from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Many common household items can be used for candle molds. This is a very inexpensive way to make candles.

Steps

1. Save heavy cardboard type containers. Useful types of cardboard include a Pringles can, Chinese take-out containers, or waxed milk cartons. Make sure that the cardboard is coated with wax in some way… regular cardboard will absorb the melted wax and become a fire hazard, not to mention a mess.
2. Wipe the inside of the container with a damp paper towel to remove any food residue.
3. Attach your wick to the center of the inside of the container. You can use a little scotch tape to do this. Also a good way to attach the wick is to melt a space for it when the candle is done and put the wick in.
4. Lay a pencil (or similar object) across the top of the container and tape your wick to it, so that the wick is centered in the container.
5. Pour a little bit of melted wax in the container and wait a few seconds to make sure the container isn’t going to leak.
6. Pour the wax into the container almost to the top. Reserve a little wax for topping up, as the wax shrinks into the center as it cools.
7. Wait several hours or overnight for the wax to cool and harden.
8. Let the candle cool. When the candle is cool, peel the container away.

Tips

• Bits of Crayola crayons can be added to the melting wax for color.
• You can also use a muffin tray for a mold. Once the wax has set and cooled, bang the tray upside-down on a counter to get the cute little candles out.
• You can also use frozen juice cans (the cardboard type) as a mold,as well as oatmeal boxes, card board egg containers-please do not use the styrafoam type. You can also use the larger tomato cans for a large pillar and you can use a spray type of oil i.e: Pam to use as a release for your molds if you don’t want to pay for ‘mold release’.

Warnings

• Place plenty of newspaper under your project in case of spilled wax. And be careful because melted wax can burn your skin.
• Using crayons to color your candle may cause your wick to plug and the result will be a candle that does not burn properly and could even cause a fire. There are many good Internet sites where you can buy candle wax, candle coloring and other additives to increase the chances of making an attractive and safe candle.
• Paraffin as well as soy and other waxes are very flammable. Never melt any wax directly over fire or heat. Always use a double boiler. A coffee can set in a pan water that is on the heat will work in a pinch but it is much safer to use one pan with a handle set in a pan of water.

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Shot Glass Candles
• How to Make Pumpkin Candles
• How to Make a Bees Wax Candle
• How to Make Glow in the Dark Candles
• How to Get Wax out of a Jar Candle
• How to Safely Burn Candles

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Now let’s put together a list of resources you will need to prepare Candles

• Candle Making Wax
• 100gm Coconut Oil (For Greasing)
• Candle Making Mold(it is better to have steel/glass container or pot as a mold to shape the candle as desired)
• Candle Making Jar (to melt wax)
• Wooden Spoon (to stir the wax)
• Gloves (optional)

That list should be all of the basic tool needed to make some Candles at home–even less if you really don’t want to pick up all of it.

Let’s get started; here are the basic instructions for making a candle.

Basic Candle Making:

Cut a piece of wick about the same length as your candle making mold–or if you’re going to do a dip candle then make it a little longer then the desired candle.

Place you candle making wax in the candle making jar. Heat the wax on low–or place jar in a pot full of water and heat to prevent wax from burning.

Once the wax is melted stir it a little with the wooden spoon. Once it’s fully melted turn the heat off.

Dip the wicks into the wax a few times–two or three will do nicely, and lay them on a plate to cool. Apply the coconut oil on the inside of the candle making molds. After the mold has been oiled, pour the hot candle making wax into the candle making mold until it reaches the brim. Leave it to cool for a little while.

After around 20 minutes take one of the now hardened wicks and place it in the center of the candle–while it is in the mold, hold it still for a moment so it sticks then leave it to fully cool. (Sometimes up to two hours)

When the candle making wax has finally cooled, turn the mold upside down and try to release the candle. If all went well you candle should come out easily due to the oil, you may now carve or decorate your Candle as desired.

