candle making

PixieDust

I always just melt mine in an old saucepan.....cannot be faffed with double boiler-ing.....

valk_scot

PixieDust wrote: »

I always just melt mine in an old saucepan.....cannot be faffed with double boiler-ing.....

The trouble with that is that at too high a temperature the wax can start to vaporise and spontaneously ignite. If you use a double boiler set-up it won't go higher than 100'C. It may be a faff, but not half as much a faff as cleaning the sooty mess off your kitchen ceiling.

Aarons_mummy

I am collecting all my old bits to either remelt or add to my tart burner. I can't believe how much I've got from the few candles I would normally just have thrown away!

keelyjrs

well I tried this today, scraped out all the leftover bits from my scented candle and put it in the top of my burner. After about 5 minutes it just smelled burnt and the whole flat smelled of it Did I do something wrong?

camNolliesMUMMY

hmm dont know mines burning well and hasnt burnt at all??

Annie021063

I've been hoping to be able to make some new candles from loads of spare wax I have been collecting, I've saved all my old candle holders so it seems I just need some wick and weights, will an old bean can do to melt the wax (clean of course), Can I mix scented and plain wax?
Thanks

zippychick

we have a candle making thread which may help

we will merge this later

Zip

[Deleted User]

Hi I have loads of candle scraps, and was wondering what was the easiest way to melt down the wax, I have found some wick on ebay,
just though I could make some more, and save some money:)if you do this could you give me some tips thankyou.

Living_proof

I would also be very interested in this. My scraps are all about five inches high and three inches wide - I think there are so many drafts in this house that all the candles burn very unevenly and finally give up the ghost. I have all but given up on them, so would love to reutilise them if it's not too time consuming.

Kaz2904

From the reading I have done, you have to melt them down slowly in a double burner with water in or you run the risk of it exploding :eek:. I also read that you have to scoop off the blackened bits or it will taint the candle. I wondered about using some string instead of wicks as they seems quite expensive for what is basically an experiment.
I would love to get going on making my own candles though, I can just imagine DH's face if I start using the solid fats saved from cooking to have candle light :eek: