Candle Making

[WinterTraditions]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

Soy and beeswax candles are completely safe to put in the ground. Paraffin, I would be hesitant about.

If the candle is, say, a votive in a glass votive cup, you can simply wait for the wax to melt completely on the surface before blowing out the flame. That way, it has an even burn each time. If you have glossy ceramic plates, you can make art using hot wax. Use the drippings to create a picture! I have plenty of these for each element, different deities, ect that I use as decorations throughout my home.

Again, wax can be melted down easily and made into new candles. You don't need a bunch of fancy equipment, either. Just wax, something to act as wicks... If they're dipped candles, you need a tin can and a pot to melt the wax in double-boiler styled, a tall glass vase for the cold water, and a tall tin can to hold the hot wax as you dip the wick in. If you're making votives/pillars, you can pick up some paper cups or molds and use those.

[Willow]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

I didn't know there was such a thing either... o.0

[Nerá]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

I just checked...

According to the National Candle Association (I didn't even know such a thing existed), beeswax, paraffin, and vegetable-based candles are, in fact, biodegradable.

Still...there are a lot of chemicals that go into candle-making besides wax. I'm still not comfortable burying candles in the ground.

[Willow]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

Is candle wax even particularly biodegradable?

[Nerá]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

I was kind of wondering the same thing. I found a ritual where you basically carve your worries into a candle and let it burn all the way and bury the leftover wax. Candle wax doesn't seem like something you should be putting into the ground....

One suggestion I have is to learn how to make candles. Especially if you use them a lot. It will save you money in the long run and anything you make is going to be much more powerful and in sync with your energy than anything you buy in a store. It's not that hard either. And when one candle is finished, save the wax and use it to make other candles.

[volcaniclastic]

Re: Wax Disposal/Recycling?

Keep all the little bits in a tin can, and when the can is full, melt it down and make new candles!

[Bjorn]

Wax Disposal/Recycling?

I burn a LOT of candles in my spells.

I want to be more conscientious about how I dispose of the wax. Generally, I let it burn down into a blob and then just let it keep going, but that is terribly time consuming and possibly dangerous, considering the accumulated heat after several hours of burning on the waxy surface of a candle-plate.

Looking into some other traditions suggested burying it in the yard, or wrapping it in vegetable parchment. I'm not opposed to either of these ideas, but I can't help but think there's got to be some other way to be more resourceful with the wax, a suggestion that WON'T potentially burn my house down as I slip into accidental slumber whilst waiting for the flame to go out.

I'll take whatever you've got.

[Vicariousparabol]

Re: Candle Making

I finally made the candles, and they turned out great Thanks, guys!

[lightdragon]

Re: Candle Making

Making candles is super easy. I'd suggest (if you want to do it the cheapest way possible) is just to take a nice big tin can (like from a can of tomato juice or something) and clean it out really well. Get a saucepan, put some water in the saucepan on the stove top, put the tin can in the water, and then like a double boiler, you can put the candle wax in the tin can to melt. You will, however, need to go and buy wick. I've used hemp rope before in a pitch, but it burns poorly. Wicks aren't too expensive. A couple of years ago I bought myself a roll of it for $30 and I'm still using it.

that is the cheapest way. i do it a little more expensive. never melted crayons though.

[WinterTraditions]

Re: Candle Making

The point of having a pot of water boiling and then the pot inside for wax, is so you don't catch the wax on fire. It's not burning you're worrying about; its catching the kitchen on fire!

I make candles all the time. I even sell them to local shops for some extra cash.

[Maria de Luna]

Re: Candle Making

ice_candles.jpgJust watch when burning them, holes let wax flow freee!

[Vicariousparabol]

Re: Candle Making

and, if you put ice cubes in, and then pour in the wax, it makes cool holey candles.

Neaaat! I gotta try that!

[thalassa]

Re: Candle Making

Also, I don't know why I thought this was necessary but I read (or heard, most likely) once that the best way to melt wax isn't to put it in a pot straight over a flame but to put the wax in a pot inside a bigger pot with boiling water. I never really bothered to research this because I don't make my own candles but does this hold any truth or was it just a joke that I fell for?

Yup...I love the double boiler. Since you use a taller pot for candle dipping, water shouldn't get in the wax--I've actually never had that happen, even with candle making where the pot is open. It also keeps you from burning the wax. I use a double boiler for making salves, chocolates, etc--anything where burning=bad.

Like this:


But you can also DIY...I use a coffee can for candle making in a small saucepan:



We store the candle wax bits in coffee cans, and pop them in a pot when they get full, to melt down and dip or to pour into glass jars. We've also made impressions in the sand and poured wax into them to make sand candles. For square candles, you can use milk cartons...and, if you put ice cubes in, and then pour in the wax, it makes cool holey candles.

[DanieMarie]

Re: Candle Making

I read that as well, but I find that in practice, the boiling water gets water in the wax too easily. That's why I go for the low heat.

[Juniper]

Re: Candle Making

If you want to melt down old candles, what I do is I use a really cheapo pot (it's just for melting wax) and heat them up on the stove on low heat. When it's melted, I take a jar and tie a pencil over it with a wick hanging down (so the wick stays straight) and pour in the wax.

That's actually a really neat idea! I've made candles the old fashioned "dunking" way once when I visited Green Field Village (Henry Ford Museum in MI). It was a lot of fun but super time consuming. Ain't nobody got time for that!
Also, I don't know why I thought this was necessary but I read (or heard, most likely) once that the best way to melt wax isn't to put it in a pot straight over a flame but to put the wax in a pot inside a bigger pot with boiling water. I never really bothered to research this because I don't make my own candles but does this hold any truth or was it just a joke that I fell for?