You're Never Too Old To.......Make Candles

Waxing Lyrical About An Ancient Craft

Of all the crafts and hobbies that I have enjoyed over the years, there can be few as satisfying as Candle-making.
My first experiences of candle-making were as a student when I learned how to create blank white candles that could be carved and then decorated. From there I progressed onto using decorative moulds and what started out as a hobby became something of a part-time business.
This article is designed to give you some basic information about the craft and to help you to get started in Candle Making. I will also suggest some more in-depth reading should you wish to develop your interest further.

Your Candle Makers Store Cupboard

Just as when you are baking, cooking, or making cakes, there are some items and supplies that you will always need in your "pantry" or store cupboard. Eggs, Flour, Salt, Sugar, Yeast, Baking Powder etc are fundamental to many recipes and any cook would usually keep those items in the cupboard.

The same applies to candle making  there are some things that you simply must have and others which you may need for a particular design but not for others.

The suggested store cupboard ingredients and essential equipment are as follows:

Equipment

Heating The Wax - Very important
Don't heat the wax directly in a saucepan. Find a metal jug or smaller saucepan that will fit into a larger one that you can fill to the halfway mark with water. This is called a double boiler and is much safer than heating the wax directly on a hob.

A source of heat - although you can use the kitchen stove it can be messy, (and smelly), so a free standing single or double ring hob is best but if you do use the kitchen cooker remember to have plenty of ventilation and clean up any spillage quickly.

A single ring heater such as this one supplied by "HomeCrafts Direct" is preferable.

Single Heating Ring By Homecrafts Direct, Click This Link To Find Out More

Avoid gas - if you can as there is a danger of ignition. An electric hob is preferable. If you only have gas available then be sure to use the double boiler method as described above where the vessel containing the wax does not come into direct contact with the heat source but sits in a bath of simmering water. Remember to keep topping up the water, don't let it boil dry.

Never leave melting wax unattended and, as a precaution, keep a small fire extinguisher handy.

Moulds

There are several different types of candle mould. These include star-shapes, Conical, Hexagonal, Pillar, Spherical to name just a few. There are also many latex moulds available with special designs and relief decoration.

A selection of candle moulds from specialist supplier "Candle Makers Supplies" of London UK. Click this link to be taken to their website.

There's no need to buy fancy moulds though, something as simple as a jam jar or a small flan tin, (metallic), can also be used.

Ingredients

Wax
Candles are usually made with Paraffin Wax but other waxes are sometimes used, especially Bees Wax. For most candle making needs a supply of Paraffin wax in the form of tiny beads will be found most useful. Beaded paraffin wax is sold by the Kilo, or multiples thereof and melts quickly and easily.

Stearin
This is an essential additive when using Paraffin wax as it aids mould release, improves the appearance of the candle and increases burning time. Stearin is added to the wax at a ratio of around 10%.

Wicks
These are made from cotton and normally supplied in a roll or in smaller quantities. They are available in many thicknesses. Most suppliers will advise the size of wick to use depending on the width of the candle being made. When buying candle moulds ask for the recommended wick size.

Dye
Unless you are happy with plain old white candles you are going to need some of this. There are dyes available in many colours and these are highly concentrated - typically 1 gram of dye is used to 100 grams of wax.

Scents
Scented candles are, of course, very popular but be careful not to overdo it, the fragrances can be overpowering and are concentrated when the wax is burning. These are actually fragranced oils that are mixed with the molten wax. A mixing ratio of 5ml scented oil to 100 grams of wax is about right for most products but do check with the manufacturer of the scents that you purchase for their recommendations.

Ideas
Although it is best to start with a few plain single-coloured candles until you get your technique right, you will quickly want to move on to more decorative candles and the best plan is to invest in one of the many candle-making books for design tips and ideas. Here are my recommendations:


Making Candles & Soaps For Dummies. Paperback. £7.97.
Also available as a Kindle download, click here for that link.
the "For Dummies" series has many fans but there are others who find them a bit too simplistic. I recommend this book because it is just that - simple to follow and it will almost guarantee good results. You can't ask more than that from a beginners book.

If you fancy something a bit more in-depth, try:


Candle Making, A Step by step guide from Beginner to Expert. Paperback. £9.99.
Bob Sherman's book is more detailed than the "For Dummies" option and takes you to a more advanced level by introducing you to more complex techniques.