Tiki Tourches Guide

Traditionally tiki torches were used for the purpose of lighting on many islands, but these days you find them everywhere for getting different decors on many social functions and gatherings. The moving flames and their shadows instantly contribute to a changed scenario of any outdoor place to make it look like an island. Inclusion of tiki torches in yours backyard garden or patio makes the long summer evenings all the more relaxing and enjoyable.

Tiki torches are meant for outdoor lighting and are not so expensive. They come in very sophisticated designs and help in inducing a feeling of being in an island. The traditional models are made of woven bamboos to impart it the looks of a handicraft. It lends the feeling of a primitive island to your backyard when used in association with other tiki decorations. These days you can have them in metals and ceramics also. Though the metallic or ceramic ones last longer but fall short of giving that ethnic look, which you might wish to get. Most of these torches, including those made of bamboo would easily last for the whole of summer season and may be left outdoors, keeping the weather in mind.

The fuel used for Tiki torches is lamp oil and they burn for long hours. It employs the old principle of using a wick that sucks in oil from the bowl to burn and produce a lighting flame. It is desirable to use good quality oil that gives very low or almost no smoke while using such torches in your backyards for social get-togethers. You could also try citronella oil that keeps the mosquitoes away for the added pleasure of your guests.

Tiki torches need a low maintenance but offer an attractive way of decorating your backyard for evenings.  They have gone so popular that you will find it difficult to have a tiki party or luau without decorating the surroundings with a couple of these torches. Themed backyard parties, particularly the one with an island theme, would necessarily require these torches for getting the desired effect. Keeping them around the pool imparts a great ambience to the whole scene. Make sure to lightly light up the darker areas of your backyard so that your guests get encouraged to stroll there in a relaxed mood and enjoy being there for the evening. They add to the tropical mood of the party and make those tropical drinks all the more enjoyable.

Take the precaution of keeping the torches away from any flammable material. Tiki decorations like paper umbrellas, grass skirts or a thatched roof tiki bar should always be a t a safe distance from the flame. Firmly secure them to the ground so that kids or pets running around the place can’t knock it down while the party is on. If for any reason you are unable to fix them into the ground, you should opt for a different model, like a table top or stings of Hawaiian-themed lights. Torches with left-over oil should be stored in a vertical upright position while the empty ones may be kept on their sides. You need to keep them vertically upright when they are full of oil. As the level of oil begins to drop, they may be suitably tilted.

The burnt out torches may be used as decorative pieces inside the house. You could probably have a tiki themed bedroom or a living room. These should never be lighted up within the house, as they are very close to the ceiling and could prove to be hazardous. They were meant to be used outdoors only to get a different lighted atmosphere.