How I make wicks for stoves with non removable burners

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by Remus1956, Jan 24, 2025.

  1. Remus1956

    Remus1956 Subscriber

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    For the last few days I have posted some photos of stoves and I have received a few messages from this forum as to where I got my wicks.... Well I make them so I'm not sure if anyone is interested but here is how I make them.

    You need sandwich ties...fine tip pliers and the wick. The stove here is a radius 42 with a soldered in burner...
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    Strip the wire...and wrap around the end of the wick... You'll trim off the unraveling parts later...

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    Measure off how much wick you need...
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    Wrap around the burner and twist the leads together... trimming off the excess wire
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    If you have a removable burner you can make a donut with a 3rd wire...so it looks even cleaner
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  2. Sellig33

    Sellig33 France SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Is the wick made of Aramid/Kevlar rope ?
     
  3. Rangie

    Rangie Subscriber

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    Really effective :thumbup:
    The first time I tried was with stainless wire but it was so hard it was nearly impossible to form :lol:

    Alec.
     
  4. Blackdog

    Blackdog United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Do you prefer this type over a disc or two of carbon felt?
     
  5. Remus1956

    Remus1956 Subscriber

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    @Sellig33 You are correct...its 1/4" kevlar rope with fiberglass core.
    K1 Braided KEVLAR Rope Wick – Fire Mecca

    @Rangie I thought the same way that I would need a really strong wire, but in the end the wick doesnt even get scorched underneath and the wire never glows so its strong enough with twist ties

    @Blackdog Yeah in this use its what I like to use. I can cut carbon felt disks but I would have to make the hole big enough to either fit over the spindle or cut a split in it to go around it. If I have the burner out like I am re-wicking the stove then this is easy, but rare I do that. The rope is heavier so I dont tend to lose it in the wind like I have done with felt.
     
  6. Sellig33

    Sellig33 France SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Remus1956 ,
    Kevlar rope is very useful for wicks or as preheater in a spirit cup. Especially when the spirit cup has pin holes.

    Gilles
     
  7. Blackdog

    Blackdog United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    The rope certainly looks neat when it it tucked in place! In some ways I prefer the looks of carbon felt... on the other hand that kevlar looks closer to the asbestos string sometimes added as a modification 'back in the day'.
     
  8. Sellig33

    Sellig33 France SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Blackdog
    Aramid is the material used by fire jugglers.
     
  9. ArchMc

    ArchMc SotM Winner Subscriber

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    There are probably 1000 ways to do this.

    I make mine with woodstove door gasket material (which is probably very similar to "1/4" kevlar rope with fiberglass core". I got a small coil of thin stainless-steel wire from Harbor Freight, and skewar the (cut-to-length) gasket lengthwise. Then I wind the wire emerging from each end a few times around the cut ends of the gasket rope. This way, the completed wick will hold its shape without fastening the ends together and so can be more easily removed from the burner if desired.

    ....Arch
     
  10. Pancholoco1911 United States

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    I placed an order and got two feet of aramid/kevlar and 5 feet of Kevlar/fiberglass. Tried the aramid first and I am pleased, thanks for sharing the link 407A5AF6-592B-48C0-B098-C568F3964F66.jpeg A1191A9C-1F6B-464C-B2EB-8611DDBF61B8.jpeg
     
  11. Remus1956

    Remus1956 Subscriber

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  12. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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