DIY Candles
This doesn't involve too much technology, so may be a little OT, but have this chirpy little repost whilst I try and remember what other "inspired" ideas I've had which turned out in practice to be utter shit...
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Last Christmas, one of my housemates was given aLean, Mean, Fat Reducing Grilling Machine*. Now, for the unfamiliar, this is basically a Breville Sandwich Toaster with a bit of a slope on it. You put a plastic tray** under the end of it, and as your meat cooks (*snigger*), the fat drips down into the plastic tray. Simple but effective.

Just one question: what the f**k do you do with a tray of sausage fat? Said housemate probably needs a good salad more than he needs a piece of white sliced deep fried in the sausage juices, so he's better off throwing it away. But of course, you can't tip the stuff down the sink.

So he collected it in a jar. For a few weeks on end. We now had, in our kitchen, a jar containing several weeks' worth of fat, oil, grease and foetid meat juices.

I had a nice sturdy piece of string. I had an idea.

Yes, I dangled this piece of string into the jar and let it marinade in the grease for a few days. Then I took a lighter to the end and - bugger me - I had a working candle.

Of my four housemates, two of them think this makes me disgusting, one of them thinks it's a good idea, if eccentric, and the other hasn't commented. Who do you side with?

Apologies for length, but at least it's lean and low-fat...

*_{Cue "So good I put my face on it" jokes...}
**_{Two of which are generously provided by the manufacturers}
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(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 13:38, 12 replies)

It's how they made "Tallow" Candles in days gone by..
and for the record I am 100% on your side, it's a bloody great idea
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 13:43, closed)

And the idea is sound
But will be rather aromatic (And not in a good way) if you burn it for any length of time
(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 22:47, closed)

You have my vote
What could be more romantic than to staire lovingly in your partners eyes by the warm glow of your sausage candle.
(Free pens 100, 101, 102 is still counting on, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 14:26, closed)

*snigger*
Sausage candle.
(Pope Jamiroquai III, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 0:57, closed)

Mmmmmm
I am sure it fills your home with the welcoming aroma of mixed grease, something like the back of a kebab house on a Saturday night but with less urine. Or maybe with the urine, I don't know and it is not my place to judge...

Bonus points for recycling though!
(wackywavinginflatablearmflailingtubeman Hi, I'm Al Harrington..., Thu 20 Aug 2009, 14:53, closed)

Bonus points
for ingenuity, but did it not make your house reek like a kebab shop?
(berk, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 15:01, closed)

been making sausage/bacon candles for ages...
best used outside as they do fill the house with the wonderful scent of week-old fry up. I think Air Wick missed a trick there!
(keyboardman, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 15:03, closed)

I can't believe
You actually had to explain what a george foreman is!
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 15:05, closed)

To be fair
I've only ever seen them in the adverts and thought "that looks a bit like an sandwich toaster with a slope", so I'm grateful for the confirmation.

What *I* really want to know is whether they make your food all dry and flavourless as you would think.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 16:29, closed)

YUM
What does your scented candle smell like?
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Thu 20 Aug 2009, 15:43, closed)

You know that sort of stale grease smell you get at the bottom of the frying pan
if you cook breakfast for a lot of people and then leave it to soak in cold water?

Not quite that bad.
(LongJohnBaldry, Fri 21 Aug 2009, 15:22, closed)

This is fantastic!
Wouldn't burn it in my house though...
(TollSchaft, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 12:31, closed)