| Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets |
| Libby |
Libbys Candle Making Thread!!!Hubby has bought me a book, its only cheap £2.99 but it has some really super and simple ideas in it. 'Candlecraft' by Paul Marko and Debbie Davis.My sister loves candles and I always struggle with ideas for her crimbo present so I thought why not have a go!!! So I need to purchase some bits and pieces, and providing I can get all the things I need I might have a go next week anyone want to join in??? |
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| Haize |
Well, I'm guessing it is a quicker thing than soap making, so provided I happen to have everything except wick, I'm thinking I'd like to have a go... I know I shouldn't, but people go crazy without any form of recreation, I believe  
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| lottie |
You are right there.
I am going to join in but it is getting all the 'gear' together. Need to read up the candlemaking thread again later. |
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| Libby |
Have been surfing the net for basic products. What has floored me is 'wicks'! Even in the books it doesn't say anything about different sized wicks but I'm sure you must use them. I plan to make a pillar candle using a drinks can as a mould, with the top chopped off (idea from book) and of course bearing in mind I like to run before I can walk I want to have a go at a rolled beeswax candle so what wicks would I use please???
Oh! PS please don't mention anything on my blog re candles. Thank you
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| Haize |
I was just looking on ebay for wick, and this person's page seems to have quite a bit of info to help you decide what you need. I haven't read all the relevant bits yet though, so sorry if it is not for the right type of candles!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-yards-of...categoryZ3089QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
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| Pilsbury |
Umm what do you want to know???? Wicks are usally sold in 1/2" widths from 1/2" up to 6", the reason you need to pick the right size wick is if you use one that is to small the candle will melt too quickly and burn smoky as there is too much wick poking out the pool of melted wax, if the wick is too small for the candle it will not be able to "wick up" the pool of wax quick enough and the flame will drown in a pool of wax. to find the right size wick you need to know the diameter of the finished candle for example i would think a coke can is about 2 1/2" wide so you need to use 2 1/2" wick, you can get away with up to 1" either way on most candles and if you used a 2" wick in this case it should burn a 2" hole down the middle of the candle. the beeswax rolled candles are probably the easiest to make and we used to make them with kids in workshops. you need a sheet of beeswax, an appropriate size wick and a hairdryer  , lay the sheet out a flat surface and put the wick on the edge about 3-4 mm up from the bottom and warm the sheet up with the hairdryer, when it is slightly soft push the wick gently into the wax and roll up like a swiss roll, as ite wax hardens soften it gently with the hair dryer. when you get to the end let the wax harden compleatly then stand it up, if it balances bonus if not put a plate over a saucepan of simmering water and when it is hot rub the base of the candle on it and this will flatten the base so it will stand.
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| Libby |
Now I know I can be a bit thick but is 1/2" actually half an inch? Cos if it is thats a b****y big wick???? This is what confuses me? 
I liked the look of the beeswax candles they look expensive! Which is why I wanted to do some for sis!!! Haize I will have a look at your link to the ebay site. I have to understand this wick business!!! Honestly folks I'm really not that thick!!! Maybe a bit dense in places hey!!! |
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| Pilsbury |
Sorry a 1/2" wick will burn a 1/2" hole down a candle, it is thick enough to wick up the wax from a 1/2" diameter candle and burn it cleanly, the wick itself is not 1/2" thick hope its clearer now
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| lottie |
It does all sound complicated. Thanks for the link Haize, very interesting reading. I might miss out on the candle making Libby - its all a bit expensive to get all the stuff in to get going. Once you have it though, you have a stash and can make some all year - I appreciate that - but I just bought some essential oils today - only a few, so that's my pension blown this month. All £17.98 of it 
Got birthdays coming up 4 in December! One in January - So I ought to concentrate on them - and one on Monday - yikes! Better made a card tomorrow
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| Libby |
Yep your right there Lottie!!!! So I'm shopping around and will keep you posted on what I spend!!
I save every month through the year for Christmas, so Ihave a Christmas fund which does all the food, booze and pressies! So I know I can spend abit for the candle making. Mind you if it wasn't Christmas, like you I would not continue!!!!!! |
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| lottie |
That's clever having a fund. We don't really do that, but I have wanted too for a long time as the family birthdays come in bunches in May/June, then December/January.
I should do that from next year I think. You must remind me to start January. |
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| Libby |
My candle making is underway as I type!! Pics to follow. | ||
| Libby |
Well first off I made my own moulds
I cut the tops of beer cans, being very careful not to slice myself!! Then made a hole in the bottom end for the wick to go through! I then waxed some of the wicks as I was also making beeswax candles from sheets of beeswax. 
then stretched them out on greaseproof paper to set. 
whilst I melted the wax for the pillar candles, I got on with the sheets of beeswax. Using the hairdryer to soften the sheets and a treated wick I started 
after I had done a couple of straight ones I decided to have a go at a tapered one 
to be honest if you do no other candle making than rolling up beeswax sheets it won't matter. The smell is totally divine, reminds me of summer and you end up with what I think are really expensive looking candles, these will be what my sister is getting for Christmas. 
