Candle making on the cheap
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HoneyLady
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While I understand and applaud frugality, let me remind you first, that what you get out is only as good as what you put in -- so be careful about how cheap you go.
You don't specify if you are planning on making molded candles or dipped tapers. These are general instructions.
Please buy your wicks from a reputable supplier. Home made wicks can cause fires if you are not a very experienced chandler.
Plan on having a container that remains dedicated to wax melting. Trying to clean warm melted wax from a pot so you can cook dinner in it is a very bad plan. Ask me how I know this. :thumbdown:
I use enameled speckle ware canning kettles. These may be easy to find in thrift shops, but remember no rust, no dings, no holes. A ladle or pouring pot is handy. An old baking sheet or two underneath molds to catch drips is handy. Freezer space is wonderful to quickly solidify your candles.
My experience has been that 100% beeswax needs a larger wick than usual. If I find info, like Peak Candle has for instance, that says they recommend this wick for a pillar 3/4" - 1 1/4" in diameter, I figure it will work in a 100% beeswax pillar 1/2" - 1".
Make sure your beeswax is AMERICAN, and already cleaned. Old comb, slumgullion, and other "cheap" quasi-beeswax stuff is not worth your effort unless you are a beekeeper. I am a beekeeper, trust me on this, LOL. For candle making, you don't need the pastilles. Blocks will be fine.
Yes, beeswax can be expensive. There's a reason for that. It is a resource and labor intensive product. The bees create wax naturally for comb building and honey capping. But the bees themselves consume 6-8 pounds of honey to create one pound of wax. Imported beeswax may come from hives treated with pesticides and herbicides, and can contain the residue of those things in the wax. American wax (or Canadian) is best. DO NOT buy wax or honey from India or China.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
~Honey Lady~
You don't specify if you are planning on making molded candles or dipped tapers. These are general instructions.
Please buy your wicks from a reputable supplier. Home made wicks can cause fires if you are not a very experienced chandler.
Plan on having a container that remains dedicated to wax melting. Trying to clean warm melted wax from a pot so you can cook dinner in it is a very bad plan. Ask me how I know this. :thumbdown:
I use enameled speckle ware canning kettles. These may be easy to find in thrift shops, but remember no rust, no dings, no holes. A ladle or pouring pot is handy. An old baking sheet or two underneath molds to catch drips is handy. Freezer space is wonderful to quickly solidify your candles.
My experience has been that 100% beeswax needs a larger wick than usual. If I find info, like Peak Candle has for instance, that says they recommend this wick for a pillar 3/4" - 1 1/4" in diameter, I figure it will work in a 100% beeswax pillar 1/2" - 1".
Make sure your beeswax is AMERICAN, and already cleaned. Old comb, slumgullion, and other "cheap" quasi-beeswax stuff is not worth your effort unless you are a beekeeper. I am a beekeeper, trust me on this, LOL. For candle making, you don't need the pastilles. Blocks will be fine.
Yes, beeswax can be expensive. There's a reason for that. It is a resource and labor intensive product. The bees create wax naturally for comb building and honey capping. But the bees themselves consume 6-8 pounds of honey to create one pound of wax. Imported beeswax may come from hives treated with pesticides and herbicides, and can contain the residue of those things in the wax. American wax (or Canadian) is best. DO NOT buy wax or honey from India or China.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
~Honey Lady~
Chefmom
Well-Known Member
For my hand dipped beeswax tapers I use square braid 2/0 wick and dip them to about 3/4 to 7/8 inch diameter and then shape the bottom slightly to fit taper candle holders.
Beeswax is my favorite for tapers, they are lovely and burn beautifully.
Dipping takes practice, I made my own dipping holders with wire coat hangers to fit my dipping pot. Good Luck!
Beeswax is my favorite for tapers, they are lovely and burn beautifully.
Dipping takes practice, I made my own dipping holders with wire coat hangers to fit my dipping pot. Good Luck!
HoneyLady
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If you are making dipped candles, you might find a "dipping tree" helpful. This is an apparatus that allows you to string wick on a frame and dip six or more candles at a time. Your dipping container will need to be AT LEAST 2" deeper than your projected length of candle -- 4" is better. If your candle is 6" FINISHED, you'll need a container 8-12" DEEP. This will hold a LOT of melted beeswax. Making dipped tapers is neat, but takes LOTS of wax.
Gurdeep, I respectfully disagree. I am sure there is much lovely honey in India. But it's that "reputable supplier" part that is the problem. China has been shipping contaminated honey into India, where *some* packers re-pack it in containers labeled "India" and then ship it on. (Shame on them!) Argentina, Brazil, and sometimes Canada also import some of this "Indian" honey, and try to sell it in the US. There are always a few bad apples that spoil things for everyone else, I'm afraid. (Check out other soapers at craft fairs. You'll find one taking shortcuts.) And if you consume honey for allergies, you want honey from within 50 miles of your home, not to mention the same continent. If you buy US honey, always buy local. And remember, if honey is labeled "USDA Organic", it's 98% likely to be imported. [End of Rant]
Also please remember that beeswax melts at 140 F., and IS Flammable at about 200 F. You don't want to know how I know this. [cough]
Good Luck!
~Honey Lady~
Gurdeep, I respectfully disagree. I am sure there is much lovely honey in India. But it's that "reputable supplier" part that is the problem. China has been shipping contaminated honey into India, where *some* packers re-pack it in containers labeled "India" and then ship it on. (Shame on them!) Argentina, Brazil, and sometimes Canada also import some of this "Indian" honey, and try to sell it in the US. There are always a few bad apples that spoil things for everyone else, I'm afraid. (Check out other soapers at craft fairs. You'll find one taking shortcuts.) And if you consume honey for allergies, you want honey from within 50 miles of your home, not to mention the same continent. If you buy US honey, always buy local. And remember, if honey is labeled "USDA Organic", it's 98% likely to be imported. [End of Rant]
Also please remember that beeswax melts at 140 F., and IS Flammable at about 200 F. You don't want to know how I know this. [cough]
Good Luck!
~Honey Lady~
