How to Make Candles

A creative and enjoyable hobby is making candles. Although there are many different types of candles and candle-making methods, most are simple and result in beautiful and useful homemade creations. Candle making is definitely a hobby that the entire family can enjoy together.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wick pin, small wooden rod or pencil
• Candle thermometer
• Candle dye (optional)
• Candle scent (optional)

Candle Preparation

1. Cover your work area with waxed paper.

2. Measure 16 oz. of flaked soy wax into your melting pot. Soy wax and all of your other candle-making needs are available at craft stores and online at websites such as Michaels and Candlewic (see Resources below for links).

3. Place the melting pot on the stove on a low-medium heat setting.

4. Thread your wick through your wick tab and fold the collar down to hold the wick snuggly in place.

5. Place a small glue dot onto the bottom of the wick tab.

6. Push the glue dot onto the bottom of your container, securing the wick tab to the bottom. Make sure to center the wick in the container.

Making the Candle

7. Stir the melting wax in the pot with the wooden spoon.

8. Take the temperature of the wax by placing the candle thermometer in the center of the melted wax. Leave the thermometer in the wax for about 2 minutes to get an accurate reading. The optimum pouring temperature for the wax is 160 degrees F.

9. Turn off the stove and remove the melting pot from the heat when the temperature is 160 degrees F or higher. Add any candle dye or scent to the melted wax, if desired, and gently blend it with a wood spoon.

10. Hold the wick up straight, centering it in the container.

11. Pour the wax slowly and carefully into your container once the temperature has reached 160 degrees F. If the wax is at a higher temperature, allow it to cool to 160 degrees F before pouring.

12. Center the wick and lay it over the wick pin to keep it centered while the wax hardens.

Tips & Warnings

• Soy wax is a vegetable-based wax that burns cleaner than other candle waxes. There are many types of waxes used to make candles. Make sure to use the one that is suited to your candle project.
• Some types of wax shrink as they cool. Candles made with these types of wax will need a repour once they have cooled to fill in the sinkhole. Many types of preblended wax, called "one pour," don't shrink as they cool.
• Trim the candle wick to 1/4 inch in length before lighting your candle.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Hot wax can cause burns.
• Never let a child help with candle making without adult supervision.

Resources

• Candlewic for all your candle-making needs
• Michaels for everything you need to make candles

[kmobigplanet]

on 9/9/2008 Thanks for the tips.....