There are limitless options when it comes to molds for candle making, you can use any mold from a very large selection to make something truly your own. Molds are available in many different sizes, shapes and made with a large array of different materials of your choice.

It’s always a good idea to have a clear picture of what you are planning to make before you get too far into the process. When choosing the candle making molds for your project, try and imagine how the candle will look, and what type of stand of holder it will be used in.

Even if you are looking for a certain shape of candle, there are likely many molds available for that specific shape as long as you know where to look for them. One type of candle that can be used in almost any candle holder is the pillar style–and may be a good first choice if you are just starting out.

Another option would be a votive candle mold–they will allow you to make quite a few small candles for use in votive holders. You can even find candle making molds in the shape of animals, or other objects from certain manufacturers–amazon.com is a great place to look for this sort of thing.

Some molds can be purchased that will make candles that look like plaques if so desired. These types of molds are so detailed that your candle will come out looking like a picture or a symbol in some cases. You can even find molds so detailed that they produce candles that appear to be hand carved straight out of the wax!

Look in your local crafts stores for interesting molds and sometimes wax and other supplies, or you might try searching online. Molds come in many different types of shapes and size, and also a wide variety of materials if you have a specific preference. Some options are cardboard, metal and of course plastic.

Plastic molds are easy to handle, and easy to clean, they are also usually so cheap you don’t have to worry about breaking them–and since they are also pliable, it probably won’t be much of a worry anyway.

Cardboard molds are great for kids–since you can just tear them up after the wax dries and get the candle out, but as this destroys the mold they are more of a onetime thing.

Milk containers make easy candle molds since they are free–hey they come with the milk after all, and provide a cube shape for the candle to boot. Some candle molds are available in aluminum as well. Pillar candles are often made professionally with metal molds since they are very reusable.

Metal molds are also known to provide a very smooth finish to the candles which is another reason they are the professional choice in use. There are a few things to consider when it comes to the type of mold you use.

• Plastic molds are easy to clear, but will break much easier than a metal mold.
• Cardboard molds are great for quick removal, but can fall apart if they get damp and are generally not good for too many uses.
• Metal candle molds are strong, but they are not pliable which limits the style and appearances they come in, sometimes you will have to choose a plastic mold just to get the right style.

Another important note is that candle wax sticks much more often to the metal molds, so you will have to oil them of you won’t be able to easily remove the finished candle–no fun, but spray oil easily fixes this problem.

The good news is whatever design you have in mind, there are MANY candle making molds available for you to choose from, take a look and find one that really makes your project come to life.

Unlike some other crafts though, the main ingredient in candle making–melted wax– is hot and flammable and thus dangerous if not used with care. Hot wax is surprisingly liquid and is easily spilled or leaked while making candles and will ruin furniture, clothes, carpet—and skin. Candle coloring will stain furniture and clothes. There is always the danger of burns from splashing or dripping the hot wax onto yourself. However, candle making is not dangerous as long as you take some precautions and plan ahead.

As when heating anything on a stove, turn all handles on pots away from the front of the stove so you don’t accidentally bump into them. Better yet, use a pot that does not have a long handle. A metal stock pot and lid with “ear” type handles works well.

Wax will ignite if melted at too high a temperature. Never heat wax over 300 degrees and never leave melting wax unattended. Use a thermometer so you know exactly what temperature your wax is while melting it.

Know before you start what to do if the wax does catch fire or you spill hot wax onto your skin:

If your wax gets too hot and ignites while melting, cover the pot with a lid and turn off the heat.

If your wax spills and is ignited by the burner, turn the burner off and sprinkle the wax fire with baking soda to extinguish. Do not try to put out a wax fire with water.

If you are burned by hot wax, immediately cover the burned area with cool water to stop further damage. If it is a bad burn, do not attempt to remove the wax. Place a cool cloth over the area and get to a doctor.

Make sure there is nothing on the floor or in your walkway that you could trip over while moving the pot of hot wax from the stove to your mold. Keep all pets and children out of the work area while you are dealing with the hot wax.

