How to melt wax candles at home. How to make DIY wax candles

People began to use candles for a long time.

Previously, they served to illuminate rooms, but now they are an element of decor and a way to create a romantic, festive or cozy atmosphere.

You can find many in stores different types candles ranging from simple to fancy. Such decorations can be made independently from simple materials... Manufacturing decorative candles does not require financial costs and does not take much time, but by showing imagination and investing a piece of your soul in your product, you can create a unique thing that will bring joy to you and your family.

How to make decorative candles with your own hands

What is required

Candle material. Wax, paraffin or stearin. For people new to candle making, it is best to start with paraffin as it is easier to work with. Paraffin wax can be purchased or obtained from white household candles or their leftovers.

Stearin is easy to obtain from laundry soap... Rub the soap on a coarse grater or cut it with a knife. Place the shavings in a metal container, fill it with water so that the liquid covers it and send it to melt for water bath... When the soap has dissolved, remove from heat and add vinegar. A thick mass will float to the surface, which must be collected with a spoon after cooling. This mass is stearin, it must be washed several times under water and wrapped in a clean cloth to remove excess moisture.

Wick... For a wick, you need a thick cotton thread, for example, braided with a pigtail or twisted into a string of floss. Synthetic materials for candles are unsuitable because they burn quickly and smell unpleasant. It's easier to get a wick from regular candles.

The form... As a mold for making candles, you can use different containers: coffee jars, strong packaging, sand molds and plastic balls... If you decide to make a narrower or round candle, the container that you will use for this, for example, a plastic ball, should be cut lengthwise and a hole at least 1 cm in diameter made at the top so that the composition can be freely poured into it.

Dyes... You can use dry food colors, wax crayons, or natural ingredients such as cocoa. But paints on alcohol or water based unsuitable for making candles.

Melting pot... A small saucepan or bowl will work and can be conveniently placed over the steam room.

Additional materials... You will need them to decorate and add aromas to the product. Since DIY candles are a lot of room for imagination, you can use whatever you like, such as coffee, dried flowers, shells, beads and sparkles. You can scent candles with your favorite essential oils, vanilla or cinnamon.

Progress

Grind the selected raw material and place it in a water bath. If you are using household candles, be sure to remove the wick. The remains of the candles must be cleaned of black soot. While stirring, wait for the mixture to melt. Dip the wick into it several times so that it is soaked and set it aside.
Add flavor and color to the mass. If you are using wax crayons, grind them with a fine grater. By using two or more colors, you can achieve a marbled color. And dividing the mass into several parts and coloring them in different colors, you can make a multi-colored candle.
Lubricate the mold chosen for the candle with vegetable oil or dishwashing detergent. Fix the tip of the wick on a stick, toothpick or pencil and place it on the mold so that the free end of the wick passes through its middle and reaches the bottom. For reliability, a weight, such as a nut, can be attached to the free part of the wick.
Fill the mold with the melted mass, wait until it solidifies completely, then remove the candle by pulling the wick. If the candle is difficult to remove, immerse the mold in hot water.
You can decorate candles in different ways, for example, spread dried flowers, grass and seeds along the edges of the mold, and then pour the melted mass. For the manufacture of coffee candle you need to pour a layer of coffee beans on the bottom of the mold, pour them with liquid candle material and put the beans on top again. Decorating a product with beads, rhinestones and shells is best done after it has solidified and removed from the mold. Decorative elements are inserted into the melted surface of the candle or attached with glue.

The first time, you might get in trouble, but after a little practice, making candles at home shouldn't be difficult.

Save so as not to lose!

Handmade is gaining more and more popularity. Extravagant jewelry, paintings, toys, decorative elements, gifts - this is just a small part of what passionate craftsmen and amateurs create with their own hands. Today we'll talk about how to make a candle at home.

This process does not require special skills and devices. After reading our recommendations and detailed master classes, start this fascinating process maybe even beginners.

CREATING A CANDLE: GETTING STARTED

Making candles with your own hands is much easier than you might think. And the main advantage of such an occupation is necessary materials easy to get. If you look well, you will even find them in your home.

MATERIALS FOR A DIY CANDLE

Wax, stearin, or paraffin wax are best for the job. Moreover, for beginners it is better to start acquaintance with the latter, it is the least whimsical to use. You can purchase paraffin wax from the store or use leftover white candles.

WICK

It is best to use natural threads as a wick, ideally thick cotton threads. Do not try to use synthetics: such a wick will quickly burn out and leave behind bad smell... To test the thread for naturalness, simply light the tip of it. If it melts, forming a hard ball at the end, then you have synthetics.

