Candle wax and wicks

WeAreGhosts

where is the best place to buy these?

also, does anyone know how much wax i will need to fill a dozen ramekin size moulds?

pinkparrott

Hobbycraft do wicks but might be cheaper on eBay ,depends on size -probably about 3kg ?

Badrick

I've been looking into doing this, so will interested in any tips on here.
In what bit of research I've done, I've found a pound of paraffin wax is around 20 fluid ounces when melted, soy is 18 fluid ounces and beeswax 16 fluid ounces, so if you fill a mould with water and tip into a measuring jug, you'll get an idea of how much wax you need.

[Deleted User]

I have lots of candles with burnt down wicks but still lots of wax left in the jar/glass/containers.I feel loathe to bin them if I could figure out a way of 'recycling' them.The wicks have obviously burnt down but some of the candles have loads of wax left in there .Any ideas chums before they get binned ? :)

maman

JackieO wrote: »

I have lots of candles with burnt down wicks but still lots of wax left in the jar/glass/containers.I feel loathe to bin them if I could figure out a way of 'recycling' them.The wicks have obviously burnt down but some of the candles have loads of wax left in there .Any ideas chums before they get binned ? :)

This might help:


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4539157=


I've had some success with candles in teacups using old birthday cake candles. It does seem to sort of hollow out in the middle when it burns but as I've paid nothing for it I'm not that bothered.

BitterAndTwisted

I make new candles from recycled burned-down old ones. You need a pan of simmering water with an old tin-can sitting in it. Put the bits of hard wax in and wait until it has melted. Remove the old wicks with a skewer. Meanwhile get your containers ready (glass tumblers or whatever else you have to hand. I buy tumblers from the charity shop), have cotton wicks with a knot at the end (I use cotton string from B&Q) tied to skewers resting over the lip of your containers. Get an oven-glove and lift the tin-can out of the water and pour the melted wax into your moulds. You can add scented oil or wax crayons for colour while the wax is melting.

BE CAREFUL! The wax is flammable, which is why you just use simmering water to melt it. Any drips of wax on the burners might result in you losing your eyebrows, or worse. Use newspaper under your containers if you don't want to be scraping wax off your worktop with a razor-blade later.

LameWolf

maman wrote: »

This might help:


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4539157=


I've had some success with candles in teacups using old birthday cake candles. It does seem to sort of hollow out in the middle when it burns but as I've paid nothing for it I'm not that bothered.

Keep the rest of your wax melted while you're making your candles (I use an old 800g dog food tin in a saucepan of water to melt the wax, btw) and as your newly-formed candle sets, and you get a hollow, fill the hollow area with more wax.

Anne_Marie_2

JackieO wrote: »

I have lots of candles with burnt down wicks but still lots of wax left in the jar/glass/containers.I feel loathe to bin them if I could figure out a way of 'recycling' them.The wicks have obviously burnt down but some of the candles have loads of wax left in there .Any ideas chums before they get binned ? :)

If they are fragranced, I chip out the bits from the container and use them in place of tarts in a burner.

If plain, I melt them down in a container in simmering water, add fragrance, and then make them into tarts using silicone cup cake cases, got some really cheap in Asda, and are re-usable.

You can see that I am very imaginative on this one!

Forgot to say that I use fragrances specifically for candle making.

maman

Anne_Marie wrote: »

If they are fragranced, I chip out the bits from the container and use them in place of tarts in a burner.

If plain, I melt them down in a container in simmering water, add fragrance, and then make them into tarts using silicone cup cake cases, got some really cheap in Asda, and are re-usable.

You can see that I am very imaginative on this one!

Forgot to say that I use fragrances specifically for candle making.

What do you use for wicks in the tarts anne-marie?

Anne_Marie_2

maman wrote: »

What do you use for wicks in the tarts ?

I don't put wicks in the tarts. They are used in burners with a tea light candle underneath to heat them up and release the fragrance.

Wax tarts are basically scented wax (candles) without a wick and all you do is melt them in a potpourri or tart burner. The tarts get heated and fill the room (or whole house) with aroma. They were originally created because chandlers (the old English term for candlemakers) were searching for something to do with their left over wax after pouring candles. Due to their "pastry tart-like" shape, they became commonly referred to as "tarts". However, nowadays they come in many different shapes and are also called - wax melts, scent chips, candle melts, candle tarts, or wax potpourri melts.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Wax-Tarts-What-are-They-and-How-Do-You-Burn-Them-/10000000002374597/g.html

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for the tips .It looks as though I shall be asking my DD for one of her empty dog food tins :) It does seem such a waste to just throw the old candles out.I have lots of old glass bits that I can use as holders in the cupboards and several old cups as well
Cheers everyone JackieO xxx