How to Make a Candle

The following supplies are required to manufacture candles : wax, wicks, wax melter, candle making thermometer, mold or containers, fragrances, putty for molds, dyes.

How to make a candle

Choose either paraffin wax, soy wax or beeswax for making a candle. The most common is Paraffin wax. Soybeans are used to make Soy wax. A sheet of beeswax is wrapped around a wick and sealed with the thumb, without the need of any melting. First, newspapers are spread around the candle making area. The paraffin or soy wax has to be melted and double-boiled. A big pot half filled with water is placed on a burner and low-medium heat is applied. A melter is placed in this water. Wax pieces are placed into the melter. After these have melted, coloring or fragrance is added. To prepare molded candles, the length of the wick has to be two inches more than the candle. This has to be passed through the hole at the bottom of the mold and plugged outside it with putty. A pencil is placed over the top of the mold and the wick is tied to it. In case the mold is cardboard, plastic or glass, the wax has to be heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the mold is metal, then it has to be heated to 190 degrees. A candy thermometer may be used to measure the temperature. When the correct temperature is attained, the melter is lifted by the handle and the wax is poured into the mold. Cool the wax for twelve hours and refrigerate it for another twelve hours. Now, the candle can be removed. For manufacturing votives or other small container candles, pre-tabbed wicks are placed in the center of the votive candle molds or containers. Then, the wax mixture is poured and allowed to remain for twelve hours.

Decorative candles

There is a need of one stout candle that is six inches in height and three inches in width and some tubes of fabric paint of any color. Finalize the theme to be created on the candle prior to start of work. Whatever is to be included on a candle can be drawn on a piece of paper. Use fine line tipped fabric paints to squeeze paint on the candle. The direction of the paint can be changed to create design around the candle. The tip of the paint bottle can be kept clean. Such candles can be used for holiday-pumpkins and ghosts for Halloween, turkeys and autumn leaves for Thanksgiving.

Scented candles

During candle making some essential oils, that are plant essences famous in aromatherapy, are used to scent the candles. These oils are very natural and exorbitant than fragrance oils. They have problems mixing into the wax and correctly burning. Commercially produced fragrance oils for candles tend to be very strong. Only a few drops are sufficient to make any sized candle well scented. For each pound of wax melted, one tablespoon or ¼ of an ounce or 3% of the candle's weight of oil is used. If there is too much scent in a candle, it does not burn properly and there would be pools of liquid in the candle.

Basics of Candle making

In candle making, temperature is very crucial. The temperature at which the wax is poured, the room temperature and the mold temperature. Rooms that are warm and humid are in need of different pouring temperatures than those that are cold and damp. The preheating of the mold is directly concerned to the pouring temperature and the room temperature. This is necessary to remove any moisture or chill that exists.