If you have conceived an unusual candle and are thinking how to make an original wick for it, then use colored floss threads. It is a great and natural material.

Remember important rule: The thicker the candle, the thicker the wick should be.

It is easy to do it yourself. To do this, prepare a solution: dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons in a glass of water boric acid... Soak a cotton thread or floss in it for 12 hours. Then dry them and twist them into a tourniquet or braid.

If this process seems tedious to you, carefully remove the wick from the finished household candle and use it.

CANDLE SHAPE

First of all, decide on the configuration of the desired candle, and then try to find a hollow object of the same shape. You may find it useful:

Milk and juice cartons;
... plastic cups for yoghurts and desserts;
... shells from eggs;
... silicone molds for baking;
... glass goblets, wine glasses, wine glasses and glasses;
... children's pies;
... curly forms for ice cream;
... tin and glass coffee jars;
... empty cans.

The only requirement is that the mold material must withstand heating up to 100 ° C.

One more interesting option- pour candles into beautiful transparent glasses. They will not be available, but they will look very stylish and unusual.

Sometimes scented candles are made in tangerine or orange peel. The fruit is pre-cut in half and the pulp is carefully removed. You can also use large shells or coconut shells.

DYES

A white candle is elegant but boring. Naturally, the question arises of how to color the paraffin in order to obtain bright decorations interior.

For lovers of candle-making, it is best and cheapest to take wax crayons for children's creativity... Looking for a special candle? Look for pearlescent crayons - your creation will be unique.

Do not try to use water-soluble gouache or watercolors - you will be in for a fiasco. The dye will inevitably settle to the bottom or flocculate. Ready product will look very unpresentable.

WARE FOR MELTING PARAFFIN

In order to melt the paraffin wax, you will need a small saucepan for the steam bath and an iron bowl. Experienced craftsmen it is recommended to heat paraffin on a steam bath, considering other methods, including a microwave oven, to be fire hazardous.

We recommend that you also use this method, proven over the years, for a start: place a bowl of paraffin in a container with boiling water. If the candle is planned to be colored, add the crayon immediately and stir the melted mass several times to obtain a uniform color.

FRAGRANCES AND DECOR

Any materials at hand are suitable for decorating candles. First, decide on the topic of your work. Pebbles and shells will effectively complement the candles in nautical style... For the New Year theme, use beads, small cones, small decorative balls, ribbons and bows. Decorate Valentine's Day candles with hearts, glitter bows, dried flowers, coffee beans, etc.

Homemade candles are best scented with essential oils, which can be purchased at your nearest pharmacy. Another option is to find vanilla cinnamon in your kitchen. It is worth adding flavors to the melted paraffin at the very end, after dyeing.

STEP-BY-STEP MASTER CLASSES

We bring to your attention a selection of available master classes that will help beginners learn basic techniques and techniques. If you already know how to create candles with your own hands, you can draw interesting ideas from them to translate into your creativity.

COFFEE CANDLE

Want to create a romantic mood? Light a coffee candle - its divine aroma will take away all worries, leaving only a good mood and serenity. It is especially pleasant in a rainy autumn or cold winter... And also this great gift for any reason and even without.

* Valentine's photo

For work you will need:
... paraffin;
... whole coffee beans;
... wick;
... two plastic cups different sizes;
... wick holder - teaspoon, wooden stick, or plastic coffee stirrer.

If you have not found paraffin wax, take household candles, you can also get a wick from them.

Use a knife to crush the paraffin into small pieces to speed up the melting process. If you used store candles, gently crush them with the blunt side of your knife to avoid damaging the wick.

Place the paraffin wax in a glass jar and dip it in a pot of warm water. Heat the water over low heat until the paraffin is completely melted in the jar - it should become transparent.

At this time, prepare the pouring mold. Into a larger plastic cup, place the smaller one after filling it with water. There should be a fairly wide space between the sides of the cups. Add coffee beans halfway between the sides.

Pour the melted paraffin into the mold to the level of the grains, wait 10 minutes. Then pour the paraffin up to the edge of the mold and let it completely harden. This will take about an hour.

Gently pour the water out of the inner glass and remove it from the paraffin ring. Lower the wick into the workpiece so that it reaches the bottom of the glass. Tie its upper end to the holder and place it on top of the glass, centering the wick.

Pour melted paraffin in the middle of the candle. Place a few beans on top for decoration. Now, until the candle is completely solidified, you will have to wait 4-6 hours.

