Posts Tagged ‘easy candle making’

Making Chunk Candles

Monday, August 31st, 2009

CANDLE MAKING AT HOME!
Chunk candles add a great alternative to the standard pillar candle of yesterday. These colorful candles add a vibrancy and life to them. Looking at chunk candles, they appear to be very difficult to make. However, just the opposite is true. In fact, many candle makers claim they are easier to make than basic pillar candles. This is because pillar candles have to be perfectly smooth. If they aren’t, it is easy to see the visual defect. Such blemishes aren’t visible in chunk candles. While chunk candles aren’t recommended as a beginner project, they can be made once you know the basic of the candle making process.

CHUNK CANDLE MAKING STEPS!

There are two phases to making chunk candles. To make the process easier, it is recommended that you keep the two separate. Attempts to cut corners often result in chunk candles that are of poor quality and don’t burn well. The first phase of the project is making the chunks. The second is the process of turning those chunks into gorgeous candles. Some individuals may choose to purchase pre-cut chunks.

To make your candles their prettiest, select colors that compliment each other. To start making the color chunks, spray a cookie sheet with a non-stick cooking spray. You only want a thin film on the cookie sheet. After the wax you are using has completely melted, add a color to it as well as any fragrance you want. Pour the mix onto the cookie sheet. Fill the sheet to the level you want the depth of your candle chunks to be.

Keep an eye on the cooling color chunks. Once the wax is the consistency of cookie dough, you will want to use a sharp utility knife to cut it into chunks. Allow the chunks to continue cooling. If you are making several colors of chunks you can mix them together or leave them separate. Some people choose to let the colors mix together on their own while others like to create a design by adding the amount of each color they want.

CANDLE MAKING MOLDS!
Using the same molds that are used for pillar candles, insert your candle wick through the bottom of the candle mold. Fill the mold loosely with color chunks. You can put one color on the bottom with another color on top or even layers of three colors. You can also use only one color. The choice is all yours. Do not stack as many chunks as you can in the mold or the candle won’t form properly. Just toss them in and let them lay where they end up.

955134940_efd6d1caa3-chunk-candle2You are now ready to pour the melted wax over the color chunks. It is recommended that you do leave the melted wax colorless, but some people choose to add a light color to tint it and add a uniqueness to their chunk candles. As the candle cools, the chunks will adhere together with the hot wax. Once the molds cool, the chunk candles should slide out with ease.

EASY CANDLE MAKING!

Making chuck candles is really quite simple if you have the basic candle making ‘how to’ under your belt. These candles add flare to any décor as well as make great gifts. They are a bit more time consuming to make since you will be making your color chunks, but well worth the results. Remember that you can purchase color chunks to save you time. That is a great option for someone who plans to make large quantities of chunk candles.

DECORATIVE CANDLE MAKING!

For those who want to get even more creative, consider adding your own PAINTED FLORAL DESIGN WITH ACRYLIC PAINT . Also consider using embeds on the sides. You can position them inside the candle molds first. They will stay in place once you put the chunks in the mold. You can adjust the embeds as needed prior to adding the hot wax to the mold. There are excellent candle making books available on the various patterns and embeds you can add to make specific chunk candles.


Make Your Own Pillar Candles

Monday, August 24th, 2009

3863456910_396bff7b99_t-green-pillar-candle

ADD ELEGANCE WITH PILLAR CANDLES!

Pillar candles add a certain touch of elegance and style to your home and even to your dinner table, especially when used as part of a centerpiece. They are often used on the tables at wedding receptions in the colors of the wedding. It was very appealing. Pillar candles come in all colors and scents and are called pillars because they are round and tall like a pillar. There is no standard size though, as pillar candles come in many widths and heights. Occasionally, pillar candles are found with a unique design such as a ridge on the top and bottom.

EASY TO MAKE!

Making pillar candles is quite simple. This type of candle is one of the most common for candle makers to indulge in. To make pillar candles, you will need molds, which you can find in all sizes at most craft suppliers. These molds may be made of silicon, aluminum, or plastic. For best results, I suggest using pillar candle molds that are made of aluminum. They allow the wax to cool better, resulting in a smooth finish on the candles. They are also very durable.

