Archive for February, 2009

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What material is needed to start candle making ?

A lot of the basic tools are readily available in your house and the others can be purchased from craft shops, hardware store or on the Internet.

The core of the process is to melt wax and then reshape it in a variety of forms, colors and scents, so here are the main tools:

candlemaking tools

1. Melting system

Always use a double boiler because wax should never be melted in a pot directly on the burner.

Double Boiler

2. Thermometer

Be sure it covers the range 100-350F ( 38-177 C)

wax melting thermometer

3. Scales

They are necessary to assure good amount of wax you need depending on the “recipe” you are doing.

4. Ladle

Use it to stir while wax is melting and to ladle wax out.

Candlemaking accessories

5. Measuring pot

It is always advisable to pour the melted wax into the measuring pot before pouring into molds.

6. Heavy duty gloves

Protect your hands from the hot wax.

7. Dipping can

A 12″ wide metal container deep enough to completely immersed your candle.

8. Heat gun or blow torch

Very useful for retouching errors on the surface of your candles.

9. Water bath

Cool off more quickly the heat from your molded candles thus giving you a surface that shines more.

water bath

10. Other handy accessories.

Craft knife, scissors, razor blades to cut and trim. If you purchase slabs of wax, then add a screwdriver and a hammer to your toolbox.

You are all set to go so next, we will look at candlemaking supplies.

Have a great time !

Janice

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3
Feb

How To Make Candles

   Posted by: admin   in candle making projects

It has been a while since the idea sparkled into my mind of creating my own candles and, as it is often the case, when we want to start something new, we delay in getting was is needed to start it going.

So my desire of creating candles did not transform itself into a “Let’s do it !” momentum until some months past or so. Better late than never, right ?

My first hands-on experience was reported here on the blog, live with photographs, showing the results, good and bad, of these first steps, and it was so much fun doing it, that it got me hooked !

I therefore invite you to join me in the journey of making candles for fun and, why not, maybe one day for profit ? But for now, being in the learning curve, I will concentrate on following the step-by-step guide that I just purchased, written by Dolores Attwood, and will share each of these steps here .

Along with her E-book came three bonuses:

Bonus 1 : How to make massage and soy candles

Bonus 2 : Make Money from your Hobby

Bonus 3 : List of Candle Making Supplies Manufacturers

We will go through these bonuses together as well.

In the next article, we will start by concentrating on the equipment and supplies needed for candle making.

Stay tuned !

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