Moulded Candle Making

It's so easy to make pretty, bright candles to suit the décor of every room in your home! Here are some simple techniques using everyday objects as moulds…
(You can use these techniques not only with new wax but to give new life to melted, old candles too!)
 
SAFETY:
Do NOT leave melted wax unattended – wax catches fire if overheated, so be sure not to warm if over 150°C/300°F. If wax catches fire, smother it with the lid of the double boiler or sprinkle it with baking powder.
 
 
YOU WILL NEED:
180 g paraffin wax
20 g wax hardener
1/8 candle dye disc, or old colored crayons

OR
Ready-to-use wax in the color of your choice available from most craft stores
Double boiler
25mm wick, 20cm long
Mould of your choice, such as an old funne
Wick support, such as a skewer or pencil long enough to fit over the base of your mould
Reusable adhesive putty to seal the gap between the mould and the wick
Mould support – a deep bowl filled with sand does nicely for this. (Keep the double boiler lid handy as well as some baking powder in case the wax overheats and catches fire.)
 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CREATION:


To calculate the amount of wax you will need, fill your mould with water and measure the amount in a measuring jug. 300 ml of water requires about 270 g wax. If you're using paraffin wax and stearin, you need 10% stearin to the amount of wax being used.
It's a great idea to have everything you need ready and to work on an uncluttered surface to avoid messes and accidents!
Place the wax, stearin and dye (or regular candle wax) in the top of a double boiler and add hot water to the bottom pan. Place over a low heat.

While the wax is melting (keep an eye on it!) thread the wick through the middle of the mould. Before threading, dip the flame end of the wick into the melted wax to prevent the mould seal from clogging the wick.

Secure the bottom end of the wick to the wick support and place it across the bottom of the mould, ensuring that it's placed in the center of the mould. Pull the top end of the seal taught. Where the wick comes out of the mould, secure it will mould seal (adhesive putty) to prevent the melted wax from spilling out.

Place the mould in the sand in the mould support so thatit is stable, but be very careful not to get sand in the mould.

Stir the wax (which you've been watching all the time) to make sure that it's all melted. Pour the wax into the mould carefully and leave it to cool. Note that wax shrinks as it cools, so you can top it up as it cools.

When the wax has cooled, tap the mould so that the candle falls out. If it doesn't, place it in the refrigerator for no more than 10 minutes and try again.

To level the base of the candle, line a flat bottom frying pan with wax paper and slide the candle over the pan on a low heat. You can neaten the edges carefully with a knife. Trim the wick and enjoy your home-made creation!
DID YOU KNOW?:
The thickness of the wick depends on the thickness of the candle – the wider the candle, the thicker the wick needs to be. A candle with a 25mm diameter needs a "25mm" wick and a candle with a 100mm diameter needs a "100mm" wick. It really couldn't be simpler!