Carefully remove the frozen candle from the glass. Moreover, it can be cut with scissors to facilitate manipulation.

If you want the grain to be seen better, blow hot air from a hair dryer on the sides of the product. The paraffin will melt and the surface will become embossed.

An excellent aroma candle turned out, isn't it? Do you want to make her even more romantic? We invite you to create heart-shaped candles using the same technology, which will become an unforgettable gift for your significant other for Valentine's Day or for a birthday.

Watch a detailed video of creating a fragrant coffee candle and you will see that everything is even simpler than it seems at first glance.

RAINBOW CANDLES

Do you want to add bright colors to your home? Interior rainbow candles will help you with this. self made.

To make them you will need the following ingredients:
... paraffin;
... stearin;
... wick;
... cylindrical shape;
... dyes that match the colors of the rainbow.

More detailed information you will get from the detailed video tutorial. For novice craftsmen, it shows all the stages of preparing a candle mass and creating a gradient color transition.

COLORED CANDLES IN LAYERS

Spectacular multi-colored candles in a transparent glass will become the highlight of your interior. How to make them, see our master class illustrated with step-by-step photos.

Materials (edit)

Before making colored candles with your own hands, prepare:

Transparent wax;
wax pencils;
disposable paper cups;
glass cups;
wicks;
ice cream sticks;
aroma oils;
microwave oven;
grater.

Step 1. Grate regular transparent wax and fill paper cups with the resulting material. It is only necessary to fill them with this material by a quarter.

Step 2. Send the glass to the microwave for 45 seconds. Get it out. Stir the wax with a wooden stick. It should melt completely, if this has not happened, send the glass to the oven for another 30 seconds.

Step 3. Dip the wick into an empty glass cup. You can attach the other end to an ice cream stick and place it on top of the cup. This will make it easier for you to continue working. Pour some wax into a glass and wait for it to set. Thus, the wick must be fixed in the center of the cup.

Step 4. Remove the paper wrapper from the wax crayons. Grate them and add the desired color crayons in separate cups with wax. For a third of the wax glass, add shavings of one pencil to get a fairly saturated color.

Step 5. Send a glass of colored wax to the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Take it out and, while stirring, add a few drops of the chosen aromatic oil... You don't have to, but with oil your candles will exude a pleasant scent.

Step 6. While holding the wick, pour the first layer of colored wax into the glass. For an interesting pattern, tilt the cup at an angle and hold it there until the wax grabs.

Step 7. In the same way, melt the cups with wax of a different color and also, but at the opposite angle, pour them one by one into a glass cup. Fix the container in a different position each time until the wax sets.

Step 8. Having formed a multi-colored candle, let the wax cool completely.

Bright and unusual candles are ready. You can use them by direct appointment or give it to friends as souvenirs.

SOURCE: http://www.rukikryki.ru/

Another one interesting idea- square multicolor candle. Wax crayons are also used to color it. If you are a beginner, be sure to check out the clear video tutorial, with its help you can easily make such a cool craft for a gift to friends and family.

OPEN CANDLES

Decorative candles can be varied design, because talented masters do not get tired to amaze with their imagination and creative experiments. In support of these words, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the method of making an unusual openwork candle.

For work you will need:
... paraffin;
... optional dye and flavor;
... wick and holder for it;
... cylindrical shape;
... small ice cubes.

Melt the paraffin wax in a water bath. If the candle is supposed to be colored, color the candle mass, if you wish, you can also aromatize it.

Place the wick in the mold so that it reaches the bottom. Do not forget to attach it to the top of the makeshift holder. Fill in crushed ice, not reaching a couple of centimeters to the brim.

Pour melted candle mass into the mold. Leave the workpiece until the paraffin has cooled completely. In this case, naturally, the ice will melt, and cavities will form inside the candle.

Drain the water carefully and remove the product by pulling on the wick.

Be careful, this beauty is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Such an unusual openwork candle will be a wonderful present for your family and friends. If you use paraffin wax from old candles for work, get this beauty completely free.

You will receive visual instructions for action from detailed videos creating openwork candles. After viewing them, you can independently make such beauty at home.

Video # 1:

Video number 2:

Option number 3: And if you are wondering what to give your friends for New Year then surprise them with a handmade red openwork candle. It will be an unforgettable gift and will bring a holiday feeling to your home along with a Christmas mood. Watch the work of the master and be inspired by your own masterpieces.

