How to Straighten Candle Wicks
If you enjoy making your own candles, you understand how important it is to have straight wicks. Crooked or crimped wicks cause crooked and off-center candles. This causes uneven burning, collapsing candles and melted, dripping messes from your homemade candles. Whether you make your own wicks or simply wax prime them before pouring your candles, you should always make sure your wicks are straight. The process, although important, is extremely simple. It requires almost no tools and some fast hands.
Things You'll Need
- Candle wick
- Scissors
- Indoor clothesline
- Newspapers
- Paraffin
- Double boiler
- Spring-clamp clothespins
Instructions
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1
Cut your candle wick to the desired length. The general rule of thumb is about four inches beyond the length of the candle. For 10-inch tapers, you need 14-inch wicks. This gives you plenty of wick to hang dipped candles or to tug on for cured molded candles.
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2
Spread a bunch of newspapers below your indoor clothesline. If you don't have a regular indoor clothesline, tie a nylon rope between two chairs near your work area. Make sure your newspapers overlap so no wax drips on your floor.
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3
Chop your paraffin into quarter-sized pieces and fill the top of your double boiler. Fill the bottom of the double boiler halfway with water and put the two pieces together. Place them over medium heat until the wax melts. Turn the heat down to medium low to keep the wax liquid but prevent it from boiling.
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4
Slip the end of a wick into a spring-clamp clothespin (the kind that pinches). Lower the wick into the wax, using the clothespin as a handle, immersing even the pinching end of the clothespin. Lift the wick from the wax and tug on the loose end quickly, holding it in a straight line with your hands.
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5
Clip the loose end of the wick to your clothesline with a second clothespin, letting the first clothespin drag the wick down straight, like a weight. Repeat with each wick, letting them cure for 30 minute or so before using them in candles.
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References
- Photo Credit candle flame image by Bruce Hewitson from Fotolia.com
