Yuletime Pyramid

One of the items that my wife and I use each year at Yule is a candle powered Pyramid (also sometimes referred to as a Whirligig). These are more commonly seen in Europe, and come in a wide variety of themes and sizes. I built this one about 30 years ago, based on an article in Family Circle Magazine 12/7/82, and although it has had a few minor repairs along the way, it continues to perform beautifully. The wood is cedar that I sliced from a straight grained piece of 4×4 fence post.
The heat from the candles forms a rising column of warm air, which in turn causes the set of blades to rotate, and fly the small angels around the Pyramid. Photos 2 and 3 are a bit blurred since the blades were in motion at the time. Sorry I can’t insert a short video here.
As with anything with an open flame, these Pyramids are not something that you would leave unattended. I have changed the design a bit with similar Pyramids that I have built more recently, and they use tea lights instead of the taller candles shown in this version.
If you want to have a look at some more elaborate (and newer) designs, have a look at . . . http://www.christmasfromgermany.com/category_s/52.htm

IMPORTANT NOTE:- If you make one of these Pyramids that is designed for standard candles, make sure that it is NEVER used with beeswax candles. Beeswax is much hotter when it burns, and you would have to redesign the Pyramid so that the distance from the flames to the rotor blades is greater, and reduce the possibility of overheating the wooden blades.

Happy Holidays.

-- John, British Columbia, Canada