Cut 'n Curl Candle Project IV

By Bob Sherman

In part 4 of this series we will cover a technique I call the cut and roll. This is a basic cut using only a straight knife so it is only used on outside corners normally. The demonstration candle shown was done with large cuts on a 4 sided candle for illustration purposes, however it does look better when made with smaller cuts.

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 slightly tapered square (obelisk) 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. 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.
7. Grasp the wax and roll it. For stacking rolls like those at the bottom of this candle we need to start the next cut 1/2 to 1 inch above the previous cut.	8. Moving to the upper section.
9. This set of cuts was not rolled as tight to provide some variation which adds visual interest.	10. For further decoration a variant use of the router (shown in project I) is used here. Similar to the spiral cut but only cut approximately 1 inch.
11. Remove the cutting tool, then bend the cut piece straight down to create a small decorative element. This cut is very useful for filling small areas.	12. Make a top cut.
11. Close up detail.	12. Detail of the lower rolled area.
11. The finished candle.

Common Variations

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

• Alternate the direction of rolling. Although not shown here, the cuts can be rolled towards the candle instead of outwards as shown.
• Alternate rolls with other cuts.
• Make cuts from the bottom 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.

Summary
Well that pretty much depletes my knowledge of this technique. As mentioned in Part I , this is one of the few candle making techniques that I have not mastered. I did them as a hobby for a few years, and really didn't progress much past the basics. Hopefully this explanation of the basics will provide a solid foundation for you.

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.

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