The room will probably get quite toasty when the soft furnishings catch fire.
I cooked omelettes on a small cast iron skillet with 6 tea light candles under it, it took about 45 effing minutes.
I suspect that in many of these videos what you have are people who cannot believe how hot the pots are getting and are assuming they generate a lot of heat. If you get all snuggly with one it probably is pretty warm, the pots will absorb a huge amount of heat and radiate over a good sized surface area instead of shooting the heat straight to the ceiling, so in a way they do work. I would guess the work just fine for short range radiant heating.
Reported.
Just wanted to say after a power outage I made a few of these and they do get very hot around 250 to 350 degrees. I used 2 both 10 inch clay pots. I used the rod and bolt and washer method one pot was 10 inch then a 6 inch then a 3 inch, I used twice the amount of washers than called for in the video and added about 15 large washers at the bottom of the rod with the flame almost touching the washer. I also do not use tea light’s I use emergency candles sold in boxes at walmart under 2$. The other pot is a 10 inch and then 6 inch with washers between the pots and a few about a inch under the “bottom” of the 6 inch and no washers at the end of the rod, it works ok but not as well as the one with 3 pots with extra washers and the the bottom of the rod with all the washers. In fact I used about 3 times the amount of washers the video shows. I figure stick your finger in a candle flame and see how long you can hold it there, not long I’d bet and this is about mass so the more metal I can use to capture, I will harness more heat that will be steadily released into the room. The room I use them in is 23x17 and no it is not shorts N tee shirt time but with avg winter dress long sleeve shirt jeans or even better sweats, the room is very comfortable. It was about 30 outside and my house is not very drafty. And it kept my room in the low 60’s as long as I replaced the candle as soon as it burned out, it is also not ready heat they take awhile to get to max temp. I am planing on putting a few of these in the green house and to solve the short burn time of candles using a pilot light with a 20 pound propane tank. They do work but it is a gentle radiating heat not like standing next to a wood stove or electric space heater. But when the power is out it makes it go from burr huddled under the covers and shaking to I’ll put a throw on and read a good book by the oil lamp.
Just one candle can keep you warm for the rest of your life.
Cite?
Well, if it’s cold enough out, at least.
BFC
(big fucking candle)