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I was given some candles. These are the larger type you would see in a centerpiece. I don't burn candles, and don't use center pieces. Any ideas of what I can do with them?
They have been burned once or twice, so to give them as a gift or for someone's center piece it really wouldn't work.
We do heat with wood, but can't figure out how to use them for heat.
Location: where the moss is taking over the villages
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Our local St. Vinnie's found a use for such candles. They sell them as fire starters. They melt the wax & add in shredded cast off clothing. They make them into blocks & cut them up & sell them for a few dollars. I bought some to use for our fireplace & they work great.
Go ahead and throw them in the stove or fireplace.
As they melt, they will catch fire and burn up without a trace.
TERRIBLE advice. The wax will spread and flare up and stink and could even cause a chimney fire. Seriously, this is one of the worst pieces of advice I've seen on the net. It works fine if you have birthday candles or even small sections of tapers, but a whole centerpiece candle in a fireplace is a major fire waiting to happen.
As an alternate use for candles, look up "lost wax casting"
Location: where the moss is taking over the villages
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Online there're some sites explaining how to coat pine cones with wax to make firestarters...
Here are some ideas you may enjoy for regular firestarters:
Another very frugal alternative to tossing out old candles is to make your own firestarters for your fireplace or wood stove. To make firestarters you will need empty cardboard egg cartons, dryer lint and old candles. -->> Frugal Living | New Beauty from Old Candles
Here's something about spent coffee grounds & wax... (I don't see why you couldn't recycle wax for this project): How to Make a Fireplace Log Using Coffee Grounds | eHow.com "Starbucks coffee shops often have old coffee grounds they give away for use as compost. Ask an employee about obtaining these free grounds to use in your fireplace log."
I was given some candles. These are the larger type you would see in a centerpiece. I don't burn candles, and don't use center pieces. Any ideas of what I can do with them?
They have been burned once or twice, so to give them as a gift or for someone's center piece it really wouldn't work.
We do heat with wood, but can't figure out how to use them for heat.
You could fashion a seal for yourself and send a lot of letters.
I tend to take those kinds of candles outdoors and use them in the Summer time for lighting when we do more alfresco dining. I even have a couple of lanterns that I put them in.
Take them to your nearest Girl Scout office and donate them. Pillar candles are not great for firestarters. They are great for decorating though.
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I even have a couple of lanterns that I put them in. 
