Making Your Own Candles
The first thing that you need to do is be aware of what can go wrong and how to prevent it.
Safety in candle making is not that far off from cooking an average meal. If you have long hair, pull it back out of the way. Make sure that you aren’t wearing any dangling jewelry. Make sure that the handle of the pan you use is turned inward.
In case of fire keep a fire extinguisher close by. If the wax does catch fire turn off the heat. Do not remove pan from burner. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, then use a lid, a damp towel or baking soda to douse the fire. Never use water to extinguish a fire in candle making or any form of oil cooking. Using water will only spread the fire. It’s important to keep the wax at a temperature of 212o F (100o C). According to Dee Stapleton, wax doesn’t boil, so watch it for smoking. If it starts to smoke turn off the heat immediately and let the wax cool. It’s best to place a thermometer in the pan to keep the wax from overheating.
In case of spills surround your immediate cooking area with aluminum foil for easy clean up. If the wax does spill it’s ok. There are ways of getting it up. If it’s a spill on a metal or plastic surface you can either let the wax harden then simply break the wax off, or you can place the object in boiling water and the wax will melt and float to the top of the pan. If wax lands on carpeting or clothing then scrape as much wax off as you can. Then, place a paper towel on the stain and press a hot iron into the towel firmly. The heat will move the wax from the cloth to the paper towel.
You need to make sure and have plenty of room in your work area to move. Also make sure this area is clean and free of clutter. Keep all equipment that you will be using on this project close at hand.
You never want to leave the melting wax unattended, so also make sure that you can be distraction free.
Now that you know basic candle making safety, you will need to make a list of the tools that you need.
In the melting process, there are several different tools that you can use depending on your budget. The cheapest way to melt your wax is called the “double boiler”. The double boiler is simply a small pot within a large pot. The larger pot is filled 1/3 of the way with water and the smaller pot holds the wax. Remember to add water as needed when it evaporates. There are other larger types of the double boiler, some of which are temperature controlled. There are too many to list here, so check out your favorite stores on-line, including candle making stores, for more information.
Other tools will be needed as well. Having a thermometer on hand may not be required for candle making, but it makes things a lot easier. You will want to have a thermometer that can read up to around 350o F (177o C). An average household thermometer will not work, because it can not read high enough temperatures.
In order to measure the amount of wax and other materials needed in your specific project, you will need a scale. A normal kitchen scale will work great. You can measure the wax by first filling your candle shaping mold with water and measuring it. For ever 3 ½ oz. Of water you will need 3 weighed oz. of wax.
Two small utensils that you will need to have are; a wooden spoon to stir the melting wax and a ladle. With a ladle, you will be able to easily transfer the hot wax from the pan to a measuring or pouring cup.
Using a measuring or pouring cup is useful in two ways. It will not only make it easier to pour the wax into the shaping mold; it also can be used to make sure that you have the exact amount of wax that will fit into the mold.
Probably the most vital tool need in candle making would be the wax. There are two main kinds of wax that you can use. One is Beeswax and the other is Paraffin wax. It is recommended by some that you use Paraffin wax for your first time. You are able to get Paraffin wax at most stores, but for a better quality candle, you should order your wax from a supplier.
As important as it is to have wax when candle making, you also wouldn’t get very far without a wick. The most common wick is made of braided cotton that has been chemically treated for better use. Before you begin, you want to make sure and prime the wick. Priming the wick will help keep any moisture from being absorbed. Priming the wick is a very simple procedure and you can make several at one time and store them for later. First you melt some wax the same as if you were making a candle. You then evenly coat the wick with wax and lay it as flat and straight as possible on a piece of aluminum foil to cool. Once the wax has hardened you then re-dip the wick in the wax and again lay it out to cool. When the wax has hardened for the second time, your wick is ready to be used.
Wicks come in various shapes and sizes. If you are uncertain which size wick is best for your project, simply ask your supplier and they will guide you.
