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Candle Making List of Categories

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Why use a water bath?
Why does my mold tip over in the water bath?
What is meant by "prepare water bath"?
Why do my candles come out of the water bath with a line around them?
Can I use Stearic and Vybar?
Can I use Vybar, stearic, or luster crystals in Hurricane candles?
Do I have to use measuring spoons?
Do I have to weigh scent oil?
How can I measure slab wax without a scale?
How can I measure granulated wax without a scale?

Why use a water bath?

With some molds a water bath provides a slightly better finish on the candle and some techniques such as hurricane candles require the use of a water bath. A water bath also speeds cooling time.

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Why does my mold tip over in the water bath?

The mold is very light, and wax is lighter than water as well. Because of this it displaces more weight in water than it weighs itself and therefore floats. To counter this, wrap a mold weight around the mold. Larger molds may require more than one mold weight.

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What is meant by "prepare water bath"?

A water bath must be prepared before needed to prevent lines on the finished candle. The procedure is:
1. Seal wick hole of mold.
2. Put mold weight on mold.
3. Hold empty mold on bottom of water bath container (bucket, dipping vat, etc...). You must hold it down or it will float since there is no wax in it.
4. Pour water into container until 1/2 inch from top of mold.
5. Remove the mold and dry it.
6. Pour the candle normally.
7. Allow to sit for a minute or so.
8. Place the mold in the water bath.
9. From here use the same procedure you would use for that candle type without a water bath.
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Why do my candles come out of the water bath with a line around them?

This is caused by not preparing the water level beforehand, adding water once the mold is in the water bath, or not having enough water in the container. The line occurs at the point where the original water level was.

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Can I use Stearic and Vybar?

We don't recommend it. There are no horrible chemical reactions associated with combining them, but use of both will often make the wax too hard to burn well. We recommend using only Vybar, and at the rate of 1 level teaspoon per pound.

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Can I use Vybar, stearic, or luster crystals in Hurricane candles?

No. All three of those make the wax opaque, and in a hurricane candle the idea is to keep it translucent. We recommend using Micro 180 as it hardens the wax without reducing translucency.

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Do I have to use measuring spoons?

We highly recommend it. Use of tableware teaspoons and tablespoons is not a good idea. A teaspoon (or tablespoon) is a precise amount - yet tableware can vary a lot in actual volume. An inexpensive set of metal measuring spoons will last for many years.

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Do I have to weigh scent oil?

No. The average scent oil has a volume just under 2 tablespoons per ounce, so just use a measuring spoon. Weighing scent oil is more convenient if you are mixing large batches of wax, but for small quantities it adds unnecessary extra clean up.

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How can I measure slab wax without a scale?

Use a yardstick to mark a line down the center lengthwise. Next, divide that line into 5 equal sections and mark them across the width. Your slab should now be marked into 10 equal pieces each of which is slightly over 1 pound. Break the wax as close to the lines as possible.

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How can I measure granulated wax without a scale?

Use a 1 cup measuring cup. 1 level cup will equal almost exactly 4 ounces of wax in its granulated state. Note that although the cup may be marked 8 ounces, that is fluid ounces - since we are weighing granulated wax it will only weigh 4 ounces.

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