Step1
Set up your work space:
You'll most likely want to set up in your kitchen. Its a good idea to cover surfaces with newspaper, cardboard, old towels, or something else you can throw out after the process. Protect your workspace from wax. You can always remove wax from surfaces, but its easier just to avoid getting wax everywhere!
You'll need a heat source for your wax. Set up your double boiler and keep all your ingredients in one area for easy access. Think of it as any other cooking project. You may want to add a dash of this or that at any given time.
You'll also want a flat, level surface on which to set your molds. The wax going into these will be hot, so its best to keep them out of traffic and away from other kitchen items.
At the end of this article, there will be information about where to get the supplies you'll need for this project.
Step2
Melt the Ingredients:
Once you've set up, you're ready to begin heating the wax. We'll start with a few basic proportions.
For each pound of wax you'll use about 1/4 to 1 oz. of scent, dye added little by little to your liking, and various additives for effect. This article will exclude additives in the interest of simplifying the process. Experiment on your own if you're adventurous!
Place your wax, dye and scent into your double boiler and start with medium heat. Don't use high heat, as it may cause the wax to catch on fire.
Stir the wax until it is completely melted and it reaches a temperature of 160 F or 71 Celsius. Turn the heat down, keeping water warm enough to keep the wax melted.
Add your color to the melted wax. Add a little at a time until you have reached the desired shade. Wax will be a shade lighter when it cools. You can test. it by allowing a spoonful to dry on a plate.
Add the scent. The more oil you use, the stronger the scent will be, but adding too much may affect the way the candle burns.
Make sure the wax stays melted. Check that the temperature of the wax is still 160F/71 C.
Step3
Dip the Candles:
Cut the wick to the desired length of candles plus a little extra
Example: If you want 2 eight inch candles cut about 17 inches of wick. You'll bend it in half, and hold the loop of the wick, dipping two at once.
Dip the wick in the wax for a few seconds then lift back out. Allow the wax to cool between dipping about a minute or so. At first the wick floats on top of the wax until it gets weighed down, so remain patient! This will work itself out as the candle becomes heavier. Make sure the wet candles don't touch each other.
Continue the dipping and cooling process. After a few layers, if you choose, you can speed up the cooling process by dipping the candles in cool water after each wax dip, making sure the water dries before re-dipping.
Repeat the process until the candles reach the desired diameter.
Lumps are aesthetically pleasing to some, but if you don't like them, roll your warm candle on a flat surface to work them out, and then increase the wax temperature until it reaches 182 F. Dip the pair into the wax one more time for a few seconds. Lift out then let them cool.
When you're ready to finish the candles, cut the bottoms with a sharp knife to remove excess wax.
Hang your candles on a dowel or towel rod (be creative!) to dry. Once they are dried you can cut the wick.
How to Make Hand-dipped Candles
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Comments
bratchild said
on 10/7/2008 i was wondering if it is possible to use soy wax to hand dip candles with the same process as regular wax. if anyone has tried it please let me know. thanks.
MacDonald said
on 1/4/2008 Great article! We used to make those when I was a kid (LONG time ago LOL)...this may prompt me to have another go at it. If nothing else it makes the house smell fabulous!