Candle making
 

Anyone on here into candle-making?
I burn loads and have finally decided I need to stop discarding the old wax. My friend here tells me that its really easy but then she's far more of a craftsperson than I am :o
Most of my candles are from Dusk, so I guess I'd need to be careful mixing fragrances? Looking on ebay for wicks and those little metal discs (which are apparently called sustainers) and they all seem quite cheap.
I need to do this on the cheap, so I just want to use old saucepans and stuff like that, rather than buying loads of equipment. Any hints greatly appreciated :thumbup:

Re: Candle making
 

Yer new friend sounds like a nutter:blink:

Re: Candle making
 

:lol: I'm sure you'd know ;)

Re: Candle making
 

All I know about candle making came from Kirstie Allsopp's crafty programmy thingy that was on last year ... here is the link to the instructions for the teacup candles she made. Probably no help whatsoever but there you go, that's me all over :rofl:

Re: Candle making
 

You can make your own wicks by soaking string in a mixture os salt, water and borax, drying them out REALLY WELL and then dipping 3-4 times in melted wax...

Only worries bout making your own if they are fragranced is getting the mix right of scents....

Melt, skim, strain and pour....

Or melt, skim, strain and dip, dip dip dip dip dip dip dip dip


Lots of recipes online for the wicks....

Easy as....

But do use a very old pan that you necpver want to cook in again... i have one for candle making and one for soap...

Re: Candle making
 

And you dont need to buy the metal discs....

Put a hole in a beer bottle cap and knot the wick before pulling it through...

Thats what I do... Well did... Havent used any candle for ages... So havent had any to recycle

Re: Candle making
 

Beer bottle caps? Brilliant, i have a few of those :sneaky:
I'm told the poured ones are a lot simpler than the dipped ones so I'll start with them.
SOB - like the sound of teacup ones, My friend gets old cups etc from second hand shops and uses them.

Re: Candle making
 

Make sure if you are pouring them to give the moulds a good tap to dislodge air bubbles. Pour slowly too.
I made candles as a teen in the 70s, and did some lovely stripy effects. You can then use a hot knife to carve them into waterlillies etc, but you have to have a steady hand- mine looked very messy!

Dipping does take time and patience, but Eddie is right, you can use old cans and bottle tops, and I've also used spare nuts when desperate.

Re: Candle making
 

I used to do that, got a kit for christmas one year. Loads of great moulds out there to get different shapes. As for perfumed ones, especially the stuff from Dusk - excuse me whilst I vomit :sick: and l go to bed for a few days with a migraine. :blink::D

Re: Candle making
 

Dipping takes longer... But you can do multiple candles at a time by by adding several wicks to a handle of a wooden spoon.. Or piece of dowling... And they look superb...

Re: Candle making
 

Now to lower the tone......it gives the phrase "dipping your wick" a whole new meaning!:getcoat::scarper:

Re: Candle making
 

I've been known to do a bit of wick dipping in my time

Re: Candle making
 

:D

Re: Candle making
 

:ohmy::rofl:

Re: Candle making
 

Once upon a time......

I Lived in a shared house where we used to do all this kinda stuff to sell at hippy shit fairs...

Soap making, candle making, tie dying.... Have no idea whether we were any good at it... Our customers we too stoned to be what you might describe as "discerning"... Tho our home made dry shampoo used to sell VERY well at the 2 day+ events....

When kevin was a bub you could only get rancid pale lemon, pale mint green or pale pink/blue baby grows... So I Tie died in purples and primary colours ... Baby grows and vests.... Bartered these with friends for stuff they had I needed...

Re: Candle making
 

Has anyone seen broad shoulders...if not i'm
sure I will be the first claimant to see dipping my wick as a viable pastime...