Free Chunk Hurricane Shell
Candle Project
By Bob Sherman
This
fun project illustrates the steps for making hurricane shell candles.
They make great gifts, and any type of embedded object may be used. For
this project, chunks of colored wax were used to obtain a stained glass
look. Any of the items you may need can be ordered directly from this
page for your convenience.
PLEASE NOTE!!! - Candle making can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. Please read these Safety Rules before attempting any candle making projects. A double boiler set up must be used for all wax melting.
IMPORTANT: This article assumes some basic knowledge of candle making techniques. If you are not an experienced candle maker, I highly suggest taking a few moments to learn the basics with my Introduction To Candle Making Online Course. The course is free, however it does require you to register.
WAX FORMULAS
Fill wax - For best results we need a hard, translucent wax. Mix enough of this formula to fill the mold.
- 1 pound of 140 MP wax
- 5% Micro 180 (8/10 of an ounce per pound of wax)
Chunk Wax - The chunk wax is basically the same formula with a color added.
- 1 pound of 140 MP wax
- 5% Micro 180 (8/10 of an ounce per pound of wax)
- Dye to suit
Candle Making Supplies And Materials
The following candle making supplies and materials were used to make this candle. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description and ordering information.
| Item | Amount Used |
| As many colors as desired. | |
| 140 Melt Point Wax | Enough to fill the mold plus several pounds for making chunks. |
| Micro 180 | 8/10 of an ounce per pound of wax. |
| Hurricane Candle Mold | Molds larger than 4 inches in diameter are needed and the larger they are, the better they work. |
| Hurricane Mold Insert | To calculate the size needed, subtract the base measurement from the mold base measurement and divide by 2. This will give you the distance from the insert to the mold and an insert that will accommodate the thickness of your chunks or other embeds will be needed. |
| Melting / Pouring Pot | Note that hurricane molds may hold as much as 8 pounds of wax. so several melting pots may need to be used. |
| Thermometer | 1 |
| Mold Release | To prevent the wax from sticking in the mold. |
| Mold Weights | To prevent mold from floating in the water bath. Due to the size of the molds, several weights may be needed. |
| Water Bath Container | A bucket filled with water. |
| Hobby Knife | A sharp, pointy blade is needed. From a hobby or craft store. |
| Insulated Work Gloves | For handling the hot mold. |
| Baking Pan, Wooden Spoon, Measuring Spoons | Purchase at a house wares store or a dollar store. |
Step By Step Instructions
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| 1. Prepare chunks first by pouring colored wax into baking pans to 1/4 inch thickness. Slice into chunks as soon as it starts to solidify, then allow to cool before removing them from the pan. See steps 5 and 6 here for illustrations of this if needed. | 2. Prepare the water bath by placing the mold in a bucket and filling with water to within 1/2 inch of mold top. Avoid getting any water in the mold. |
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| 3. Place the insert into the mold. | 4. Position the chunks prepared in step one around the insert as shown. Fill to within 1/2 inch of the mold top. |
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| 5. The fill wax should now be heated to 190 degrees F. and poured into the center of the insert. The wax will flow under the insert and up the mold sides. | 6. Use a wooden spoon to tap the mold sides. This will help dislodge any trapped air bubbles. |
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| 7. Put on work gloves and carefully move the mold into the water bath prepared in step 2. | 8. Immediately grasp the insert and lift it 1/2 inch. |
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Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common candle making practices as of the time of this writing - January 2006. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This article is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.
Author: Bob Sherman
Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.
This article is provided free of charge for use. Candles may be made and sold using this design royalty free, however no portion of this article may be reproduced for publication elsewhere without express permission from Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc. with the following exceptions:
- Non profit organizations such as religious groups, scouts, 4h, etc... may use this information without permission for printed materials provided it is used without modification and credit is given to both the author and onestopcandle.com
- Reprinting to the web is prohibited without permission, however web sites wishing to link to this article may do so without permission.
All other requests need to be submitted via our reprint request form.
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