Making candles

Mosaic · 10-18-2008, 09:56 PM

I've been making more candles of late. Actually, I've made them on and off for many years, and sometimes the mood just hits to make more. Except for wick (and sometimes even that), I make them out of used materials purchased at yard sales. Old candles, esp if they are damaged, can be found for pennies. The only important thing to look for is if they burned well because you can get some bad wax occasionally. Also check to see if you like the scent.

What got me started again was buying a very large, gorgeous indigo candle (7 pounds of wax) for 50 cents. LOL, of course I havent gotten around to using it yet, but I will.

The last batches have been container candles, mostly votive types. I keep finding short-cuts or ways to improve my techniques. In the past I've made arty candles, but these are more functional and burn well.

I figure one day when electricity is even more expensive, all the candles I've been making will come in handy.

Does anyone else make candles?

(As with anything that has a flame, candles can burn your house down if you are careless. Observe the usual precautions. If you are prone to forgetting things, drink, or are generally fearful or flaky, dont burn candles.

)

neilyoungfan · 10-18-2008, 10:18 PM

I love to make candles, but haven't done it lately. I got hooked when an aunt of mine used to make beautiful candles at Christmas. Two of my favorites:

1. Take a milk carton (the waxed paper kind, not plastic). Put the wick in and fill it with ice chunks, some small, some large, some crushed. Pour candle wax into it and place outside (assuming it's winter and it is cold out...you could probably put it in the freezer to harden, too). The cold slows down the ice from melting too fast. When hardened, let stand at room temperature to melt ice. Pour off the water and tear away the milk carton. The result is a lacey, open candle.

2. To make candles with "frosting": Melt candle wax over double boiler. Remove from heat and place melted wax in large metal container, such as a tin can or old deep saucepan. Insert a hand crank eggbeater and beat away (yes, you will ruin the eggbeater in the process..it's extremely difficult to remove the hardened wax from it). The wax will become like frosting as you beat it and it cools down. While still warm, spread on a candle.

She also added things she collected in the woods to her candles, such as pine needles and cones. They were very beautiful, too.

Susie · 10-18-2008, 10:20 PM

What can be used for the wicks?

Mosaic · 10-18-2008, 10:38 PM

I'd forgotten - my mom made candles for Christmas too using milk cartons. She'd whip up wax to look like snow and put it on the outside.

I made candles in college too. One kind I'd roll out a sheet of clay (for pottery) and put impressions in it, then roll it up into a form, and pour in the wax. The best was the one using Eucalyptus pods. Very cool looking candle. It didnt burn well however - I think back then I was using crayon for color, and that does gunk up the wick so the candle wont burn well.

As for wick, I buy commercial stuff because it works best. Earlier this year I got a really good deal on ebay. But I've also purhased some at local craft stores. And once I got some packets at a yard sale, but you cant count on that. I have re-used wick from re-melted candles, but there is too great a variety for consistency, and never enough, esp if you are dipping tapers.

neilyoungfan · 10-19-2008, 05:20 PM

Mosaic-
That's a cool way to make your own molds! I've never thought of that before. Hmmm, I'm starting to imagine some really interesting things to put into clay. I've got a huge chunk (2" thick, about 20" long) of candle wax around here somewhere, along with color chunks and scent chunks. I may have to take up candlemaking again...

blue gecko · 10-19-2008, 05:32 PM

making your own candle wicks:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...dle_wicks.html

Susan4 · 10-19-2008, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the link bg... I wonder what the borax does to the cotton to make it work better as a wick?

blue gecko · 10-19-2008, 07:12 PM

It's a flame retardant Susan. So it slows the combustion. I'm sure the salt helps with that as well.

Susan4 · 10-19-2008, 07:17 PM

Ah, that makes sense, thanks!

Mosaic · 10-19-2008, 09:44 PM

Being frugal and prefering to make everything from scratch, years ago I tried to make my own wicks with a similar borax/salt/cotton cord method. (I still have the borax.) Those wicks did not burn very well for me and it was frustrating to take the time to make a candle and not have it work.

If I didnt have enough wick now to last a life-time of candle burning, I'd be tempted to give that another try however. If anyone does, let us know how it goes. (LOL, since I have the borax, salt, and string and ample wax etc, I might just do it myself.)

edit: I now have some set up for overnight.