Always stir and pour hot wax slowly and gently to prevent spills. Never touch a filled mold with your bare hands—always use hot pads, preferably mitten style hot pads that will protect your hands from the hot wax.

If the hot wax spills at any time, do not attempt to soak it up with cloth or paper towels—it make soak through and burn you. Instead, let the wax cool and harden for easy removal.

Be careful when putting the filled mold into the water bath so that it does not tip over and spill the wax. If it seems prone to tipping, weight it down with a clean brick or other weighted item that will sit securely on top of the filled mold.

Candles are used for decorating our homes, for celebrations and to soothe our senses. It is used for spiritual and religious rituals and prayers. At times we give it as a good presentation to our loved ones with dignity. The lighting of candle heals the mental wounds and develops positive thinking in human beings. It is a spiritual companion. Candle making is gaining momentum as an industry and as a hobby.

One has to learn the basics of candle making. The medium of candle making which suit you best has to be understood along with other prevailing in the market. A visit to one candle making unit will give you on the process and can opt for a better training.

How to make Gel candles: Conventional candle consist of solid wax and a wick. Contemporary ones are made of paraffin, bee wax, gel etc. More popular among them are gel candles made of Gel. Gel is combination of polymer resin and mineral oil. This is transparent. Transparency of the gel makes it unique and the charm is mystique. Gel candles are made of gel, zinc wick and fragrant oils. Inflammable embeds are selected to suit the theme of craft. It can be a shell, false fish, glass etc. anything to suit the occasion or purpose.

Precautions: Gel is more combustible than wax hence fire safety precautions have to be taken in advance. Keep a chemical type fire extinguisher handy. Fire resistant aprons and gloves have to be worn along with safety glasses for fire safety.

Gel candles have to made with utmost care. The container is selected with a minimum diameter of 2 inches. The zinc wick is fixed at the bottom of the container with hot glue and set aside. The gels cut to small pieces are melted using a multi –cooker to liquid form. At 200 degree F it melts and makes it to syrup by stirring. A small amount of liquid dye added. To make fragrance essential oil added. The selection of essential oil again depends on choice of scent for the candle. Pour the gel into the container by placing the wick in the middle and place he embeds in position. Let the candle cool for about four hours. The candle is ready.

How to make paraffin candles: Paraffin wax is a by- product of crude oil refining. This is white and colorless odorless and waxy. The mold and wick are selected. Mold should have a mouth wider than the base and the wick is cut to equal length of mould plus 6 cm. Primed wick is used for the purpose, to ensure proper burning. The wick is inserted through the mould, where a groove is provided for the purpose. At the bottom side of the mold place the wick flat and cover it with enough mould sealer. Inside of the mold apply some vegetable oil for easy removal of candle. Heat wax indirectly with a double mold. Remove the wax from boiling water and allow to cool for a moment. Pour it inside the mold slowly and allow a little space at top without filling wax.

The creative imagination has no limit in candle making craft ideas. Never feel failure in the process and practice is the only way for mastering the ideas. Basic candle making requires some training and practice. Combination of wax and wick has to be carefully practiced. Candle making supplies like wax, tool kit, containers etc are now available in shops and on line. For beginners candle making kits are available with vendors and on line. Better start practicing with this and build up experience and confidence.

Prepare a steady work table by covering it with several layers of newspaper. If using your kitchen counter, protect the counter surface with heavy cardboard or even a piece of plywood under the newspaper to prevent heat from damaging the surface.

Always have hot pads available—the mitten type that covers your entire hand works best. Wear a heat and moisture resistant apron over your clothes if possible.

Use a plastic washbasin to stand or sit the mold in before filling with wax. That way, if it leaks the wax will be contained in the tub instead of running off the counter and onto the floor.

Have a table or counter space where everything you will be using is laid out and waiting. You don’t want to have to go hunting for a necessary tool while your wax is heating.

