Candle making has become an exciting hobby to many due to the simple process involved when using right candle making supplies. It can really be lots of fun. There is a long history when it comes to candles as it is believed that they were first used by Egyptians approximately five thousand years ago. Candles were mainly used for religious and everyday use unlike the way we use them for decoration and atmosphere.
Okay, let us get back to the present and discuss your plans to start candle making. One of the main things and of course the main ingredient is to find the wax you will be working with. There is inexpensive wax that has been recycled which you can find at most stores in your area. For specialty waxes you can find just about anything by doing a thorough search on the internet and even order your favorite wax to have it delivered to your front door.
Make sure to decide wisely for the type of candle you will be making as there are several kinds of wax available for each candle type. Some of these waxes are soy, beeswax and vegetable which are all very well suited to add to your candle making supplies. Just do not over do it when purchasing these waxes, just get what you will need for this project.
Is There Anything Else Needed?
Now that you have the wax required for your new hobby you are probably wondering how to melt it. Well, to get standard wax to melt we have to raise its temperature to approximately one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to get the proper melting pot meant for wax or you may have some difficulty.
The next candle making supply you are going to need is the wick. Wicks come in varying sizes and thicknesses which all determine the speed at which the candle will burn. Also, wicks are manufactured from different materials and you may not locate some of them at your neighborhood store but you should find them at either a specialty store or more likely on the internet where you can have it delivered.
Another item to add to your candle making supplies is dye for the different colors you wish to have. Be careful because candle dye is a pigment and will be very difficult and some times not even possible to remove from your garments.
The dye is actually a chemical that comes in small bottles like essential oils do. Most hobbyists include these dyes amongst their supplies. Always use caution when handling.
Should I Know Anything Else?
There is one other key element needed that without it we would just have blobs of wax, and of course, that would be the molds. Add many different type of molds to your candle making supplies so you will always have a wide variety to choose from.
You can purchase all kinds but you can also use items from around the house such as cartons from milk containers. There are other very interesting items you can use; paints can make your candles very unique and one of a kind and there are sprays to make them shiny.
We have just discussed the basics here for creating candles but it is enough to get you started. Do a little more research and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Candle Making Additives There are eight distinct candle making additives used in the candle making process. Some makers choose not to use them at all while others take advantage of what each type of additive has to offer to their candle making process. Candle wax additives are inexpensive and work well if you are educated in how to use them and why to use each kind. Kemamide is a fine powder. It has a hint of ivory in the color, but it is close to being transparent. This type of additive becomes clumped if it is exposed to humidity so keep it in a closed, dry environment. Use this type of additive as a release agent. Add one teaspoon for each pound of wax. Poly-AC is a fine powder, white in color. It has a dry texture and should also be stored in a dry environment to prevent clumping. This additive is a hardener. To be effective, add one teaspoon for each pound of wax. Chimasorb 81 is a powder with a yellowish tint. Of all the additives, this one is the most likely to clump, even in areas of low humidity. Chimasorb 81 is used to enhance color. You do not need much of it, 1/10 of a percent for each pound of wax. Stearic Powder is flaky. The color is white. This additive doesn’t react to humidity at all so it is an agreeable product to use for hardening. They amount you will use depends on the type of candles you are making. This additive helps reduce the temperature needed to melt the wax. Add about three teaspoons for each pound of wax. Be careful not to over use Stearic Powder as doing so will cause damage to the wax. 103 Vybar generally is sold in the form of very small beads. The beads flow loosely and do not stick or clump together, even in areas of high humidity. 103 Vybar is a hardener as well. It will add a very creamy texture to your candle wax. This is a perfect hardener to use for scented candles. Add one teaspoon to for every pound of wax. Paraflint is another hardener. It comes in beaded form similar to the 103 Vybar. However, the beads are much larger. You will want to use one teaspoon for every pound of wax. Poly 400 comes in the form of beads that vary is size and shape. This is a UV inhibitor, which will keep your candles from fading in the sunlight. This additive is also to be used at the rate of one teaspoon for every pound of wax. BHT Crystal is a yellowish powder. This is an antioxidant for wax that has been stored in liquid form for a length of time. Using this crystal will also add a very pretty luster to your wax. Candle making additives can add a variety of features to your wax. The type of additives you choose to use will depend on the types of candles you are going to make as well as the climate in your region. Be careful to use candle making additives in the right amounts or you will cause damage to the wax, resulting in ill effects in the visual aspects of the candles as well as their ability to burn properly. There are many great candle making books out there to help you figure out which types of additives to use for the various types of candles you can make.
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