Making Hand Dipped Candles
Candle making can be a great hobby or a profitable business endeavor. The process is quite simple once you get the hang of it. If you already have the basics down cold, consider experimenting with the art of making hand dipped candles. Although these lovely creations take more time to craft, they are stunning. You can use several colors on each candle giving it a unique color scheme.
If you have experience in making candles, you already have the basic tools you will need, You will need a large amount of paraffin wax, wick, and a double boiler to melt it in. Other utensils include wooden spoons, bowls, and a good quality thermometer. You will probably want to add color to the wax, so choose from any of the various forms including cakes, chips, powder, or liquid. Any scents or fragrances you want to add must be pure oil, not one with a water or alcohol base.
Prepare the wax for hand dipped candles just as you do for regular candles. Heat it in the double boiler top until it reaches a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.Now, turn the heat down low to keep the wax in liquid form. Add color to the wax, using a small amount at a time until your reach the color you want. If you want scented candles, add a small amount of scent the mix at this time. Remember, using too much fragrance can result in the candle not burning properly.
Next, cut the wick for your candles, keeping it just a bit longer than the candle length you want. You will need some wick to act as a ‘handle’. If you are making sets of the candles,make sure your wicks are exactly the same length. Dip the wicks into the candle wax, making sure to coat it entirely. This is how you will build your candle – one dip at a time. Allow the waxed wicks to cool, then dip them again. If you want different areas of the candles to be different colors, simply prepare more than one color of wax ready to use. Once your candle has reached the desired thickness you want, shape the top, giving the top a pointed look. Dip them again to give them a final smooth finish.
Creating hand dipped candles is a great hobby or business venture. It is a time consuming process, but the candles are beautiful. Learning to make hand dipped candles can be quite tricky, so if you are not satisfied with your initial attempts, just melt down the wax and use it over again. This is not a good type of candle for beginners to try to learn as they may quickly become frustrated. .
Design your own hand dipped candles by varying color, size and length. Find a good book with great color photos and step by step directions for hand dipping candles. Look for ideas on internet sites. I guarantee you’ll have some fun with this unique and historic way of creating candles.
