Flame
Candle Making Project
By Bob Sherman
I
originally published this project in 1998 and have rewritten and modernized
it to fit this site. This technique uses a combination of molding, cutting,
and and layered pouring to make a unique candle. Since I cut these to
resemble flames, reds , oranges, and yellows were used but they could
be made in any color.
Most of the candle making supplies needed 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.
This article assumes basic candle making skills. If you are new to candle making, my Introduction To Candle Making Course is free and will show you all the basics for working with wax safely.WAX FORMULAS
The same wax formula was used throughout. The following formula
works well for this.
- 1 pound of 140 MP wax
- 1 level teaspoon of Vybar 103 per pound of wax)
- 1 ounce scent oil (optional)
- Dye as needed
Candle Making Supplies
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 and ordering information.
| Item | Amount Used |
| 140 Melt Point Paraffin Wax | Enough to fill your mold and dipping vat. |
| Vybar 103 | 1 level teaspoon per pound of wax. |
| Optional. 1 ounce per pound of wax. | |
| Mold | One. A 3 x 6 1/2 inch round metal mold works well for this. |
| Melting / Pouring Pot | Minimum one. One for each color is more convenient. |
| Thermometer | One |
| Dye | I used black (note most black dye has a purplish tinge to it), orange, and yellow dye. |
| Wick | Sized to fit your candle diameter and wax formula. |
| Mold Release | One. Silicone spray or release agent of your preference. |
| Hot Knife | One. These look like a soldering iron with a hobby knife blade at the end - available at most hobby stores. Alternate: A sharp knife with an insulated handle may also be heated and used, but is more difficult. |
| Water Bucket | One, optional. |
| Spring Clothes Pins | Several are needed. |
Step By Step Instructions
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| 1. Prepare the mold by coating with mold release and plugging the wick hole with putty or a rubber mold plug. If you are not an experienced candle maker, do not proceed beyond this point if you are not familiar with the safety rules for candle making. | 2. Melt enough wax to fill the mold. Pour at 185 degrees F. Stop the pour 1/4 inch from the top of the mold. |
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| 3. Allow the mold to cool. Periodically cut through the surface film to check the wall thickness. This process may be sped up using a water bath if desired. More information on using a water bath may be found here. | 4. Once the wall thickness reaches 1/4 inch immediately use a sharp knife to cut and remove most of the surface film. |
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| 5. Wearing heavy gloves, pour the wax out of the center of the mold. | 6. This gives us a hollow wax shell. Allow it to cool fully. |
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| 7. Remove the wax from the mold. Use a small drill bit to drill the wick hole out. Do not trim the seam - it will be used to reposition the wax in the mold on a later step. | 8. From this point the wax must be handled carefully to avoid breakage. Use the hot knife to cut the desired pattern out of the wax shell. Allow the heat of the knife to cut the wax - excess pressure will cause the wax to crack. |
Continued On Page 2
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 - August 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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