How to Make Candles at Home - Candle Making Supplies

Making candles is a wonderful way to express yourself and use your creative brain. Here you will find step by step instructions on how to create candles. Keep in mind when reading these instructions that all candles are not made the same way. For example, most wax will have information on pouring temperatures and melting temperatures.

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The following directions are just to get you started and they are to make votive candles since they are the simplest to work with for beginners. These instructions are also based on metal molds, and pre-tabbed wicks, but you will find that the instructions do not change much for other molds. Most molds have directions that are included when you purchase the mold so modify your directions accordingly.

Making Home Made Candles - Steps

First, you will want to secure your work area. This means to line the counters or work area with newspapers to avoid getting wax on them, as well as your carpets, rugs, or floors. You will be very glad you did this step if wax should spill.

The next step in making candles is to boil water, if you are using a double boiler or even a make shift double boiler. This is in preparation of melting the wax. Then read the papers that are packaged with the wax, or the labels of your wax to determine your wax's melting and pouring temperatures. You will want to have your thermometer handy so you can monitor your wax's temperature closely.

Place the wax into the pouring pot. You want to be certain that the wax is not directly on the heat source. Place the pouring pot into the, now boiling, water. Once the water has come to a rapid boil you can decrease the heat. It does not matter if the water is boiling or simmering because the water will now stay at the same temperature. Watch carefully as your wax begins to melt.

Keeping an eye on the temperature of the wax, place your molds onto your work space. Some people recommend putting them on a plate or in something to catch wax that may drip down the pouring pot. This makes your clean up hassle free. Once your wax has met its melting point you will want to add your colors. You can use liquid dyes or color squares. The color squares take longer to dissolve, so they work better if you cut them into small pieces or even shavings. Then let the colors dissolve and add your fragrance oil.

Your wax should be close to reaching its pouring temperature, once this happens you can slowly pour the wax just to the top of your molds. Allow the wax to set 5 minutes before inserting the pre-tabbed wick. Be sure the wick is straight and the tab is centered in the bottom of the candle. Allow your candle to cool to room temperature, and then melt your wax again. Your candle will have a "well" around the wick. You will reheat the wax to 10 degrees hotter than your first pour and then fill the well or top off your candle.

Let your candle sit over night or for several hours or speed up cooling by placing it in the refrigerator with a towel around it for fifteen minutes. Once your candle has cooled it should easily slide out of your metal mold. If it does not let it sit a little longer and try again. Trim your wick to ¼ inch light and enjoy your own home made candle.

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