Why Make Candles?

By Douglas T Adams

Some people may find candles a messy thing to handle especially when they drip on the table or onto the cloth. However candles give off a soft glow, creating the kind of ambience needed in a romantic setting. Sure, a fireplace has the same effects but candles are portable, can be lit up easily anywhere, can be scented to enhance your sensory experience and above all lack the heat of a fireplace.

Thinking About Making Candles In Containers?
It is relatively easy to learn how to make candles in containers. Before you start, there are a few essential things that you need to get the process underway. You will need wax (soy, beeswax or paraffin), a container (preferably tin, glass or ceramic), a double boiler, pre-tabbed wicks, an empty ball pen barrel, a wooden rod, a thermometer and a glue gun with glue sticks. For the more adventurous, dyes and fragrances can also be added to the ingredients.

Making Candles In A Container
Now that you have your tools ready, let the fun of candle making begin. Firstly, boil your wax. While the wax heats up, don’t forget to use the thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax. As it reaches the temperature of 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, you have the option of adding either the dyes or the fragrances to your candle. Next, glue the pre-tabbed wick into the bottom of the container by inserting the wick into the empty ball pen barrel which is there to keep your aim straight so that the wick glues perfectly into the bottom of the container.

Making candles is not an exact science, get creative and don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools as long as they are safe to use. Improvise if you cannot find a particular tool to do a particular job, be resourceful. The next step requires you to tie the end of the wick on a wooden skewer or a toothpick, depending on the diameter of the container’s opening. Wood is a much better material to use compared to anything that is metallic which are excellent heat conductors.

You may wish to preheat your container before pouring melted wax into it. This process effectively reduces the bubbles. Heat your container by placing it in an oven at the lowest setting for only a few brief minutes and no more, or you can also use a heat gun to achieve the same result. Take care in pouring the melted wax into the container as it can get very hot. Make sure to leave sufficient space from the container’s opening to the level of the wax to avoid spillage. Let the wax cool down and set completely. If you find a depression in the middle of your candle, reheat some of your leftover wax to a temperature higher than the melting temperature to ensure better cohesiveness. This is also to avoid unsightly lines from forming in your finished product.

When the candle is completely set, there you have it, a completely homemade candle right before your eyes. Once you have mastered the basics, the rest are all about perfecting the shape, the colour, the texture and the scent of the candle. Many people make candles as a hobby. Homemade candles make for unique gifts and you definitely have more control over their appearance and functions to be used and enjoyed by everyone in the family.

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