Michael · 10-19-2008, 10:54 PM

I make candles because I always have leftover wax from burning them in my out building workshop, music room. You do have to be extremely careful. What I am presently doing is using votive candles. When they burn down, I put a taper candle down the center of the votice glass container and will fill up the rest up with granualated wax I get from old candles. I am also having good luck with a specific size of CANS with a small pole candle that fits perfectly inside. They always burn down to the bottom safely.

Works for me. With a good supply of beer, my musical instruments and Stereo equipment / CD's, I often come out in the evening and find out the deer are listening to me. At that point in the evening, I am sure we are smiling at each other.

Renegade · 10-19-2008, 11:00 PM

Florida + beach = sand candles.

It was all the rave back in the 70's with the girls around here. Yawn. Something to do on the beach to work your way to the good part of the night.

Teal · 10-20-2008, 01:16 AM

Here's some of mine. And yes, I'm a candle fiend.

Teal · 10-20-2008, 01:44 AM

Neilyoungfan, you can remove the wax from your beater with a hairdryer.

blue gecko · 10-20-2008, 02:09 AM

Teal, those are lovely. What a nice example of your hobby. I love hobbies...that's how I've learned to appreciate the Lost Arts.

Mosaic · 10-20-2008, 03:04 PM

Teal, those are just beautiful candles. I especially like the fruit salad one. Looks real.

I dont think I could have those pie candles around - my saliva would keep putting out the flame.

Teal · 10-20-2008, 03:35 PM

my saliva would keep putting out the flame.

The pies are 9", just like a real pie. I sold one to a lady a few years ago, and her hubby came home drunk and tried to cut it with a knife. She called me very upset, he'd cracked her pie candle. Of course, I fixed it for her. That was really funny.

I made RTV silicone molds for the inside of the pies, one that works for peach and apple, one for the blueberry, and one for the cherry. You'd be surprised how many Wilton Molds work for food candles, though.

neilyoungfan · 10-20-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanks for the tip, Teal!

Mosaic · 10-21-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue gecko

making your own candle wicks:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...dle_wicks.html

I made some of this wick from heavy cotton kitchen twine (using half a recipe and heating it in the microwave to disolve the borax and salt), then made a test candle and it works relatively well. (Make sure to dip the treated dry wick in hot wax to prime it before making your candle, or it wont work. I suspect I didnt do this the first time I tried using home-made wick.)

I still prefer commercial wick because it comes in a variety of sizes and weaves and is smoother, but in a pinch, this certainly would work well enough for votives and the like. The test candle has been burning for just over 2 hours and it's doing fine. And the price is right.

Thanks for the recipe BG

Teal · 10-22-2008, 09:29 AM

Keep in mind that candles require different wicks, depending on wax hardness, scent, color added, and candle size.

The wick should be hot enough to burn out the wax completely without tunneling a hole straight down the middle, but not so hot that the flame is huge and dangerous. Candles will burn differently after a few days curing, too, so a wick that works well on a fresh candle will be too small after a candle sits for 4 days.

Potemkin · 10-22-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teal

Here's some of mine. And yes, I'm a candle fiend.

I hope you didn't waste all of those cigars!

Teal · 10-22-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potemkin

I hope you didn't waste all of those cigars!

That would be a criminal offense!

I have some guys who save the bands of nice cigars for me. I buy ultra horrible cheap cigars, and they get simmered in wax for hours until all the air spaces are full of wax. They're supported in a mold, and the candle poured.

My favorites are made with lots of different bands, or with all Cohiba.

Mosaic · 10-22-2008, 06:49 PM

The candles I am currently making are very simple and functional. Some votives just for burning, but mostly tea candles right now. These are 2 inch across, and an inch high. I got about 40 of these at a yard sale for $2. I'm going for a variety of colors so they can be put in an aesthetic grouping. I want to pour about 5 more colors. Not sure yet. (I dont consider the 4 in the photo to be an 'aesthetic grouping', just a few examples of what I've done so far.)

What's nice is that I can pour them directly into the glass containers, then when they are totally cool (occasionally putting them in the freezer for a few minutes), pop them out and store them, and reuse the 'molds'.

It's a lot of fun, but is preventing me from doing other things.