I was wondering if there is a way to make your own candles at home with the stuff that’s already here like normal pots and pans etc..Other than having to buy the kits they sell at hobbie shops and such.If I can make them at home,how,what do I need or websites that could tell me would be awesome.Any info about candle making would help too!
Chosen Answer:
Good news! There’s no need to bother with all the expensive kits in the craft stores. You WILL have to buy the wicking – you cannot simply use ordinary string, it will burn straight off. Look for lead-free wicking. It is relatively cheap and comes in a multitude of thicknesses and lengths.
For your melting pot, you can use an old stainless steel pot, or a ceramic double-boiler. It is best not to melt your wax directly on the heat, but it will work if you keep the heat very low and keep the wax moving by continuously stirring it gently until it reaches a pourable state.
For your wax, just shave down (use an old cheese grater) your old candles, and ask your friends and neighbors to give you their old candles rather than throw them away. You want to stay with either unscented candles, or candles of a similar scent – don’t just blend together everything you have. Some scents just don’t work together and the result can be a trainwreck in your nose!
For your molds, clean candle holders (glass) work best. You can also use any glass jar or bottle, or other heat-proof container. If you use a long-neck bottle, such as a glass coca-cola bottle, wait til the candle completely hardens (24 hours), then put the bottled candle into a pillow case and gently break the glass away from the candle using a metal hammer on the outside of the pillow case (and outside of the house!) Don’t worry about little glass shards, they will be contained within the pillow case if there are any (but it usually breaks off in large pieces). Also, spraying the inside of the bottle lightly with plain cooking spray helps wonders before you pour the wax. When using longneck bottles, don’t fill all the way up to the neck – only fill up to the point where the neck just begins to taper.
The Easiest mold to use by far is an empty juice can – the cardboard ones that frozen orange juice concentrate comes in. These are wax-lined and peel away easily from the finished candle without harming it. They also let the candle cool and set a little quicker than using glass jars.
For Colouring, believe it or not, crayons are your best bet. Melt them into the wax a little bit at a time until you achieve the desired colour.
For Scent, use scented old candles for your meltdown. You can also use scented oils, adding just a couple drops at a time until the desired strength is reached. Only add by the drop though – too much an the candle won’t set up properly and will burn down too fast, possibly becoming flamable itself. Use the smallest amount of scent needed. You can also scent with natural items such as ground dried rose petals, lemongrass, or other herbs. Use small pieces so that they are not a danger when burning the candle.
One other tip for your wicks – to get them to stay in place while you’re pouring, place a drop of melted wax on the underside of the metal baseplate of the wick and “glue” it in this manner to the bottom of the container you’re using for our mold. Pour your melted wax in slowly so as not to move the wick’s base, and also to avoid air bubbles in the candle itself.
Embellishments can be made by holding small sea shells over heat until they are hot (be careful not to scorch them), and then pressing them into the sides of the candle, letting them partially melt their way into the candle. You can also “glue” seasonal leaves and pressed flowers to the outside of a candle by dipping them in melted clear wax and pressing them into the sides of the candle, then hold the candle by the wick and dip it once or twice into the hot clear wax for a final sealing coat, or brush the hot wax onto the entire outside of the candle. Dipping is the easier method, if you are using a large enough pot.
And here’s one last hint for you to try: Use an old ballpoint pen, pencil, or rounded-tip stenciling tool to carve intricate designs into the finished candle. You can even write a poem down the side, a favourite quote, a friend’s name, whatever you like. Then, take a complementary coloured crayon and pass it through an open flame a few time, essentially meting the tip (remove paper wrap first!). Press the melted crayon into the deigns you just carved until you cover your entire pattern, wiping away the excess colour as you go. You’ll then have a beautifully designed candle with multiple colours that you’ll not find in stores!
Hope this has helped, and in case you can’t tell, yes I am a candle nut!
by: Jylsamynne
on: 9th December 07
