How to Make Your Own Candle Wicks

With DIY natural candle and soy candle making now so popular, and with the concern of lead and other toxins released from many candle wicks, it makes sense sense to use only natural wicks for candle making, and this eHow article shows how you can make your own candle wicks from simple, natural materials. Good candle wicks can’t just be any old string. They must be treated to burn evenly and without smoking.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Gather your materials. You’ll need food grade butcher twine, sometimes called cooking twine, which is made from 100% biodegradable cotton. salt, borax, water, and something to soak your future candle wicks in for treating. The butcher twine can usually be found in home supply or cooking stores.

2. Make the treatment mixture for turning the twine into candle wicks. Mix two tablespoons of salt and four tablespoons of borax in two cups and water, stir until dissolved.

3. Treat the twine. Immerse and soak the butcher twine in this solution for about eight hours. Let it air dry on a rack over your tub or some other method of drip-drying until completely dry, possibly all day or overnight. Use this new natural wicking as you would any candle wicks for candle making.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave a burning or smoldering object unattended.
• Read and follow cautions on your box of borax.
• Author disclaims liability and offers article for educational purposes only.
• Parents are responsible for any activities involving their children.
• Author’s articles are registered with the national copyright office and protected with Copyscape

Resources

• Soy candle making how-to

[Merriment]

on 6/29/2009 Great information. I have not started making candles yet, but this information about candle wicks is something I wanted to know about before starting!

[edieness]

on 6/24/2009 Great tips on How to Make Your Own Candle Wicks.

[sonni57]

on 6/20/2009 Good tips on how to make candle wicks sounds easy enough.