MASSAGE CANDLES

The main ingredient for making a massage candle is soy wax. By adding useful components to it, you can get a product that has healing properties... It no longer acts as a decor, but as a home cosmetic product which makes the skin soft and well-groomed.

The healing properties of essential oils:

Lemon essential oil will help rejuvenate the skin and unclog pores.
... Orange oil has an anti-cellulite effect.
... Rose oil stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and contributes to the elasticity of the skin.
... Rosemary oil can cleanse the skin of age spots and make it smooth.
... Patchouli oil does a great job of moisturizing.
... Lavender oil will delight you with its healing effect.

They also add solid vegetable oils... For example, cocoa butter is used to moisturize and tone the skin. And with its regular use, beauticians promise you smooth and delicate skin.

Exotic shea butter can save dry skin from flaking. Coconut oil, which is rich in natural antioxidants, can smooth the skin.

General algorithm for creating a massage candle:

1. melt the wax with hard oils in a water bath;
2. Let the mixture cool slightly and add liquid oils;
3.Cool the mass a little more and add essential oils, extracts and vitamins;
4. pour the resulting candle mass into the mold, having previously inserted the wick into it;
5. Wait until the candle has completely hardened and remove it from the mold;
6. The hardened candle is ready to use.

We offer you the most common recipes for effective massage candles.

Recipe number 1

Soy wax - 85%;
... avocado and shea butter (aka shea butter) - 5% each;
... essential oil of patchouli - 2.8%;
... essential oil of ylang-ylang - 2%;
... vitamin E - 0.2% (a few drops).
Light the finished candle and let it melt a little. Put it out. Put some warm wax on your hand and you can give yourself a rejuvenating massage. Do not be afraid to burn yourself - the melting temperature of such a candle is much lower than that of a paraffin one.

Recipe number 2 "Massage candle with a calming effect"

Soy wax - 80g;
... shea butter - 40g;
. almond oil- 40g;
... cocoa butter - 20g;
... essential oils of sage and lavender - 2 g each
A session of massage of such candles is best done before bedtime. The soothing effect of essential oils will help you relax and sleep soundly.

Recipe No. 3 "Massage candle with anti-cellulite effect"

Beeswax - 100g;
... cocoa butter - 60g;
... ground chili pepper - 5-10g;
... essential oils of orange and grapefruit - 3 g each
Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the candle. After the massage, you may feel a burning or tingling sensation due to the presence of chili in the composition.

Regular massage will help get rid of the hated "orange peel", make the skin soft and elastic.

WE DECORATE CANDLES IN THE TECHNIQUE DECOUPAGE

If you don't have a dye, but want to create something bright and memorable, don't be discouraged. The simplest candle made from stubs can be turned into a work of art. To do this, you need to have a little patience and decorate the product to your liking.

CANDLE DECORATED WITH DRY FLOWERS

Dried leaves, stems and flowers will help you create an exclusive candle, which will be almost impossible to repeat. The use of natural materials is limited only by the local flora and your imagination. That's when the ability to collect herbarium will come in handy to you in full.

* photo by Lyudmila Klimova

To work you will need:
... any dried flowers;
... 2 candles - for decoration and regular;
... tea spoon;
... tweezers;
. nail scissors;
... paraffin wax for the final coating.

From the dried flowers you have available, compose the composition that you want to bring to life.

Heat a teaspoon over an ordinary burning candle (with the inside over the fire, since the spoon will turn black a little, and in order not to stain the candle - then we will carry out all the manipulations with the other side of the spoon).

Attach a dry flower to the candle to be decorated and gently iron its petals with the outer side of a spoon so that they melt to the paraffin and do not stick out. Thick stems may need to be ironed several times while heating the spoon.

Excess stems that go beyond the candle, carefully cut off with scissors.

Glue the rest of the elements in the same way, choosing the desired location for them. Make sure that the edges of the leaves and petals do not stick out.

It remains to consolidate the result. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, pour it into a container into which you can completely dip the decorated candle.

Holding the candle by the wick, immerse it in the melted paraffin wax, place it on a flat surface and let it cool. If the petals were poorly smoothed and sticking out tips are still visible, repeat this procedure again.

Such an elegant candle will win any heart and will not be left without attention. Complete it with a beautiful candlestick and it will become a unique decoration for your home.

DECOUPAGE CANDLES WITH PAPER NAPKINS

The desire to decorate a candle could come instantly, but there are no dried flowers at hand. In this case, paper napkins can be dispensed with. With their help, you can easily decorate a candle for any holiday.

