candle making

lostinrates

OK, I'll try the Up your income bit, thank you.

Thanks for the encouragement too Champys-my DH would LOVE to keep bees, but most of our local courses for beginners are on weekday evenings when he can't get to them, so keeping bees is HIS project 743 or thereabouts....;)

Pink.

Hi lostinrates,

There are some links on this older thread that may help:

candle making

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink


Edit: Just found this link on the special occasions board that may help too:

candle making

Reverbe

I have the beginnings of a collection of half burnt out candles. I find for some reason an increasing number of candles only burn in the middle and leave you with a large polo mint type structure. I hate wastage of what is becoming a growing mass of wax. So am wondering if there is any use I can put it to or if there is a simple not too gadgety type way to make this into a new candle. I dont care if it turns out in a sludgy colour lol

fluffybunnies

melt it in a double boiler (or a saucepan/bowl over a saucepan of boiling water), either get some cotton string or some proper candle wicks, you can now either dip the wicks into the molton wax over and over until you have a candle (known as the dipping method (surprisingly) or you could purchase a candle mould or improvise one.

novagirl

To try and avoid it only burning down the middle in the first place, make sure that you leave it buning for long enough the first time that you use a candle. It should then burn the wax all the way down rather than giving you your Polo shape

I've used old yoghurt pots before for moulds,anything really if you are going to just burn them again

LameWolf

I always save candle wax to make new candles with. You can use suitably shaped pots as moulds, or if you want to buy "proper" moulds, Hobbycraft do them. They also do wick, which you buy by the metre.

As I'm always using candles, I separate the wax out into colours, 1 bag for red, another for green etc.

Btw, my "double boiler" is an old 800g dog food tin and a rather tatty saucepan - shows you how old it is, I haven't owned a dog for over seven years!:D

Merrywidow

Reverbe - I have been a candle maker for 20 years, so here is some valuable advice. Never melt wax above 180 degrees centigrade (same temperature for frying chips!!) A jam thermometer is good for this. Wax does not bubble and when it gets too hot it explodes without warning. Keep well away from water, it will spit and give you a nasty burn.

You could melt your bits in an empty tin can from veggies or fruit. Put the tin in a little pan with water and watch it melt. Wax can never get hotter than 180 degrees if you stick to this.

The wick for a candle is made in different sizes. Cheap candles (from China) have thin wicks and you end up with those polo mint holes. There is a candle maker's supply shop in London, Blythe Road, behind Olympia. Their website shows their stock and I believe the different wicks. Lots of moulds too. They do mail order. They really are the font of all knowledge. If you cant find them let me know and I will look up their info. Shout if you need more info.

Pink.

Hi Reverbe,

There's an earlier thread with lots more good advice on using old wax to make new candles so I've added your thread to it to keep the replies together.

Pink

Merrywidow

Hallo again all candlemakers - Looked up my suppliers www.candlemakers.co.uk They really have all you need. They send out catalogues too. Since all the previous threads have been merged its all on here somewhere. Would be happy to give anymore advice. One tip that you might be interested in - when putting your candle out, dip the lighted wick in the melted wax to put it out. Keep wick trimmed to prevent smoking. Have fun.

Primrose

Every year I have a few chunky candles for Christmas but they seem to burn down only to a certain point when the wick expires and the rest of the candlewax get wasted and has to be thrown away. Is there any way of rescuing them without a lot of hassle?