Homemade Candle Making How To's - Tips And Techniques

You finally got the candle making how to's down pat. But after you've churned out batches of the same molded/scented candles, you're aching to try something different! No doubt, you've also come across some puzzling results that need to be resolved. Not to worry, those puzzles will be solved and you will find some unique candle making ideas right here. Read on to find some of the most common concerns of candle makers everywhere.

Do your candles stutter or have a weak, small flame? Either the size of the wick is too small, your wick is not primed or you have impurities in your wax. Use a larger wick next time and prime your wicks. Here's how: melt wax in a double boiler. Drop you wicks and remove them - chopsticks work well here - only when little bubbles form indicating that the wick has absorbed the wax. Lay them on wax paper and straighten them once they've cooled. If the flame is still weak, it may be the impurities in the wax; switch to a better grade wax or a more reliable supplier.

Your wicks tend to "drown" in melted wax. Your wick is probably too small (thin) for your candle. The heat from the flame melts the area right around it. If your wick is too small, it can't absorb sufficient wax to burn and the meltpool, as this area is called, grows large enough to drown the flame. Use a thicker wick or braid 3 wicks to use in candles with widths of 3 or more inches. However, if your candle tends to smoke too much, your wick might be too thick for your candle or you may be using too much or the wrong kind of scent. Lessen the amount of scent you use and make sure to use only candle making fragrance oils. Remember to match the size of the wick with the width of your container.

You can re-cycle your less-than-perfect candles by cutting them in chunks with a heated knife. Save the wick for re-use if you wish. Position a tabbed wick in a mold - a milk carton or a glass jar - and fill it with the chunks making sure to press them against the sides of the mold. Melt some raw wax and pour into the mold, tapping the sides to release air bubbles. Released from the mold or left in the glass jar, this makes a pretty candle.

Make use of every bit of wax by pouring them into a "catch-all" mold like a milk carton. Pour any leftover wax from your projects and leave it until it's filled. Make a game of guessing what scent you'll get whenever you light it.

After trying out these tips and techniques, you will be able to devise creative candle making ideas of your own in no time. Nothing is as satisfying as creating these light-giving works of art...except maybe receiving them as gifts.