How to Make Open Faced Outdoor Oil Burners

Oil burning is generally done to provide light an outdoors area, keep insects away or to provide aromatics when burning aromatic oils. There are several methods of burning oil, including using a touch or open-faced oil burners. Torches can be anything from makeshift wilderness torches to pre-fabricated, store-bought "tiki" torches. An "open-face" oil burner is a vessel that contains oil and has no top or cover. These types of burners can be constructed using an old wine bottle.

Things You'll Need

  • Wine bottle (with punt)
  • Padded vise
  • Glass cutter
  • Water and pot
  • Sandpaper or abrasive block
  • Drill with diamond bit and cutting oil
  • Small candle
  • Small saucer or plate
  • Aromatic oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select an old wine bottle with a punt on the bottom. The punt is the indented area on the bottom of the bottle.

    • 2

      Secure the wine bottle upright in a padded vise so it is supported and still able to rotate. Do not overtighten the vise or the bottle will break.

    • 3

      Scribe a line around the circumference of the bottle at its midpoint using a glass-cutting tool. Apply pressure while you scribe the line.

    • 4

      Set the bottle in a pot of boiling water for 10 seconds. Remove the bottle then set it in a pot of cold water. The bottle will break clean around the scribed line.

    • 5

      Sand the cut edge using wet sandpaper or an abrasive rubber block until smooth.

    • 6

      Secure the bottle half in the padded vise. Drill several small holes around the perimeter of the bottle using a diamond drill bit and cutting oil. Drill slowly and use light pressure.

    • 7

      Set a small candle on a saucer or small plate. Light the candle. Set the bottle half -- punt end facing up -- over the candle. Pour your favorite oil into the punt. The candle flame will heat the oil and burn it.