How to Melt Wax for Candles

Melting wax may sound like an easy task, but one must keep safety in mind and do it right, or risk ending up with a big mess.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ice Picks
• Stoves
• Towels
• Baking Soda
• Paraffin Waxes
• Aprons
• Candy Thermometer
• Double Boilers
• Pot Holders
• Wooden Spoons
• Fire Extinguishers
• Hammers
• Pot holders

1. Make sure the pot that the wax will go in is clean and completely dry.

2. Break up the paraffin block with a hammer and/or ice pick so that you have smaller chunks to work with.

3. Make a double boiler by filling half of a large saucepan with water and placing a smaller saucepan or a coffee can inside. No water should be in the smaller pot.

4. Put several chunks of wax into the top of the double boiler and set the heat on high.

5. Stir the wax frequently as it heats.

6. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax. The melting point of paraffin is about 125 degrees F.

7. Prepare to pour the wax when it reaches its pouring temperature. This depends on the mold material. Metal molds require the wax to be between 180 and 200 degrees F. For paper cartons, glass, rubber, etc., the pouring temperature is 130 to 150 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• Determine the amount of wax you need by filling the mold with water, then pouring the water into the pot that will be used to melt the wax. Mark the water line in the pot with a crayon, pour out the water, and dry the pot.

• Turn the heat down if the wax temperature approaches 210 degrees F.

• Be sure that small children and pets are kept out of the candlemaking area.

• Paraffin wax will catch fire at 375 degrees F. Flash points for other types of wax vary.

• Wax is flammable at high temperatures and should never be left unattended.

• Use a fire extinguisher or baking soda rather than water if you have a wax fire.

• Don't pour wax down your sink - it will cool there and plug up the pipe.