[/img] So my wax is melted lets pour into the moulds and leave to set 
to be honest this mould leaked, even though I had used blu tac, so I put paper towels around it and let it harden slightly and then peeled it away. The bulldog clip in the other mould held a waxed wick I used. 
Have i enjoyed it, yes most definately. I would like to do it again and have already ordered more wax. I would like to get a couple of simple moulds that don't break the bank. I hope to unmould tomorrow when the wax has set. So if anyone knows of a good place that sells beeswax sheets and moulds let me know please |
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| lottie |
Well done you Libby - they look lovely - only sorry all the basics were too expensive for me to join you. | ||
| Libby |
Me to Lottie, it was fun doing the soap together 
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| Libby |
Well here are my 2 candles, one worked and one didn't!!!
The one that didn't work is supposed to be a beady one. I think the texture is gorgeous, I just have to work out where I went wrong!!!! 
I think possibly I need a shorter mould!!! I am pleased for a first attempt. even though Lottie bought a most gorgeous candle for £1.99 which I can assure you is alot cheaper than all the bits and pieces I got and probably looks far more professional, but hey ho, I have had fun and want to do it again............................... soon!!!!!
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| lottie |
If you hadn't had mentioned which one 'didn't' work - I would never have known.
I love the blue layered candle and the texture - I am sure that (ykw) they are for will be delighted. My candle was a real bargain, but as I said on my blog - how much better it would have been to have been able to make it myself and one that burns for 120 hours! The best thing about making your own 'anything' is that it is an orginal - and 'one off' and you can never ever create an identical one again. What's next then Libby. Shall we have a go at making sweets - fudge or something? Or will that be to tortuous for us considering we are both no eating them. They will be for presents of course - or have you got any ideas. |
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| Leonie2 |
I love the beeswax candles, I want to give those a try
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| Libby |
Excellent idea Lottie, we could do fudge or Christmas sweeties, those ones made with loads of icing sugar, or rum truffles. Then again we could try something different. I will have a look in my books and post in the cooking section
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| Pilsbury |
The beady one 'didn't work' as you put it cos as you pour the hot wax over the cold beads the hot wax cools very quickly and goes solidso wont flow between the small gaps the beads leave, a lower mould is a possability but as you have found it can look attractive.
For chunky candles i find if you melt some wax and cast it into a tray and let it set then use a knife to chop it into 1cm chunks and pile them ino the mould, its not quite the same but the wax will flow through the bigger spaces, another way is to colour the cubes and pour hot white wax over and as it flows passed the blocks it will melt them partially and you might get some colourd swirls in the candle. Havingf said all that , fantastic candles and well done , hope you enjoied making them and long may it continue. |
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| Libby |
Ah I see! so if I did it in stages, for instance, 1/2 inch wax beads then hot wax, more beads then more hot wax etc etc would that work do you think??? | ||
| Pilsbury |
Yep and you could use different colours for each layer
however a little tip although i have never tried it myself. If you do a different coloured layers dont use a dark layer at the top down to a light one at the bottom as when its lit the candle can look like its toppeling over, just a optical illusion. |
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| Libby |
Excellent, will bear that in mind. Thanks
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| Libby |
Well I decided to have another go at some more beeswax candles (the smell is so divine) and the beady candle. I'm still using my beercans for moulds!
I found it easier to pour in some hot wax then add the wax beads! Then some more hot wax, then more beads 
we will see tomorrow if it has worked!!! Then I used up some of the beeswax sheets, 
I know its probably not too exciting, but I must admit I'm enjoying it. I don't like my moulds and I think if I actually got some proper ones I would be alot happier, but they are not cheap, so for the time I will have to make do and mend!! I really hope the beady candle comes out tomorrow. I will post a pic. I forgot to take pics but I did another candle that hopefully should come out 2 tone!!!!!!!! Sorry the pics are so large the add image thingy wasn't working so have gone through photo bucket!!!!! |
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| Libby |
the finished product.....................
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| lottie |
They do look lovely Libby - you are being very industrious. You sound like you have most of your Christmas pressies sorted now.
Well done |
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| Leonie2 |
those look fab Libby, will some be as christmas presents? | ||
| fish |
ive done abit of candle making,i like the look of the beeswax sheets,are they pure and if so do they smoke a lot? can you post alink as to where i can buy the sheets?
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| Cabbagepatch |
they look lovely and i would love to have a try. and yes, a link to suppliers please. | ||
| Libby |
Well I tried one of the beeswax ones last night and no it didn't smoke!!
this is where I got the beeswax sheets from http://www.candlemakers.co.uk/cmproduct/index.html most of the other stuff I got from Ebay!!! The beeswax ones are mainly pressies and the two I made yesterday as well. I wish I had done some red ones, I had only bought green dye!! Never mind plenty of time!!!
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