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Candle Making
These ideas have come from all over but the instructions have come from the book Candlemass: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K
When making your own candles remember that the wax will be extremely hot during the making the process. For the safety of you and others, always have some one with you to assist. Why? In case there's an accident: you need some one who is assisting to take appropriate action. Always have a lid and baking soda nearby in case the wax ignites. Never splash water on hot wax as this will cause an explosion!
ENJOY MAKING CANDLES BUT PLEASE BE SAFE!
Ingredients
Wax
Stearine if you wish you candle to be opaque and also harder: 5% - 30% of the mix. Also, the candle will burn for longer.
A double boiler for melting the wax i.e. heatproof container in a pan of boiling water. Never directly over heat or flame as the vapours can explode!
A spoon for stirring
A sugar thermometer
Dyes: Use dyes that are specific for candle making only!
Scents: 1/4 oz essential oil to every 3 pounds of wax
Wicks:
Candle 1-3 inches wick needs to be 15 ply
4 inch or taper 24 ply
over 4 inches 30 ply
A tall deep pot for dipping in
Molds as desired shape (use stuff at home or you can buy from a craft shop)
Silicone spray or peanut oil
A ladle
Skewer
Oven gloves
A long metal rod
A bucket of cool water
A sheet cake pan
A stick or dowel rod to tie the wicking to
A place to hang them if you are making tapers
Taper Candles
Tie a length of wicking around your stick. What is left hanging should be the length of your candle plus 1 1/2 inches. You can do more than one candle at a go if you wish but to start of try one at a time. When you are proficient, cut the wicking twice the length of the candle plus 3 inches and tie them to the stick with two half hitches. Dip the wick twice into the wax and then pull the wick straight. Allow to cool completely between dippings. The wax should be between 165 - 170 degrees for tapers. The temperature of the wax is important as too cool will be lumpy and too hot will melt the previous layers. As the candles are dipped, the bottom end will naturally become thicker, hence the name taper. Dip until the diameter of the candle 1/2 inch above the fattest part of the candle would fit into your candle holder. Allow to cool completely overnight. To finish your candle, level the bottom of the candle and trim it with a knife warmed in hot water so it fits snugly into your candle holder. Trim the wicks to about 1/4 inch and polish your taper with a nylon stocking
Mold Candles
The important thing to remember is to spray your mold with either silicone or brush with peanut oil so that the candle slips out when cool. When using a mold, remember that your candle is bottom up. So you need to be able to pass the wick through the bottom of the mould. Tie this end to a tooth pick or similar and the top up likewise so the wick is taut. Now dip what appears the bottom of the mold in the wax to seal the hole or use clay or BluetackTM to block it so the wax doesn't end up going everywhere. Alternately, put your mold into a pan of cold water so it cools rapidly before you loose the contents.
As always, never leave hot wax unattended as you have a fire risk. Above 212 degrees the wax will burn and smoke. If you want to add colours or scents, do this at the end. Personally I don't like the idea of metal molds as a) you have to heat them up and b) the wax you pour into them has to be a lot hotter so I will leave them out of here. Heat the wax to between 150 - 165 degrees, Ensure the wicks are centred. Carefully pour into the molds. You might want to use a heat proof jug for this. If you need to hold the mould use heavy duty gardening gloves or an oven glove. Wax shrinks as it cools so you might end up with either a depression or a pocket of air. Prick the surface and keep adding wax and allowing to cool until you have a smooth bottom. You can speed up cooling by immersing in cold water but you need to wait about 30 minutes first as wax will spit like hot fat and also the liquid wax will float off and spoil your smooth bottom. Leave overnight, unless specified in the instructions then turn out. To do this, gently tap the mold to loosen the candle. If it doesn't turn out, then either place in the freezer for 30 minutes to make the wax shrink or quickly dip into hot water to heat the edge of the mold and the wax so it slides out. If you have extreme difficulties then you need more spray/oil next time!!!
Carefully trim away excess wax, trim the wick and polish with a stocking! Your candle is now ready!
Mold Ideas
Sand Mold Candle
What you need:
A container of clean sand, Wax (paraffin, beeswax, or left over candle ends)
Candle wicking, A small Cauldron or an item to make desired imprint like a jar.
Preparing the molds:
If using a paper box, line with plastic. Moisten sand with water, enough so that
it can keep it's shape when pressed. Press the cauldron into sand, not too deep, you
want the top of cauldron at least flush with the top of the sand. Also, try to
maintain about one inch of sand around each cauldron. Carefully remove cauldron,
not letting any loose sand particles fall inside. Make as many molds as space
allows. Using your little finger, or the unsharpened end of a pencil, press into
the bottom of each mold three times, to make little legs. Try to keep them the
same depth, and evenly spaced, otherwise you will make lopsided candles!
Preparing the wax:
Put the wax into a coffee can or heatproof container in a pan of water, and
bring water to a boil. Caution...NEVER LEAVE MELTING WAX UNATTENDED, HOT WAX IS
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE! If you would like to add colour, try adding crayons to the
melting mixture.
Preparing the wick:
While the wax is melting, add the wicks to the molds by pressing the wicking
directly into the sand at the center of the mold. Allow the top of the wick to
drape over a pencil or chop stick to keep from falling into the wax when it is
poured.
Pouring the wax:
When the wax is completely melted, pour into molds slowly.
Finishing:
Once the wax has hardened, scoop the candles out to the sand. Trim the excess
wick, and brush off any excess sand. There will be some sand in the wax.
Egg shaped candles.
Make a small hole in the large end of the egg and a larger whole at the other. This larger whole will be where you pour in you wax to make sure it is large enough. Blow the egg contents and clean out the inside of the shell and allow to dry. Line your shells up in an old egg box. and pour in your wax. This method you have to put your wick in later. Allow to cool over night. Carefully chip the shell away. With a hot skewer, make a hole for your wick. Place in your wire wick and fill the hole with more wax. and allow to harden. For a shiny glaze to your egg candle, quickly dip in hot wax. These can be used to celebrate Imbolc and Ostara.
Stripy Candles
To make stripy candles, melt the coloured wax in different pans and add one at a time, allowing each to cool before adding the next. You can tilt the mold to make diagonal stripes and so on. Alternately, if you want to colours to mingle and swirl, allow the wax to cool for a minute or so be for adding the next colour so the colours mingle.
Ice Candles
Pour about 1/4 inch of wax into the bottom of a pint size milk carton or similar mold and stick a thin taper candle into this puddle. Hold the taper vertical for about 15 minutes until set. Now break up ice cubes into smaller pieces and loosely fill the mould with them. Pour Hot wax over the ice. Allow the candle to cool for a few minutes (it will set rapidly because of the ice). Set the candle upside down to allow the water to drain out as the ice melts. Allow it to fully go off over night. Remove from the mould the next day. This candle will flicker and glow with cavernous effect through the candle when it burns.
