Any candle makers in the house?

[StageLeft]

I bought MrsSkoorb a candle kit from Michael's for her birthday months ago. Gift went over like a lead balloon, but I finally broke it out last night and made some. It was a lot easier than I thought and there was no cursing, destroyed kitchen, etc. Thing is, I used an old glass pot we have instead of the special pouring pot that is ideal. How is that ideal, though? I found the glass one worked really well, the wax poured nicely, etc.

I have to admit, I might go and buy another mold and some more wax. I don't really care for candles myself, but MrsSkoorb likes the finished product, and apparently I find some satisfaction in making them.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Some time down the road I'm going to be a D-Bag on ATOT and call someone a pussy or something and someone else with find this post and copy a link into it calling me out. I went to an old heritage thing back in the day where they used to dip candles over and over again to make them thicker. Took about 10 minutes a candle. We got to try it ourselves. It was pretty rewarding work and it wasn't as crazy as metal work or anything. I would think doing it at home with a kit would be very relaxing, pretty neat stuff. If the Ms asks if she can join in on the fun tell her no, she had her chance.

 

[ViviTheMage]

pussification thread ... glassblowing is pretty cool too.

 

[nakedfrog]

I want to make a "Any butchers or bakers in the house?" parody thread

We bought some candle making stuff years ago, but it was a gel candle thing, so we just poured it into a big margarita glass with some scent.

 

[Lola]

I always wanted to try candle making.

What kit did you pick up? Did you add any scents to it?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Lola
I always wanted to try candle making.

What kit did you pick up? Did you add any scents to it?

I think it was about $40 from Michaels. It has a box and 4 lbs of wax, some wicks (which have a wire in them so they stay sticking up and are easy to use), 8 small molds, and 3 dyes plus a vanilla scent and thermometer. It says on the box that an old pot can be used but I thought perhaps a proper one might be better, but i'm not sure why (Maybe it has two walls to some benefit).

The first batch turned out well but was only one color, so next up some scented ones.

I made a bit too much wax on the first shot so put the remainder into the bottom of a plastic cup we had lying around and that candle turned out well.

The instructions indicated that if the wax is hot it's easier to pull from the molds and my wax was pretty hot. Pulling from the molds was very easy .

 

[IronWing]

I used to make candles then wax got so expensive that it was cheaper to buy them in bulk at church supply stores*.

Anyway, you might want to give ice candles a try, it is kind of fun. Place a thin candle inside one of the chunkier molds then fill the space with icecubes before pouring the wax. The ice melts away leaving funky holes behind. The light shines through the holes.


*Also, if you get into candle making, gargae sale and thrift stores are great places to pick up cheap candles to remelt.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Lola
I always wanted to try candle making.

What kit did you pick up? Did you add any scents to it?

I think it was about $40 from Michaels. It has a box and 4 lbs of wax, some wicks (which have a wire in them so they stay sticking up and are easy to use), 8 small molds, and 3 dyes plus a vanilla scent and thermometer. It says on the box that an old pot can be used but I thought perhaps a proper one might be better, but i'm not sure why (Maybe it has two walls to some benefit).

The first batch turned out well but was only one color, so next up some scented ones.

I made a bit too much wax on the first shot so put the remainder into the bottom of a plastic cup we had lying around and that candle turned out well.

The instructions indicated that if the wax is hot it's easier to pull from the molds and my wax was pretty hot. Pulling from the molds was very easy .

Thank you! I will head over to Micheals after christmas and check it out! When I think of candle making, all I can think of is the scene from The Office about "Serenity by Jan" candles.

 

[StageLeft]

Thanks Ironwing--so can wax be remelted numerous times without any issue?

Lola, I've not seen that scene, but good luck!

I want to try the ice candles :0

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Thanks Ironwing--so can wax be remelted numerous times without any issue?

Yes, but chop the wicks out before melting. Lots of commercial candles (yes, even modern ones) use lead cored wicks and you don't want the lead contaminating your wax.

 

[BrianP]

An easy way to melt the wax is to put it into something like a Pyrex measuring cup and just microwave it. It shouldn't take more then a couple of minutes to melt it. Then just add your scents/color, let it cool to the proper pouring temp, and your good to go. Something like these would work:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Pr...ring-Cup/dp/B0000644FF

I sell candle making kits on eBay so I know a thing or two about it. I would recommend looking there over a craft store - not only are the prices going to be significantly lower, but you get to pick your scents and colors.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: BrianP
An easy way to melt the wax is to put it into something like a Pyrex measuring cup and just microwave it. It shouldn't take more then a couple of minutes to melt it. Then just add your scents/color, let it cool to the proper pouring temp, and your good to go. Something like these would work:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Pr...ring-Cup/dp/B0000644FF

I sell candle making kits on eBay so I know a thing or two about it. I would recommend looking there over a craft store - not only are the prices going to be significantly lower, but you get to pick your scents and colors.

I bet you do--does that run the risk of making the wax burn, though; you'd have to be careful it didn't get too hot, right?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Thanks Ironwing--so can wax be remelted numerous times without any issue?

I occasionally use scented candles when guests come over since I have a cat and houses with pets have pet smells. However, the cheap scented candles that I buy waste most of the wax. They are 4 inch diameter wax in a cheap jar but the wick only burns the center two inches. I'm too much of a cheapskate to toss the rest. So, whenever my candle is running low (burned a hole down the center), I just toss the candle jar into a pot of boiling water when I'm done cooking something. It takes maybe 10-15 minutes, but the wax melts and resolidifies into a solid cylinder again. I just stick some small rope in for a new wick as it starts to harden again.

I've considered doing the same thing in the oven after I bake something, but if that glass breaks in the oven, I do NOT want to clean up that mess.

Each time I do that, I lose some scent from the wax since it boils off into the air. But I don't care. They still work.

 

[DrPizza]

I've seen a lot of beautiful candles made by consecutively dipping in different colors of wax, then cutting/peeling off parts of the candle to reveal the layers of candles. They used to have a Christmas time thing in our mall that made them, and they were very popular. I'd think that with the recent increase in popularity of candles, especially scented candles, that being able to make gifts like that for Christmas would be great.

 

[BrianP]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: BrianP
An easy way to melt the wax is to put it into something like a Pyrex measuring cup and just microwave it. It shouldn't take more then a couple of minutes to melt it. Then just add your scents/color, let it cool to the proper pouring temp, and your good to go. Something like these would work:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Pr...ring-Cup/dp/B0000644FF

I sell candle making kits on eBay so I know a thing or two about it. I would recommend looking there over a craft store - not only are the prices going to be significantly lower, but you get to pick your scents and colors.

I bet you do--does that run the risk of making the wax burn, though; you'd have to be careful it didn't get too hot, right?

Start out by just microwaving it for 30 seconds at a time, pausing to stir. At some point, most of the wax will be melted but there will still be some flakes in it. When you reach that point it should be done - stir it again and the remaining flakes should dissolve. Better yet, use a thermometer to get the exact melting point and pouring point.

 

[lupi]

I recently found out one of my relatives opened a candle making store. Can't say I spent much time asking about the specifics though.