The Art Of Candle Making Project Ideas

The Art Of Candle Making Project Ideas

Posted by craft on

July 26, 2008

Making your own candles is fun, and handicraft candles could be make great gifts. It requires very little special equipment. You’ll need a candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the melted wax and plenty of newspaper to work on (and spill on). You’ll need some kind of wax, wicks, and either a mold (to make molded candles) or tin cans (to use for dipping candles).

Waxes:

Although paraffin has come to be the chief ingredient in almost all candles, there are other materials you can use. Beeswax can be expensive, because modern day beekeepers don’t harvest the honey comb. However, you can still buy beeswax at craft stores, or you can make your own if you want to keep a bee hive and are willing to sacrifice some honey.

Tallow

Tallow made by renewing animal fat can also be used. Beef fat is best, but sheep fat will work as well. Use 1/2 pound of alum and 1/2 pound of salt peter to each pound of melted tallow to harden the candles and make them burn cleaner. Bayberry, made from the tiny wax-coated fruit of the bayberry shrub, is a favorite for Christmas candles. Gathered berries are boiled in hot water for 2 hours, and then the green fat is skimmed off the top, re-boiled and strained.

NOTE:

When melting wax, a double boiler (a pan use to melt the wax that sits inside a pan filled with water) should be used.

And then to make it good and interest you should add:

Other good craft material to create the art of candle is paraffin. Paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, is by far the easiest and least expensive material for making candles today. It comes in several grades, the hardest of which can be found at craft stores. One 10-pound slab makes about 4 quarts of liquid wax. For firmer, per-burning candles, add 3 tbsp of powdered stearin per pound of paraffin.

For the best result you need to put the art of candle making effect onto your project:

Tips and Tricks:

Candles should age for at least a week before use.
Smooth rough spots on the candles by rubbing with a nylon stocking.
To make candles burn longer and drip less, give them a light coat of clear varnish.
Always test burn your candles before you give them as a gift or sell them.

Don’t throw away the old candle stubs; you can also re-use it. Just melt them down and make more candles. Enjoy it.