Choose a sturdy metal pot with small handles for melting the wax—a metal stock pot with “ear” type handles works well—and have a lid that fits the pot snugly. A metal coffee pot with pouring spout works great as long as the top opening is large enough.

Have a box of baking soda on hand in case of fire.

Use a wooden spoon that is long enough to reach to the bottom of your pot without getting your hand into the wax. A metal spoon will conduct the heat to your hand.

Use a thermometer—a glass clip on type works well—when melting the wax.

A long metal knitting needle works well for making a hole in the depression created in the bottom of the candle as the wax cools. After making a hole with the needle, fill the depression with hot wax.

A cheese slicer or a knife will work for trimming the mold seam from the candle once it is cooled, and keep an assortment of soft cloths and paper towel for polishing the finished candle.

You will probably want to keep your candle making tools separate from your regular kitchen items because once coated with wax, they will not be useful for cooking unless you spend a lot of time removing the wax.

Here are the steps you will be taking to create a candle:

First you need to decide what kind of candle you want to make—size, shape, color. This determines what kind of mold and wick you will use, as well as the steps you will take to create the candle. Print out the steps involved and keep it handy to refer to while making your first candle.

Order all the materials you will need and look them over.  If you are using a mold with multiple pieces, take the mold apart and put it together again so you know exactly how it works. Make sure you know how to securely attach the connectors that keep the pieces of the mold together so your wax will stay in the mold.

Decide on the type of wax you want to use and how much of it you need. Sometimes the instructions that come with the mold will tell you how much wax is needed. Otherwise, make a guesstimate and melt more than you think you will need—you can always re-use the wax for another candle.

Decide what additives you will use: stearic acid, colors, and scents.

Carefully melt your wax and any additives and stay with it while you prepare your mold.

Prepare the mold and select and prepare the proper wick and install it in the mold.

Fill the water bath if needed.

When the wax is fully melted, pour it into the mold, reserving enough to fill the depression created as the wax cools.

Using hot pads, carefully place the filled mold into water bath if using. Place a weight on top of the mold if necessary to keep it stable.

Fill depression as the candle cools. If the candle has formed a hollow spot while cooling, a metal knitting needle comes in handy for poking a hole so you can fill the hollow area with hot wax.

Once the candle is set up and cool enough to handle, remove it from the mold, being careful not to mar the candle surface or dent the candle mold.

Let cool completely before handling further, then remove any mold seam line and polish or decorate the candle.

Candle making is a lot of fun and very satisfying, but it also requires some safety precautions. With some pre-planning you will avoid most serious problems. Remember that candle making is like any other craft—you are bound to make some mistakes when you first get started. The good thing about wax candles, though, is that you can always re-melt and re-use a candle that you really don’t like.

As far as crafts go, candle making is easy and inexpensive—especially since all of the needed supplies, tools and materials can be ordered on the Internet. Candles can be customized to fit the style and color of any room—or person. Special and personalized touches like scents and oils can be added, and candles are often used for calming and other restorative effects known as aroma therapy.

Candles are great for home decoration even if you choose not to burn them. They go well with floral arrangements and artwork. Tall white tapers look very elegant and rich and candles are often used during the holidays to create warmth, coziness and a sense of something special. Candles make wonderful custom crafted gifts for friends and family, who are always flattered that you went to the trouble to make something especially for them.

Candles can often be created right in your kitchen with tools you already have available. Besides wax and wick, almost anything can be used to mold the candle. A large sturdy pot and long wooden spoon will suffice for melting the wax, while old newspapers will cover the workspace. While there are many professional metal and plastic molds available, you can also use cups, bowls or pitchers to mold and hold the candle for burning. You can even make a mold of plaster, aluminum foil or sand to create your candle. Colors, scents, and other additives—while very nice—are not really necessary to make a candle.

At the top of the reasons for making candles is crafting satisfaction. Though candles are easy to make, people are always amazed to find that you made the candle yourself—as if candles can only be made in a factory by professional candle makers. After you gain some experience in making basic molded candles, you can try your hand at some of the fancier and more difficult kinds and perhaps even start up a small business of custom crafted candles.