GETTING STARTED!

To get started, first decide on the size of candles you want to make and how many. You can find charts in candle making books which will help you determine how many pounds of candle wax you will need to complete your project. You will also need dye to color the candles and fragrances if you wish to add that to your candles.

2036004579_cf6eed0fc8_t-4-soy-pillar-candles1USE QUALITY WICK!

Be sure to purchase quality wick to make pillar candles. Also, be aware that the wider the candle you will be making, the wider wick you will want. Or to make this easier, you may simply purchase a standard type of wick and braid three pieces together to make a thicker wick for wider candles. Many of the pillar candle molds have a wick holder built in. Simply slide a wick the diameter of the hole into it and eliminate the guess work. Be sure to dip the wick into the melted wax before attaching it to the candle mold.

Keeping the wick in place can be tricky. A good idea is to cut the wick several inches longer than you need. Then tie it to a pencil or skewer resting across the top of the candle mold. This will ensure the wick is centered as the candle begins the cooling process.

ADDING DYES AND SCENTS!

Once your candle wax is at the proper temperature, add in anything you want to be included in your candle, such as dye, scents, and additives. Immediately after, pour the hot wax into the pillar candle molds. Do not pour wax all the way to the top of the mold. You want to leave four or fives inches unfilled.

WHAT TO DO WHILE THE CANDLES ARE COOLING!

Generally you leave most candles you make to cool. However, pillar candles need some further assistance during the cooling process. Once the top of the wax has started to become solid, it is necessary to add small relief holes to help with shrinkage. If you don’t create the relief holes, your candles will get air pockets that keep them from hardening properly.

When the candles have completely cooled, you may then pour melted wax into the holes you created in the candle. Be sure the wax is about fifteen degrees hotter than what the wax was the first time you poured it. Allow the candle to completely cool down again. Your candles should slide out of the molds easily. If they don’t, put them in the refrigerator for half an hour. Your candles should be smooth and beautiful. Be sure to trim the wick and you are ready to burn your pillar candles.

Pillar candles are beautiful. The simple design fits well with the décor in any room of your home, and you can even paint them with dainty designs to enhance their beauty. These candles make excellent gifts and centerpieces. Pillar candles are easy to make, and the supplies are inexpensive. This makes pillar candle making an excellent project, hobby, or money making project. Pillar candles burn for hours, ensuring you will get hours of enjoyment from your endeavors.

Pillar Kit Pillar Kit

Includes a 6″H reusable professional metal mold, wicking, mold sealer, screw, wood dowel rod, 2 lbs of premium wax blocks, 9 oz of multicolor wax chunks, three colors of dye (Yellow, Red, and Blue), vanilla scent, professional thermometer, and detailed instructions on how to create three different styles of candles – solid color, an iced lacy effect, or a “chunk style” of half-hot wax and half-cold wax chunks.


Make Your Own Candles

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

If you want to truly be creative from start to finish, why not make your own handmade candles? Regardless of whether you might be painting on the candles themselves or on the glass candle containers or leaving them plain, you can come up with some great items to give as gifts, to sell, or to enhance your own home décor. (For more on painting on candles,
go to PAINTING ON CANDLES .)

Making candles is easy. You, of course, need a few supplies. Then follow a few steps, and you can achieve the finished product you envisioned in your mind. There are a lot of ways to make candles, from following simple, quick steps or some complex methods. Whatever style of candle you decide to make, injecting some dose of your own creative ideas will make a whole lot of difference.

As you insert your own brand of style, do not forget to work safely and do not risk quality of the product over appearance only. There must be a balance of both. When you feel as if you have been training your self well in making custom candles, why not try it out as a small business?

The following post of this website hopefully will give you many, many ideas, and remember, if you are painting directly on the candles, go easy on the scent.

You may want to check out this book:
The Secrets to Successful Candle Making


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