How Did Pioneers Make Candles?
A century ago, when the pioneers moved out west, there were few stores for purchasing goods such as soaps or candles. These items needed to be created with simple ingredients and simple methods. You can make your own hand-dipped candles the same way that pioneers did.
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Heating the Wax
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Pioneers would heat the wax in whatever containers they could find, such as a coffee can or vegetable tin. When making candles today, you can use this same method to dip candles. Place around 4 pounds of beeswax pellets into a large, empty coffee can. Place the can into the top portion of a double boiler, filling the bottom portion halfway full. Heat the double boiler over medium to medium-high heat until the beeswax is completely melted. Once melted, turn off the heat and remove the coffee can from the double boiler using over mitts.
Dipping the Candles
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In the days of the pioneers, they would use small, braided pieces of cotton for their candlewicks, which would be dipped repeatedly into the hot wax to form their candles. Although the candlewicks of today can be bought in a store, the dipping method is the same. Cut pieces of candlewick to around 18 inches long. Separating the ends of the wick, dip each end 6 to 8 inches into the hot wax, depending on how long you want your candles to be. Only let the wicks sit in the wax for a couple seconds; if the wicks sit too long in the wax, the beeswax will melt right off of it again. Wait for around 10 seconds, then dip them again. Continue dipping the candles until you have reached the desired thickness.
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Cooling the Candles
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Pioneers would cool their candles by hanging them over a fence or branches. Today, you can drape your candle between bricks to cool. Place two bricks, standing on end, about 10 inches apart. Place a wooden paint stick in between the two bricks. Lay the candlewick on top of the paint stick, allowing the candles to hang down on either side. Be careful to ensure that the candle ends do not touch together. Keep the candles here until they are completely cool.
Storing the Candles
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Since pioneers used candle and lamplight exclusively to light their homes, they needed a large quantity of candles every year. They needed to store them in a cool, dark room, such as a closet or the cellar, in order to keep them from melting. Handmade pioneer candles should be stored in a cool location so that they do not become too soft or melt. Wrap each candle in tissue paper, then stack the candles carefully on top of each other. Place the stacked candles into a shoe box or small container, and store them in a dark, cool location, such as a closet. You can store homemade candles in a cool location for years.
Using your Pioneer Candles
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When using pioneer candles, make sure that you place them into a candlestick or a candle holder, and always keep flames, lighters and matches away from children. When you light your room with the glow of handmade pioneer candles, you will gain a deeper understanding of how people lived in the 1800s.
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