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Making homemade candles can be a fun hobby,
whether making them as gifts or for yourself to
enjoy. Candle making usually requires some
experimentation, but when you discover how to
make those perfect candles, it's well worth the
effort.
There are a few basic supplies
needed for making most candles:
wax
wicks
mold or containers
wax melter
candle making thermometer
fragrances
dyes
putty for molds
First
decide on a wax you would like to start with,
there are three different kinds to choose from:
paraffin wax, soy wax, and beeswax. Paraffin wax
is most commonly used in candles, this wax is
found at most candle making stores. Soy wax is
all natural, made from soybeans, and cleans up
easily with soap and water. Beeswax is all
natural too, and making beeswax candles is often
easiest because you simply wrap a sheet of
beeswax tightly around a wick then seal it with
your thumb, which means no melting is required.
To begin, spread newspapers around the
candle making area. First you melt your paraffin
or soy wax and it must be double-boiled. Usually
you place a large pot that is about half-filled
with water on a burner over low-medium heat,
place a melter in the water, then gradually
place wax pieces into the melter. When the wax
has melted, you can add coloring or fragrance as
desired.
To make molded candles, cut the
wick two inches taller than you want the candle
to be, then thread it through the hole at the
bottom of the mold, then plug the outside of the
hole with putty. Place a pencil or similar item
over the top of the mold and tie the top of the
wick to it, centering the wick. If the mold is
cardboard, plastic, or glass, heat the wax to
130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the mold is metal,
then heat the wax to 190 degrees. You can use a
candle or candy thermometer to measure this.
When the right temperature is reached, lift the
melter by the handle and slowly pour the wax
into the mold. Let cool for twelve hours then
refrigerate for twelve more hours, then your
candle is ready to be removed.
To make
votives and other small container candles, you
can use pre-tabbed wicks by simply placing them
in the center of the votive candle molds or
containers, then pour the wax mixture over and
let stand for twelve hours, refrigerating the
votives. |