In order to get the wick into your candle you will be needing a wick needle. Wick needles also come in various sizes, depending on the size of the wick. Again if you are unsure about what size you need, you can ask your supplier.
If you would like to be creative with your candle making then you are going to need dyes for your candle. The amount of dye that you use is determined by personal preference as well as the size of the candle. There are three forms of coloring dyes that you can use, however. They include; block colors, color chips and liquid dyes. Block colors are exactly what they sound like. Whenever needed, you can shave off the amount of color you would like and add it to your wax. Color chips work the same way as block colors. The difference between the two is that, color chips are smaller and easier to handle than blocks. The last form of coloring is the liquid dye. Liquid dye is distributed into the wax by using a dropper. It’s recommended that beginners start out with color chips or blocks.
There are other things that you can add to your wax to enhance your candle as well. The two main additives are; Stearic Acid and Vybor. Stearic Acid, or Stearin, increases depth of the color in the candle. It also reduces dripping in the wax and improves burning. Stearin can also help the wax to shrink as it hardens, making it easier to remove from the mold. Vybor is used to increase the opacity of the wax and helps the candle to burn better.
You’ve heard me mention the “shaping mold” several times and I’ll bet you’re wondering what it is. Well, the mold is what you pour the melted wax into and is what gives a candle it’s shape. Molds come in all shapes and sizes. They can be made out of the following materials; plastic, metal, rubber, latex and glass.
If you’re worried about a budget, then plastic is the better way to go. However, you’ll need to be careful when using a plastic mold, because you can’t use scent or a high heat in them.
The metal mold is said to be the most expensive, but it’s worth the cost. Not only can a metal mold hold up under heat, but it can actually improve the candle. When using a metal mold you are able to heat it up before the wax is poured into it. By heating it up first, the candle with be smoother and have a nice shine to it.
There are also ways to make novelty candles. These molds are a little different and usually are made up into two pieces. This is because it is harder to remove the wax from them once it has hardened. Usually rubber or plastic is used with novelty molds. This can cause a problem, because both rubber and latex don’t last as long as metal, glass or plastic.
Once you have chosen your mold you will want to do two things before you pour the wax in. The first thing that you will want to do is perform a test (especially if the mold is a household item). This test will determine whether or not the mold can hold up under the heat of the wax. First run the mold under hot tap water. If the mold makes it through, then place it in boiling water. If the mold survives these tests, it should be ok to use with the hot wax.
The second thing that you will need to do before your mold is ready is create a mold seal. You can also use plumbers putty or something similar, if you don’t have a mold seal. The mold seal will cover any holes at the base of the mold (seen in a “Pillar” mold) and keep any wax from leaking out.
When the wax has hardened and removed from the mold you can then fix any mistakes in the surface that may have formed. For this task you will need a heat gun or a blow torch. Using a heat gun or a blow torch to smooth out your candle can hid any imperfections and remove bubbles if you are working with a gel wax. You can also use the heat gun or blow torch to preheat the metal mold, before adding the wax.
The next thing that you need to know is what temperatures are safe with what type of mold. If you are using a container, such as; a common jam jar, then your wax will need to be between 160o and 180o F (71o – 82o C). For a plastic mold, between 180o and 190o F (82o – 88o C) is commonly safe. In a metal mold the wax is usually around 93o F (200o C). Normally the instructions that come with the mold will tell you about how hot to make the wax.
Finally, you have a complete candle.
If you don’t already have a home for your work of art than you can always store it until later. If you would like to store your candle the best thing to do it to first wrap it in wax paper to keep it safe from dust. Then, place the candle in a wax paper lined box and place the box in a dry, dark location. It’s important to store your candle away from heat and sunlight. I think you can guess why.
One last thing that you need to know. It’s very important that you remember where to put extra wax when you are done. You don’t want to, for example, pour the wax down the sink drain. You will clog up the pipes. You can put it in a covered container and store it for later use. You can also save the wax the spatters on the aluminum foil mentioned earlier and can be used in later projects.
