Trimming a Lamp

An antique or antique-looking oil lamp adds immeasurable charm, as well as soft light, to your interior. Typically composed of a wick, a base and a glass chimney, an oil lamp contributes a sense of history to the most modern of spaces. Historic appeal requires mastering old-fashioned care techniques. The wick of an oil lamp must be routinely trimmed to help ensure a steady flame. Trimming a lamp is a centuries-old tradition.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp scissors

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Twist the lever or knob that controls the wick to expose about an inch of wick.

   • 2

     Snip off between 1/8 and 1/4 inch of the top of the wick. Cut straight across to produce a safe, modest flame height.

   • 3

     Shape the wick tip to achieve different flame effects. Trim a flat wick to a point to get a flame with a peaked appearance. Round off the top for a crowned flame. Create two points at the top for a double flame. These techniques will not work if your wick is round rather than flat.