Help me turn a candle into a coffee mug
May 2, 2019 4:58 AM Subscribe
So we bought a candle that comes inside a ceramic coffee mug. We thought we could use the candle and then have a coffee mug at the end of it all. But things are not so easy. The wick seems to be glued(?) to the bottom of the mug? Here's a picture. Any suggestions on how to safely remove this?
There is no hole at the bottom of the mug so thats why I assume it is just glued on. The wick appears to be attached to an aluminum plate.
There is no hole at the bottom of the mug so thats why I assume it is just glued on. The wick appears to be attached to an aluminum plate.
I have had success putting the candle in a freezer and then chipping away at the wax/glue under the plate until the plate can be wrenched out. If that doesn't work, you could try soaking it in Goo Gone by just pouring some in the bottom of the mug and letting it sit for a while.
posted by sockermom at 5:05 AM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by sockermom at 5:05 AM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: You know, we were positive we had put boiling water in there and tried that - but we just tried it now and ... were able to pull the bottom out! Maybe it was only hot water before?
Hooray, new mug!
posted by vacapinta at 5:11 AM on May 2, 2019 [14 favorites]
Hooray, new mug!
posted by vacapinta at 5:11 AM on May 2, 2019 [14 favorites]
For the future: when I used to save the glass from air-freshener candles, I'd put them in the freezer when there was just the little bit left. Once the wax is frozen it pops right out. :)
posted by Dressed to Kill at 9:49 AM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Dressed to Kill at 9:49 AM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Since the mug was sold as a candle holder, I would be worried that it's not food-safe, especially since it will be holding hot liquids that could leach out bad stuff. AFAIK ceramic glaze can often contain bad levels of heavy metals.
posted by arcolz at 10:10 AM on May 2, 2019 [18 favorites]
posted by arcolz at 10:10 AM on May 2, 2019 [18 favorites]
Response by poster: arcoiz: It wasn't really sold as a candle holder in this case.
They sell regular mugs and mugs with candles - sort of as a novelty. They being a well-known coffee roaster and coffee shop. They happened to be sold out of the regular mugs which is why we bought this one. (We were only in town for a day and really wanted one of these mugs)
posted by vacapinta at 11:27 PM on May 2, 2019
They sell regular mugs and mugs with candles - sort of as a novelty. They being a well-known coffee roaster and coffee shop. They happened to be sold out of the regular mugs which is why we bought this one. (We were only in town for a day and really wanted one of these mugs)
posted by vacapinta at 11:27 PM on May 2, 2019
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posted by third word on a random page at 5:02 AM on May 2, 2019 [3 favorites]