How to Use a Taper Candle Mold
While candle artisans tend to focus on dipped taper candles, amateurs and mass-producers appreciate the comparative ease of the taper mold. Taper molds typically make two, four, six or eight candles at once and are used just as any other top-down mold would be. The wax for taper candles needs to have a fairly high melt point and additives to increase hardness, which help prevent warping should your finished tapers be exposed to high temperatures.
Things You'll Need
- Paraffin wax
- Melting pitcher
- Wicking
- Taper mold
- Mold seal
- Stearic acid
- Candle dye
- Fragrance oil
Instructions
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Break the paraffin wax into pieces and place them in the melting pitcher. A high-melt-point wax (140 to 145 degrees F) is preferable for taper candles, but many times you can only get this wax from candle supply stores. Lower-melt-point wax (about 130 degrees) will work, but the resulting candles may easily warp in hot weather. Heat the pitcher over low heat until the wax is just melted. Turn off the heat.
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Cut segments of wicking about one to two inches longer than your taper mold. For a 10-inch taper, the wicking segment should be 11 to 12 inches long. Dip the wicks into the melted wax and either hang them or lay them out to cool. If you hang the wicks, tie or clip a small weight on the end to prevent curling.
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Thread the primed wicks through the wick holes, leaving 1/4- to 1/2-inch extending through the hole. Seal the hole by covering the hole and the wick with mold seal, a gray clay-like substance available at major hobby and craft stores.
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Turn the heat back on and bring the wax up to 190 degrees. Add about 6 tablespoons of stearic acid per pound of wax. Stearic acid will harden the candle and increase the burn time. When that has melted, add dye to achieve the color you desire. Test your color by dripping a small puddle onto a piece of white paper and letting it cool. As it cools, you can see what color the finished candle will be. Place the paper in a refrigerator or freezer if you want to accelerate the cooling process.
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Add fragrance oil, if you desire. Many taper candles are meant to be decorative and do not have a strong fragrance. If you want a fragrant taper candle, add about 1 oz. (by weight) of fragrance oil per pound of wax. As you make more candles, you can add or take away as much fragrance as you would like to get your desired effect. Always add the fragrance oil as close to pouring as you can as the heat in the wax will cause the oil to dissipate.
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Pour the 190-degree wax into the mold, filling it just to overflowing. Pull the ends of the wicks gently to stretch them taut without pulling them all the way through. Lay them over a dowel or rod so they remain centered in the candle. Since tapers are so thin, a centered wick is necessary for even burning. As the wax cools, it will contract and form a well. Heat the wax back to 190 degrees and fill the well. You may have to repeat this process three to four times before the bottom is level.
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Let the candles cool completely. Remove the mold seal and gently pull the wicks at the candle base to remove the candle from the mold. If the candle sticks, do not pull harder as you may pull the wick through the candle. Instead, place the mold in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. The wax should contract enough that the candle slides out easily.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not heat wax over an open flame as wax is flammable in liquid form. Always have a fire extinguisher on hand when making candles.
