(Mishnah): One may not punch down a hole in a lump of clay as it produces a candle;

One may not make coals;

One may not cut a wick into two (as he has made it a more usable utensil);

R. Yehuda: One may put each end of the wick into two adjacent candlesticks and light the wick in the middle, thereby cutting it into two.

(Gemara - Beraisa): Lefasim pots (a hollow ball of clay that is baked in the kiln and then cut in half, producing two bowls) - if they were made before Yom Tov they may not be cut open on Yom Tov as it is considered preparing a utensil on Yom Tov.

Mishnah (in Maseches Eduyos): ...Ironian Lefasim pots do not contract Tumah in a room where there is a corpse; but they contract the Tumah of a Zav.

R. Elazar bei R. Tzadok: They do not even contract Tumah from a Zav, since they are not yet complete (they have not been cut in half to make the two bowls).

The individual opinion here (R. Shimon ben Gamliel who permits opening Lefasim on Yom Tov since they are already a utensil) agrees with the unnamed first opinion there (that Lefasim can contract the Tumah of a Zav (since they are considered a utensil). The individual opinion there (R. Elazar bei R. Tzadok who says that Lefasim cannot contract Tumah as they are not yet a utensil) agrees with the unnamed first opinion here (that one may not open Lefasim on Yom Tov as one is making a utensil).

R. Ba quoting Rav Yehudah: One may place a piece of wood next to a wall to prevent the wall being damaged (by the rain); alternatively, it is to protect the wood.

Beraisa: One may not extinguish a piece of burning wood in order to save it; but it is permitted if it is done to prevent the house or the pot from being filled with smoke.

R. Chanaya: It is only permitted if there is no space in which to throw it, but if there is, he should do so (rather than actively extinguish it).

Question (R. Nasa): Are you correct (that one cannot extinguish it if there is space, even if the smoke will cause him to suffer)? Surely we say that one may rub in an eye ointment on Yom Tov (to prevent himself from suffering)?!

Answer (R. Mana): Healing (of the eye) is permitted, but merely to prevent suffering (of smoke in the room) is prohibited.

Three stringencies and three leniencies were said about wicks. The three stringencies are -

One may not make a wick on Yom Tov;

One may not cut a wick into two;

One may not singe it in the fire (to make it easier to light the next time).

The three leniencies are -

One may crush it by hand;

One may soak it in oil;

One may even split it between two candles using fire.

R. Chinana: In order to split them with fire, he must have a need for both wicks.

(Beraisa - R. Yehuda bar Pazi of Bar Dalia): One may bring two candles and put each end of the wick into a candle and use the fire to light and burn between them and produce two candles.

R. Yaakov bar Acha/ Chinana bar Idi quoting Rav: One may remove the coal that is resting on top of a candle (as it prevents the candle from burning properly.