Natural Wax
Candles
Candle making can
be a fun project for you and your family, as the chance
for making a very individual candle is present. Try
making natural wax candles using beeswax or soy wax, as
these are healthier to burn, producing less soot than
paraffin wax candles. You can customize the container for
the candle too, whether it's a jar candle, or a tin
candle, or whether you use a clean milk carton to form a
pillar candle, removing the carton once the wax has fully
set.
Go to Candle
Making for some more information on
this.
Take a look at the
article below for some more information on making natural
wax candles.
How To Make Candles
by Jennifer Hall
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, its 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.
If
you use pure essential oils to provide the
fragrance for your natural wax candles, you
will find that they create a better mood than
just the same scent. But that's the fun about
making your own, you can experiment and see
what works best for you and your
family. ~
Site
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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.
This should give you a good
start in this enjoyable hobby.
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