How To Make Gel Candles - Floating Ornaments For Glam And Glitter
admin | July 14, 2010
Although candles are loved by one and all, it is gel candles that are becoming all the rage. The possibility of creatively and artistically designing them is one explanation. Without any trouble, you can make them your own…thereby adding your own personal touch when giving them as a present. Another reason is that they last longer than paraffin or wax candles as they burn at a slower rate.
When buying the wax to make gel candles be reminded that there are three different densities of gel wax available -high, medium and low. If you want exceptional fragrance in your candles, high density gel wax will be the best choice since it will be able to hold the fragrance better than medium or low density wax. In other words, the fragrance of the candle will be stronger.
When melting wax to make gel candles be sure to use a non-stick multi-cooker instead of the usual double boiler, skillet or saucepan. Reason being that gel wax is thicker than other waxes and the multi-cooker will speed up the melting process.
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For stirring the gel wax, be sure not to use anything that is made of wood. To minimize bubbles in the gel wax, use a stirrer made from hard plastic or metal.
Pouring the gel wax into a mold can be a challenge due to the high viscosity of the gel wax…be patient and pour slowly. Also, more time is required for molding because of the consistency of the gel wax.
One great advantage of a gel candle is the thickness of the gel since it will allow you to “suspend” or “float” different objects in the candle. You can also get creative and change the color of your gel candles by using bright, rich liquid dyes. With liquid dyes the transparency of the gel wax is retained. A few drops is all that you need, so be careful when adding it to your wax. Using too much will mess up your candle.
Do not use soap dyes, food color, clothing dyes, or even childrens crayons. These are not made for candles and will cause them to burn incorrectly!
These techniques will allow you to make gel candles fast while having lots of fun!
Why not find out how to make beeswax candles next?
