Trick candles relight when extinguished due to a wick impregnated with magnesium that ignites at a lower temperature. They can be dangerous and should be used with caution. Snuffing out or immersing in water is recommended to put them out. Consider your audience before using them.
Trick candles are candles that light up again once they are extinguished. They come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours, although most of them are designed to be installed on birthday cakes. These candles can be used in essentially any situation where someone needs to blow out candles, but should be used with caution so that a fire does not start.
When you extinguish a regular candle, a small ember continues to burn in the wick for a moment. You may have noticed a plume of smoke rising from a candle that is blown out or extinguished. The smoke is caused by the ignition of paraffin vapors which rise from the candle when the embers go out. The heat from the embers, however, is not enough to relight the wick, as paraffin requires a higher temperature to burn.
In trick candles, the wick is impregnated with something that will burn at a lower temperature, causing the candle to relight. Magnesium is a popular choice for this application. When the candle goes out, the magnesium ignites, causing the wick to start burning again. Often, a few sparks are thrown in the process. These sparks are also what make candles potentially dangerous, especially if they land on light fabrics and papers. Make sure the area around tricky candles is clear before lighting them, to reduce the risk of accidents.
Tricky spark plugs can burn until they run out of fuel, but they can also be blown out in an emergency situation. To put out candles, they can be snuffed out, completely cutting off the oxygen supply so a fire can’t start, but you’ll need to hold the snuffer for a moment to make sure the embers are out. A more effective technique is to immerse the candles in water, which will also cut off the oxygen. You may want to keep water handy when working with candles, just in case.
You might also want to consider your audience when shopping for trick candles. Some people appreciate the joke, while others, especially young children, don’t. These candles are scary and upsetting which dampens the experience for everyone. If you don’t know your intended victim well, you may want to check with a friend to make sure the trick candles are received in a good mood.
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