Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-25
NOTES ON ART, SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
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MATERIALS AND MODES OF ARTIFICIAL
Internationally various kinds of artific-
ial light now in use may be said to be compris-
ed in the three classes following First, can
dies, composed of fatty substances, made SOL
i'd second, lamps in which oils, turpentines,
and other fluids, are burned and third, gas
produced from coal, wood, or oil. We pro-
pose, at this time, to present some facts of pop
ular interest in regard to the
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CANDLES.
There are those made from beeswax, and
known as stearic acid candles; and those
known as composite candles, being mixture
of stearic acid and neutral fat. The substances
from which these are made are wax, sperma-
ceti, tallow, palm oil, and cocOanut oil. The
consistence of the fats named varies from that
of cream to the solid and compact mass known
as wax The last four may, by mechanical
means, or by the application of cold, be separ-
ated into two or sometimes three different SUBJ
stances, which mix with each other in any in
definite proportions. Thus, by submitting tai
low to pressure between layers of paper, the
latter material becomes impregnated with a
permanently fluid oil, whilst the solid remnant
becomes harder, more brittle, and more diff
cult of misunderstanding of two solid fats,
margarine and stearine, more or less acidified.
WAX CANDLEs.-Wax, as is well known, is
obtained from the comb of the honey-bee, and
in its original state is known as beeswax,
which has considerable quantity of honey
still mixed with it, and in consequence of this
will not burn steadily nor would its deep yell
low color be generally agreeable in this condi-
ton. To get rid of these Objectionable quail
ties, the wax is purified and bleached, by first
soaking it in cold water, and then boiling it in
hot water, after which the wax is allowed to
collect at the top, and to become solid by cool
ing, when it is still to be bleached, which eff
feet is produced by the action of light and air
upon it while in the most minute state of sub
division of which it is capable. Chlorine
bleaches wax very readily, but it at the same
time renders it very brittle. When thorough.
ly bleached the wax is cast into the thin round
cakes, in which form white wax is sold. Bees
wax melts at one hundred and forty-five de-
grees Fahrenheit, and white wax at one hun
bred and fifty five degrees. 1t is literally
adulterated with tallow, stearic acid, sperma
ceti, rosin, white lead, starch, etc.
Wax candles are made by dipping fine cot
ton wicks i'll wax melted carefully, SO as to
avoid raising its temperature unnecessarily.
These are then drawn through holes in a board
dllu WHtu COOt dIc uippSu stSdlIiJ
each time pressing them through the hole and
thus removing the superfuous fax. But this
method does not produce the fine smooth gloss
on the surface which is required, and which
can only be obtained by casting in a mould,
the candle being first brought up to certain
size by dipping, and then finished by placing
it in a hot mould, and filling up the vacancy
between its sides and the candle with melted
wax. 1t is found that without this precaution
the wax has tendency to form into crystals.
A SCRAP OF PHILOSOPHY IN REGARD TO
WICKs.-That very essential part of a candle
the wick-performs an Office which involves
scrap of philosophy not always well under
stood. The wick is composed of a dozen or
more fibres of soft cotton, ranged side by side,
and having just sufficient twist given them to
make them cling together. The threads are
not so close together but that oil or tallow, in
a melted state, will ascend between them, by
virtue of that capillary attraction which will
cause a piece of loaf sugar to become wet
throughout, if placed in a wet spot. When a
candle is lighted, the heat melts the upper part
of the wax or tallow, which then ascends be-
tween the fibres of the wick and furnishes mi
mute streams of combustble matter as fast as
the oxygen of the air will consume it in the
form of flame. The current Of air constantly
supplying oxygen, keeps Tile outer surface Oh
the candle cool, and causes the formation of
the cup which contains the melted wax or tai
low that otherwise would run down and disfig-
ure the candle. Thus it will be perceived the
wax or tallow is the combustible matter, and
the wick is the series of tubes through which it
ascends to the flame. Great care is requisite
in selecting the cotton for the wicks of candles,
which should be of such nature as to leave
no ash, or scarcely any, when burned. The
wick is occasionally impregnated with different
substances. Ordinarily, in making mould can
dies, the wicks are placed by hand into the
moulds, and the same are retained fast therein
by pegs at one end and by wires at the other.
great improvement, however, has been in
troduced into this part of the mechanical pro-
cess, by causing the candles, as they are dis
charged from the moulds, to draw fresh wicks
into the moulds; and, on the candles being
then cut off from the wicks, an instrument
takes hold, simultaneously, of all the wicks, re-
tanning them correctly in position in the sever
al moulds.
STEARIc CANDIEs-A hOut thirty veark apn