Sometime during the Colonial period it was discovered that boiling berries from bayberry bushes created a wax that also burned clean—but it took a lot of berries and much labor to produce enough wax for candle making.  So once again these candles were mostly used by the wealthy who could afford the high price.

Candle makers–called chandlers—were licensed to produce all the candles made in England in the early part of the18th century and, and since they were taxed and used to generate income for the kingdom,  people couldn’t make them for themselves at home until the law was changed in 1831.

After the rise of the whaling industry in the 18^th century, candles were made from spermaceti—wax made from sperm whale oil—which became both abundant and affordable.  Spermaceti, like beeswax, burned clean and relatively odor free and as a bonus, held up better to the heat of summer than the other waxes used at the time.

The first paraffin wax was made in 1850 from residues left after refining crude petroleum. Paraffin burned clean and odor free while casting a strong and bright white light.  More importantly, paraffin was cheaper than waxes used until that time, which meant it was more available to the general populace. The main problem with using paraffin as candle wax, though, was that paraffin has a low melting temperature. This problem was solved with the invention of Stearic acid, an extract made from animal fatty acids, which was added to paraffin to raise its melting point.

Candles became even cheaper in 1834 when Joseph Morgan invented a candle making machine. Before this, most candles were made by dipping the wick over and over into hot wax until the desired thickness was achieved. The new machine molded candles using cylinders and a piston that pushed the candles out as they hardened, allowing an almost continuous production of candles. And of course, a large supply of candles meant lower prices for those buying them.

Candle use and candle making began to decline when the light bulb was invented in 1879, though it took a few years for the electricity required to light the bulbs spread enough to cause a serious decline in candle use.

While candles are not necessary in most countries today to produce light, they are still sold and used during special celebrations, religious services and as home decoration.  New waxes such as soybean wax and palm wax have been developed and the recent resurgence of “doing-it-yourself”   has guaranteed plentiful supplies via the Internet. This new found interest in crafting has brought candle making to “light” once again.

Yes you heard me right you can actually make some money from those candles your making for fun! The secret is to make sure you keep you costs low and only sell what you have on hand—don’t want this to become a stressful chore, but instead a fun way to make money at home, that even you teenage children can do and have a good time.

What you will need to pull this off is a few design ideas. Some people like to make candles in old jars—like from the pasta sauce you got at the store. Of course others take it much further and make molds for their unique candle designs which could be a lot of fun if you are artistic—which since you enjoy this type craft you probably are in one way or another.

So let’s get started, first off you are going to need a marketplace. I suggest eBay as the solution for this, and one search on their site will reveal I’m not the only one with that idea. Candles range in price based on the design or the size—and thus the wax needed to make them—from anywhere to $0.50 to almost $40.00—large and unique candles mostly though.

You need to find candle making supplies that can be bought in bulk such as the ones listed below from Amazon.com:

Once you have the supplies, choose one or two designs and make around 5 candles for it to test the waters so to speak. You will then take some pictures—try and lay them out on a beautiful cloth or table set, make the scene magical for the buyer of your wonderful art work.

Take the photos and a quick description of your candles and make an auction on ebay, try selling the candles one at a time, or in batches of 3 and see what works best for you. Since eBay doesn’t cost much to list you candles if won’t matter if you play around a bit to get a feel for the market.

That’s it, the basis for your own online business from home. If you are truly interested if making a full-blown business out of your candle making art, then please by all means try our mini-course, and grab a copy of our great book for all you could ever want to know about candle making.

ATTENTION

We will soon be releasing a BONUS book about starting your OWN candle making business from home, and I’m not going to make a big deal of it anywhere on the site, but mini-course members can pick it up at a discount and here is the big one. For my loyal customers whom have already tried out the wonderful book we offer here on the site I’ll send them a FREE copy of this new bonus booklet.