The Home Made Candle Process
Candles are wonderful things, and even though we now really only use them for decoration or for creating a specific mood, they once kept society going after dark. We see the lighting value of the candle if there is a power-out: though it takes some getting used to, candle light can provide enough light to go about our business without needing to use electricity. In fact from the time it was invented about three millennia before Christ to the end of the Eighteenth Century it was a key lighting source in any home after sunset.
Candles are not hard to make, and they are generally cheap to buy. What’s more they last for ages, and many are beautifully scented. In this article we will take a quick look at how candles work and how to make them, so you can decide if you think the home made approach is best.
The candle is a fairly simple structure. The source of fuel is the solidified wax and this wax can be derived from a number of different sources - paraffin (crude oil), palm wax or beeswax for example. Crucial to the design of the candle is the wick, the string that goes through its center. Wax itself is hard to light and it does not readily burn. Wicks are covered with wax and they are the means for the wax to be turned from solid into gas that burns. As candles generate heat they can also be used to maintain the warmth of dishes prior to serving. However, using candles to cook by could be frustrating!
Candle making needs some consumables - wax and wicks, mainly - and some basic reusable materials - a mold and a pouring and measuring jug made from metal. Additional equipment you can improvise from things around the home. Like the double boiler - all this is a pan with boiling water into which you place the metal jug. Usually a piece of metal is placed in the bottom - something like a cake ring - so the jug sits on that and does not touch the metal of the pan. By keeping the jug only in contact with the water it is easy to control the temperature for ease of use and for safety.
You secure the prepared wicks in the candle mold, then carefully fill with the liquefied wax. As this wax re-solidifies it shrinks. The remedy is one further pour that helps straighten the finished candle. And there you have your hand crafted candle. Colors can be changed or mixed and you can mix up some scents to add. The advanced candle maker can create their own unique designs. Exploring your creative side is the most enjoyable aspect of home candle making. This is not really a hobby that will save you lots of money since commercial candles are well priced. Supplies are easy to obtain from one of the many great internet supply stores. You will also find inspiration from the great ideas on enthusiastic internet sites.
As hobbies go, making candles is fairly simple and it can be fun to look at your creations when you use them. Moreover, you will be doing something that has five thousand years of history behind it. Alternatively, if you think that candle making is not for you, there are lots of great candles to be bought over the Internet or in stores around town. They will be a bit more expensive, but will be perfect.
About the Writer: Sandy Vansteel is a freelance writer who writes about toys such as Wooden Dolls Pram and Syma S107 Helicopter.