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Candlemaking

 

Melt your wax -We recommend using a double boiler method for safety.

Adding the Dye:
Once you have melted your wax you can add your dye. Add a small amount at a time as it is very strong.
Note: When dried the color is much lighter.

Getting the wick ready:
Dip your wick several times into the melted wax to give it a wax coating to insure it burns evenly.

Getting the mold ready:
Start by cutting down your milk carton so that your candle mold is of appropriate size for the candle(or use other mold).

Next attach your wick to a pencil or length of wood that will sit across the top of your candle mold (top is the open end).

Next make a small hole in the bottom of the carton to thread your wick through. Pull it tight so that the wick from the pencil to outside of the carton is firm. A loose wick will cause your candle to have problems burning later on.

Now stick down the wick at the bottom with some sticky tape and using a piece of blu-tack or plasticine close up the hole so no wax can seep out.

Pouring your wax:
Be careful you do not spill the wax onto yourself and gently pour the wax into the mold. Fill it to the top but save a small amount for top ups in case of shrinkage and allow to cool.

Cooling the candle:
As it cools you will notice that the top will sink inwards, this is called shrinkage. Pour a small amount of wax on top of this to fill it up. Continue to allow to cool.

Removing the mold:
If it is a single use mold (such as a milk carton) then just tear it away. If it is plastic then run the outside of the mold in hot water, this will melt the outside wax helping it to adhere to the mold and it should just slip out.

Finishing it off:
If your mold it not flat at the bottom then place it directly onto a hot pan surface and melt it down flat to tidy it up and finish it off.

We used a milk carton for the mold.

Place your ice cubes into your milk carton mold. Do not place them neatly as the candle will need to form in the
cracks of the ice cubes. The less organized the better. Try to keep the center of the candle (around the wick) free from ice, so that the wax can form around the wick insuring a consistent burning candle.

Slowly pour your melted wax over the ice cubes and around the wick area. Continue to do this till the milk carton is full.

Allow all the ice to melt and the wax to set before slipping it out of your milk carton

 

 

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