Choose a napkin with the pattern you want. Cut out required elements from a napkin. Carefully remove the bottom two layers of paper from the resulting blanks. Further, the principle of operation is similar to the decoration with dried flowers.

Place the prepared element on the candle and iron it with a hot spoon. Sand the cooled surface with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. It is not necessary to immerse the candle in melted paraffin with this method.

Your masterpiece is ready. Make a beautiful arrangement of candles in new year style, spruce branches and colored balls. It will bring a good mood and a festive atmosphere to your home.

DESIGN PHOTO IDEAS

Want even more inspiration ideas. Browse our selection of decorative candles. You will definitely find one that you want to repeat immediately.

We were able to convince you that you can create unique masterpieces even from scrap materials? That is why candlelighting has become a favorite pastime for many, beginners and not only, masters.

Original form templates:

Now that you know what candles are made of and how, you can get to work. Do not try to use your favorite photo as a template and unconditional ideal. Get inspired finished works to create your own unique candles. A little effort and perseverance - and already your masterpieces will be a standard to follow.

Church candles are an important attribute of any temple worship. For believers, a burning candle symbolizes divine light, and three candles in a candlestick, which can often be seen in a church, personify the trinity of God.

The rules for making church candles state that such candles should be made exclusively from natural wax. Wax candles look very beautiful, give off a soft pleasant light and are distinguished by a noble aroma. Observing some rules and techniques, it is quite possible to make such a candle at home.

To make wax candles, you will need special casting molds, which can be purchased at specialized stores. Some craftsmen replace these forms with improvised objects with similar outlines, for example, a thin rubber hose, which are cut lengthwise before pouring, making it easier to remove the frozen candle. Before starting work, the mold must be greased with oil, or even better - with dishwashing liquid.

Melting wax is best done in a metal vessel with a narrowed "nose" - with its help you will simply pour the wax into the mold. In order to comply with safety rules, the wax should be heated in a water bath. After it has reached a temperature of 80 degrees, it can be poured into a mold. The candle wick should be taken care of before pouring. It is made from natural materials, for example, several cotton threads crowded together. The wick is placed in the mold before the wax is poured. V special forms to fix the wick, there are holders intended for this, which, in a homemade form, can be noticed by an ordinary wooden stick, to which the wick is tied, and fixed on the top of the form. When choosing a wick, you need to take into account that its length should be slightly larger than the length of the candle, by about 5-8 mm.

As mentioned above, church candles are made mainly of wax. However, for best results, it is recommended to mix it with paraffin, the approximate proportions are 52% wax and 48% paraffin.

except traditional way making wax church candle by melting and pouring wax into a mold, such a candle can also be obtained by repeatedly wetting the wick in hot wax. For such work, you will need a special container - deep and narrow. The wick is tied to a stick and dipped in wax until the desired thickness is obtained. This method of making wax candles is very ancient, however, today it is rarely used, as it requires patience and dexterity.

To make a church candle, you can use not only wax, but also natural foundation. It is very important that she is clean. yellow color, without any contamination or dark spots, otherwise such a candle may not burn well. The sheets of foundation are twisted by preheating them, and thus a candle is obtained. A wick is placed on the sheet before twisting. It is necessary to twist the foundation under constant pressure so that all layers fit snugly against each other.

Create DIY masterpieces for family and friends with the site "

The ideal way to decorate at almost any festive event is beautiful candles, how to quickly, easily make which you yourself will learn by reading detailed instructions... Today, candles in the interior can both bring aesthetic pleasure to the owners and guests of the house, and become an assistant in the event of an unexpected power outage.

Also, self-made candles can easily become an interesting gift for relatives, friends, who will certainly appreciate the work and time spent.

Someone thinks that candles are an exceptionally cute element of decor, which is really so, except when scented candles are placed in the house, because they can replace the most expensive psychotherapeutic tool, creating the right atmosphere for relaxation.

Can you make beautiful candles with your own hands?

Of course, candles are sold today in almost all souvenir shops, however, if this time you have planned to present it as a gift to a loved one, it is much more pleasant to make this piece of furniture yourself.

If you are thinking about how to make candles with your own hands, then do not worry, because the lesson may seem quite difficult only at first. With the right approach, you will quickly understand that the process of creating a candle is quite easy.

You can confirm this fact simply by contacting people who decided to start producing candles, but got involved so quickly that it became not just an additional income, but also an exciting activity. The more often you practice creating candles yourself, the better every day you will get them.

