also towards the side and down. When coloring the water of the glass remember not to add too much color to allow the flame still shine through the water. Try a beveled glass or bowl to experience an outstanding flare of crystal shining of flame through water and glass.
Whilst floating candles do burn wax floating-flame is fueled by vegetable oil. Floating candles do burn down whilst floating-flame is reusable again and again. Floating-flame is a really economical way of creating fire on water.
The ideas that can be composed with floating-flames are without limit! Everything from simply adding coloring to the water, to utilizing colored glass! Be creative and use your fantasy! Do you have ideas how to decorate floating-flame?
-
Some ideas:
- Add seashells or marbles in the water.
- Add decorative granulate in the water.
- Place figurines in the bottom of bowl.
- Add coloring to the water.
- Add polished stones to bottom of bowl.
- Add flower buds to your glass or bowl.
- Utilize a beveled crystal glass or bowl to experience the outstanding flare and bright light in combination with water and crystal.
Like any candle light floating-flame is a sign of warmth and hospitality. It points out to the guests or special member of the family circle that their presence is an important one.
Enjoy Floating-flame. It is really a wonderful product!