Posts tagged: candle making

What’s The Best Candle Mold Sealer?

authoradmin | August 3, 2010

Just about all candle molds have an opening in the bottom where the wick passes through. When it comes time to pour the hot wax into the mold, a leak at that hole can lead to potentially dangerous mess. Some form of candle mold sealer is what candle makers use to prevent leaks. It’s a simple but very important step. Trust me, once you’ve had a significant mold leak (and most candle makers will at some point) you become very interested in getting a good seal.

There are three main types of sealers: putty, plugs and magnetic. of the three, candle putty and plugs are used the most.

Candle mold putty is a soft, flexible slightly sticky material that seals the hole by sticking to the mold. As opposed to plugs, a candle maker could also use it to seal the joints in a complex mold that has multiple parts. The most common use is to seal the wick hole in a mold.

The main reason a mold leaks if you’re using putty is that the outside surface of the mold isn’t completely clean. Even a tiny bit of dirt or oil can prevent a good seal.

Even more challenging that dirt is wax. Obviously, is pretty common for molds to have some wax on them after they’ve been used a few times . If there’s a layer of wax on the mold, it may appear that the putty has adhered well. However, once you pour hot wax into the mold, that thin layer of wax will melt, break the seal and the mold will leak.

The take-home message? Double and triple check to make sure there’s no wax or dirt where you want the putty to stick.

Given a clean mold, using the putty is pretty straightforward. You position the wick in the mold, usually securing it in the bottom with the screw that comes with the mold (BTW – a wick screw can do a fairly good job of sealing the hole, but I wouldn’t count on it alone). With or without a screw, coil a tight spiral of about an inch of wick on the bottom of the mold and apply the putty over it.

Some candle makers to masking tape over the wick to prevent the putty from discoloring it . Just be sure the putty extends beyond the tape to make a tight seal with the mold.

Plug candle mold sealers are most commonly used in higher production operations. This has both advantages and disadvantages in comparison to using putty as a sealer. These details are explained at at Candle Mold Sealers so stop by there to learn more.

Also you can get a quick overview of candle making tips as well as sign up for free candle making mini course at Home Candle Making.

With a little attention to sealing your molds, you can completely avoid messy leaks

 

 

Candle Making: How To Do It Safely

authoradmin | June 5, 2010

Making candle is a very traditional craft, however people are still wondering about candle making – how to make candles that are enjoyable to both look at and use. Heating something as flammable as wax could possibly be dangerous so it’s a good idea to get some solid information on technique before you start melting wax and risking a fire. Candle Making Safety and Candle Making Tips are good sources, but here’s the most serious issue.

The biggest safety concern with candle making is melting the wax safely. Some people are so concerned about the risk of fire that they avoid the hobby altogether. They are afraid of melted wax and have heard horror stories of first-time candle makers setting fire to their kitchen. The truth is that these people are wise to be so wary, because you need to use the proper precautions when you are a beginner working with wax.

Of course, it should go without saying that you should have a fire extinguisher close by whenever you are melting wax, but then again, you should have one in the kitchen at all times anyway.I’m surprised at how many people worry about making candles but have no problem using a deep fryer, which I consider far more dangerous. With both wax melting and deep frying, it’s very important to carefully monitor the temperature in the pot. It’s also a good idea not the wear shirts with loose sleeves that might dip into the wax or knock a mold over.

If you are looking for more information on candle making – how to be safe, how to use different materials, and how to add scents and colors and so on - then you’ll do best if you find a reliable source of information that covers all aspects of candle making. Home Candle Making Made Easy is a great reference that I can highly recommend.

Most of all, though, be safe and aware when you work with hot wax. And enjoy this great craft.

 

How To Make Your Own Candles - Three Steps To Homemade Candle Creation

authoradmin | June 1, 2010

So you want to learn how to make your own candles. This is easy to do and can be very rewarding. You will find everything you need at your local craft store:

1. Wax
2. Wicks
3. Molds

And as with any other hobby, you can also get creative by making candles with:

1. Color
2. Decorations
3. Fragrances

The remainder of the supplies most likely can be found at home.

Step 1: Use a double boiler to melt the wax. What is a double boiler? Place the wax in a smaller pot then place it on top of a bigger pot containing water. That way, the wax will not burn.

Step 2: Once wax melts, place the wick in the center of mode while pouring in wax.

Step 3: Cooling time would be around four to six hours, before you can remove it from the mold. To help remove the wax from the mold, freeze it for half an hour. That should do the trick. You may want also want to try spraying on non-stick oil from a can. Completely spray the mold before pouring the wax in. This is a great way to remove the wax from the mold.

You can create your own molds with liquid latex. Typically, latex molds are too flexible to stand on one end when pouring the wax into them. Cut out a hole in a sturdy piece of cardboard large enough for the mold to pass through. Your latex mold should have a lip on the bottom. While pouring the wax into the mold, use the cardboard as support.

You can make a variety of candles. Try using different colors, a variety of decorations, and other fragrances. You will be able to create as much as your imagination will allow. Your next step might be learning how to make scented candles.

Remember that candle making has been around for hundreds of years. It started out as a way to create light…definitely a necessity then. Now-a-days however, learning how to make wax candle is mostly a hobby. There can be many other reasons. Most of the time, self gratification is the reason. Candles are often used as gifts. Many parents teach their children how to make wax candles as a craft project. Profit is also a reason for making candles. Candles are often the beginning of a home business.

You were asking “how do you make candles?”. Hopefully, your question was answered.

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