Cut 'n Curl Candle Project III

By Bob Sherman

In part 3 of this series we will cover a technique I call the cut and flex. This is a basic cut using only a straight knife so it is only used on outside corners normally. This cut is the basis for spiraling and basketweave styles.

Be sure to read through Cut 'n Curl Candle Project I and Project II first as this article builds on techniques discussed in those articles.

Note that it takes a lot of practice to get decent results so don't be discouraged at first. It will take many attempts to get a good candle so resign yourself to it and jump in. These are just candles and you will have many ugly ones to burn before you get proficient at this technique if you are like most people.

Most of the items you may need can be ordered directly from this page for your convenience. The Materials list is at the bottom of the page.

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.

You will also need to know basic candle making skills before beginning as this article will not be covering them. Basic pillar candle making can be learned in our free Introduction To Candle Making Course

Wax Formulas

Core Candles:
140 MP paraffin wax, no additives

Dipping Wax:
140 MP paraffin wax, no additives
Pigment Dye - I use approximately 1 ounce per pound of wax

White Dipping Wax
140 MP paraffin wax
3 Tablespoons of Stearic Acid per pound of wax
Titanium Dioxide - I use approximately 1/5 ounce per pound of wax

Please be patient, the images may take a moment to load.

1. Prepare some core candles in the shape of your choice. A 5 point star was used here.	2. Reminder - Never place dipping vats on direct heat - always form a double boiler with an old pot for each. You will need one vat for each color and an extra (or a tall bucket) to use for the water dip. NOTE: Placing vats on direct heat is a fire hazard and Will Destroy the vat.
	* I call this cut the Corner Twist because it is made on outside corners only.
3. This cut requires a sharp flat blade, approximately 2 inches long. Note: The cuts used here were made slightly oversized to make illustrating the process easier. Slightly smaller cuts will look better when you make these.	4. Follow the directions from Project I to dip the desired layers of color on the candle. Add a single dip in your Titanium Dioxide vat before changing the dip colors.
5. Before starting to cut, it is always a good idea to trim the drippings from the bottom with a large straight knife.	6. For added embellishment, I have added a spiral cut in each valley (demonstrated in Part I of this series). Note: Using several different cuts adds visual interest to your candles.
7. The first cut is started several inches up from the bottom. Try for a cut depth of approximately 1/8 inch. After cutting, lift the knife out of the cut and towards you slightly, making it easier to grasp the wax.	8. Flex the wax to one side and press in place gently. Continue this row flexing all cuts in the same direction.
9. The next row should be started 1/2 to 1 inch above the previous cut. Flex this row to the right.	10. Cutting the third row. Note that the pattern of this candle is starting to develop.
11. The third row is flexed to the left. Reverse the direction of each row as you add more rows.	12. A variant of this cut was used near the top. The wax was rolled instead of flexing it to create small scroll like designs. These scroll cuts were made in opposite directions with the lower cut being downward and the upper one being upward. Note the flex cut facing us was not cut to a uniform depth causing a ripple in the color pattern.
11. Close up detail.	12. Make the top cut.
11. Trim the wick.	12. The finished candle.

Common Variations

Once the basic cut has been mastered, try these variations:

• Make cuts in facing pairs (requires an even number of peaks such as 6 or 8 point stars).
• Vary the flex angle.
• Make cuts upward.
• Alternate rows of top down cuts with rows of bottom up cuts.

Candle Making Supplies And Materials

The following candle making supplies and other materials were used to make this candle. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description.

Project Articles in this series:

Cut 'n Curl Project I
Cut 'n Curl Project II
Cut 'n Curl Project III
Cut 'n Curl Candle Project IV

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.

Click here for current shipout time on orders