candle making

has anyone done this?

we went to a craft fayre at the weekend and one lady had made candles in glass jars and they looked fab.

id really like to have a go but have no idea where to start.

anyone done this??

No idea but when you find out can you let me know

I have infact and my DH love's candle making. Every other year we go on craft's and sports holiday with his extended family and we always do the candle making.

I give demostrations on candle making and it'ss one of the things I teach at my arts and crafts class.

You'll require some old saucepans for melting your wax into, some candle wicks this comes in different thicknesses for the diameter of your candle you are making.

You can buy the waxes from craft shops and you can also re use any spent candle wax from candles at home.

You'll require some moulds for the wax to settle and harden in, any thing you like that will not melt or brake when hot wax makes contact with it.

You can also get the candle gel if you don't want to work in wax.

Candle with more bees wax in, the wax burns quicker but you end up with a smoother grade of candle.

Parafin wax is a long burning candle but is far more brittle and doesn't come out of a mould easily without braking so add some bee's wax to stop the brittleness.

Staring is purified animal or vegtable fat it helps with the burning of the candle btw pure staring candle can also be eaten.

Dipping candles are the one's that take a bit of time to make. You keep your wax hot over a flame and you drop your long wick into the boiling wax and slowly draw it out. hang it up so it dries hard then repeat the process so you slowly add layers.

You can do it with different colour wax's then the last layer us a clear wax.

Then carefull warm the candle a wee bit and then if very daring take a shape knife and scrape aways bits of the candle to reveal your different layers of coloured wax.

You can also buy candle scents that can be added to the hot wax to make scented candles. You usually only require a few drops. Candle scents will not be distroyed by heat, they are heat resistant.


All the best

wow thank you so much for all that information.

ive had a little spend up on ebay and i think im ready. just need to wait for it all to arrive and i shall make a few christmas gifts with it.

i might be back for more info thank you xxx

Sounds good.

If you keep candles in the fridge they last longer dont they?

marciared wrote:If you keep candles in the fridge they last longer dont they?

You can crack the wax if they are kept in the fridge. Candle don't go off.

The only problem really for storing candles is the problem of heat which can make them melt and mis shapen.

Oh yes and starng candles because they are edible are tastie for rodents.

Reading through this thread reminded me I have all the stuff to make candles sitting in a box in the loft! I thought it would be great to make candles for myself and as gifts for friends. I ordered all the equipment I needed from the internet and set to. I managed to make 1 blue dark blue candle, which burned with a very large flame! I had used the wrong sized wick for the diameter of the candle. After that I decided candle making wasn't for me and the box would stay in the loft along side several other unfinished craft projects

thats a shame mazzy.

did you buy a double boiler?? thats where im up to at the moment x

No, I just used an old heavy based saucepan, I found it worked well.

the other name for staring is tallow isn't it?

no idea. apparantly the stearing is to help it come out of the mold well but im making mine in jars so i dont think i need it???