candle making

oystercatcher

A quick google on relief holes sugests that they do indeed prevent air pockets but that these pockets can cause warping or wick movement. No mention of explosions. I looked at three different sites.

Certainly if making candles to sell or give as gifts I would think it's advisable to use methods suggested. However if just using up left over candle stubs at home to save money I don't think there's any harm in 'making do' . Just the same as we might be using up leftover scraps of food.

geordie_joe

Kevie192 wrote: »

I am quite simply giving you the facts and what I know to be true - before I was making them for money I have had candles explode on me and I know many others that have too. It is usually this kind of problem you see when candles create house fires too.

We can't do anything but take your word for that.

Kevie192 wrote: »

Having worked with the country's leading candle testing lab, I can assure you that this is a very real problem that candle manufacturers face every day.

Care to name this lab, or at least give us a big enough clue to enable us to google it.

Kevie192 wrote: »

Try googling "Relief Holes Candles" and see what you get.

Sorry, I didn't bother googling that, instead I googled other things.

Googled "Exploding candle" and came up with lots of sights saying they are a myth. Did find 3 you tube videos entitled "Exploding Candle", but none of the candles actually exploded. One briefly burned with a bright flame after having some sort of liquid dropped onto the flame. The other two were Lotus candles that just opened up like a flower and burned brighter.

Googled "Candle Testing Lab", "Candle testing" and "Candle Lab", found lots of sites about testing candles, but not one of them mentioned exploding candles..

Kevie192 wrote: »

I was simply trying to warn people of this potential problem.

A problem that doesn't seem to exist.

GLOSRANGER

How do I post a NEW message? please help

Kevie192

Why on earth would I make it up?! It's a genuine observation I have make after 3 years of making and selling candles. If you want to listen to me then fine but if you don't believe it then that's fine too! I'm not bothered if you burn your family and posessions with hot wax, am I?

I don't like this negativity. If people want to know stuff please ask and I will do my best to help. If you want to dig at me or prove how great you are, take it somewhere else because to be frank I couldn't give two hoots.

delicious_2

is there a thread here about making candles? I've searched as best I know how but can't find anything.

I ask because I was thinking of melting down old/used/spent wick candles to make new (old style?)

Any help or point me in the right direction would be fab.

Thanks in advance

Penelope_Penguin

Sometimes if you search the plural (candles) and get no threads, a search on the singular (candle) comes up trumps

I'll merge this with the existing Candle Making thread so that you can see how it's done

delicious_2

Thank you Penelope Penguin

I'll have a good read now and remember your searching tip x

Snowy_Owl

Tried a search for this, but seems to be just ideas of giving candles as presents!

Basically, we've been using up some of my candles. There is always some of the wax left over and am wondering if anyone has saved used this wax to make their own candles.If so, how have you gone about this? Where do you get the wicks? Temps for melting? Moulds for shaping etc.

Thank you!
Snowy

culpepper

you can melt wax in a double boiler.
Wicks from a craftshop or online .
Anything can be a mould so long as it doesnt melt with the hot wax and you can release the finished candle. You can use jars if you anchor the wick to the bottom with a bit of bluetack and use a skewer to tie the top of the wick to but you wont be able to get the candle out.
Wax crayons can be used to add colour.

Ziggymole

Hi,

hubby and I have been doing this for a couple of years as it's such a waste to chuck out the last of a candle.

We got an old saucepan, a large pyrex jug, and from a site called 4candles bought a thermometer, wick and metal wick holders and candle moulds. It may take you a while to get the hang of it but it's not rocket science and there are plenty of books available.

The easiest candle to start with is to reuse the ones in glass containers. I use a metal wick holder at the bottom and a very large paper clip at the top, melt the wax in the pyrex jug in the pan of boiling water then carefully pour the wax into the warm glass and leave to set.

Just remember to be VERY CAREFULL with everything hot as it's VERY VERY hot.

Ziggy