How to Make Dipping Candles

Dipping candles is an art still practiced today. Dipping your own candles lets you control their thickness, color and fragrance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stearine
• Candle Dyes
• Candle Scents
• Wicks
• Wire-core Candle Wicks
• Paraffin Waxes
• Chopsticks
• Double Boilers
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Wicks

1. Prepare the wax in a double boiler that is 6 inches taller than the length of the desired candle. (See related eHow "How to Melt Wax for Candles.")

2. Melt enough wax in the pot to accommodate the length of your candle, plus 3 or 4 inches.

3. Stir frequently. The wax at the bottom will be hotter.

4. Add stearine, color and scent to the wax. (See related eHow "How to Add Color and Scents When Making Candles").

5. Cut a wire-core wick to the desired length of candle, plus 2 to 3 inches.

6. Fasten a steel nut to one end of the wick for weight and tie the other end to the center of a chopstick or skewer.

7. Dip the wick in the hot wax while holding the chopstick.

8. Use a smooth motion and lift the wick straight up out of the wax. Hold it above the hot wax and let it cool before dipping again.

9. Adopt a cadence while dipping - this is a helpful technique: Dip, 2, 3, 4, lift, 5, 6, 7, 8. Dip, 2, 3, 4. ...

10. Keep dipping until the taper is the size you want, then hang it up to cool completely.

11. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch.

Tips & Warnings

• If you make the wick twice as long, you can double-dip and make two tapers attached by the wick. In this case, don't trim the wick when finished.
• Don't leave the candle dipped in the hot wax too long enough or the previous dip will melt off.

[mrsmac]

on 7/9/2008 I have always wanted to try this thanks for the tips

[spinningblue]

on 7/7/2008 Great article. I've always wanted to do this!

www.thegreenninja.org

[CandleHillFarms]

on 7/7/2008 It cut me off so here is the rest of that, LOL.

Cut off the rounded ends and trim the wicks to 1/4 inch when you are ready to use them. Or if you sell your candles they make a nice display kept in pairs and hung.

For pictures of my candle making go to my web site at http://candlehillfarms.net and go to the candle page.

Alice @ Candle Hill Farms

[CandleHillFarms]

on 7/7/2008 I prefer making two candles at one time and using 100% pure bees wax rather than parrifin wax. The bees wax is a renewable source and burns much cleaner and longer than parrifin which is petroleum based.

I make my wick about twice as long as I want the candle plus 5 inches extra for me to have plenty of room to hold the wick. I do not tie any kind of weight to the wick as that will gather wax and will be a waste.

I use a bucket of really cold water while I am dipping my candles as well. Just dip the wick into the melted wax and then straight out and into the bucket of cold water. Let it remain in the water for a few seconds and then pull it out. Wipe off any excess water with a paper towel and at the same time pulling the wick taught to keep your candle going straight.

Repeat the process until you have the candle at the thickness you want it. Cut off the rounded ends and t

[sixstring2slim]

on 7/7/2008 Alright, some good info here.. I'm ready to start dipping my candle right now! Hmmm, that sounds like big fun with the kids at school! Bailey