To create a candle at home, you will not need large financial costs, therefore, in addition to the pleasure that you get from the creation process, you will additionally be able to save a lot.

What materials are needed to make candles?

Really making candles at home without special materials will not work. You should prepare:

A vessel (wax will melt in it);
Shapes used for candles;
Casserole (useful during a water bath);
Two sticks;
Various decorative elements(this is how the candle will look original);
Wax crayons;
Cinders from used candles
Paper thread

Sequence of work

First, you need to lower the prepared paper thread into the mold that you took to pour the wax / paraffin melted later. Using a wooden stick, which should end up on top of your shape, you need to fix the upper end at the future wick.

Secondly, cut into small pieces of paraffin wax (wax), put in the prepared dish. Next, a pan with clean water you need to put on a low heat, put a dish with wax in it and melt it. The main thing is not to forget to stir regularly so that no lumps form.

Third, pour a little bit of the previously melted wax into the mold, position the lower end of the wick right in the center. It remains to wait until all the wax thickens slightly.

Fourth, fill in the remaining wax that has been melted into the mold, and as soon as the candle is completely solidified, cut off the part of the wick that will be superfluous. It is advisable to do this in no case earlier than twenty-four hours later.

An important point. You should not light ready-made candles in your opinion until they are completely hardened. Remember that at least a day must pass from the moment the candle is created until its first use for the first time.

Decorating candles

The real pinnacle of craftsmanship when creating candles on their own is not at all their aromatization or coloring, but decoration with a variety of natural materials, from coffee beans to cones, seashells or herbs with an incredible aroma.

An important point. The materials should be placed on the bottom of the prepared candle mold before the molten wax is poured into it.

Another popular way of decoration today is the decoupage technique, which is decoration with napkins of different shades.

How to turn an old candle into a new one?

If you liked the instructions on how to make a candle with your own hands, then first of all you should know that you will need essential oils to create a new candle.

To give the decor element a scent, it is enough to add a couple of drops of oil to the already melted wax just before pouring the mold.

If you want to achieve the relaxing effect of candles, you can use a combination of bergamot and lavender oils.

Wanting to get rid of bad thoughts, it is better to choose oils of rosemary, lemon. For peace of mind there is no better option than rose or geranium.

How to create a gel candle?

In order to create a candle, you must purchase a special gel in advance, which will be used instead of paraffin. It has a number of advantages:

It is completely transparent. In practice, this makes it possible to achieve interesting contrast with various decorating techniques;
During burning, the gel does not emit an odor, soot, unpleasant for households.

Any technology for creating gel candle in general, it is similar to the process of creating a wax, but there is a difference: it is necessary to pour the gel melted in advance into the prepared form, and not paraffin. Moreover, this must be done in compliance with a couple of nuances.

First, before the gel is poured into the mold, it must be heated. This will prevent unwanted bubbles from forming on the candle.

Secondly, the form for creating any gel candle must always be not only transparent, but also beautiful. After all, in the future, the candle does not get out of it.

The fantasy of a person with a creative nature is practically unlimited: the cost of materials that are needed to create candles with your own hands is quite affordable today.

The process is quite interesting, it does not take much time, as it might initially seem when you see a photo of candles made with your own hands. Having created a beautiful, unusual candle once, you will definitely decide to repeat the experiment.

Knowing how to make truly exclusive candles on your own, getting inspired interesting works talented people, you will always have an idea of what to present to your friends, and how to decorate the table for the holiday, creating an incredible atmosphere of comfort.

DIY photo of candles

You are on the verge of an amazing discovery of the world of candles.

In order not to throw a bunch of candle making materials in the bin, you first need to study their properties.

How to save your time?
How to protect yourself from mistakes of beginners?
How to save on materials and not waste money spent on materials and their delivery?
Want to learn how to make candles yourself?
Want a new hobby where you can make money.
Then read the article to the end!

It is not easy to choose the right one from the many materials for creating candles. There are a huge number of articles on candle making on the Internet, and, to put it mildly, not all of them are true. Often, online stores selling candle materials (or soap and candles) sell them and give the wrong advice, or they just try to sell you more (in other words, make money on you).

It is necessary to take into account the properties of each material and separate the necessary from the secondary.

Work table candlestick

Your work table, where you will make candles, should be protected from paraffin wax, dyes and everything with which you will create.

The table needs to be laid.

It could be old newspaper and a zipped magazine, plastic, old cut bags.

It is very convenient to use silicone baking mats (blue and red are mine).

Of course, before starting work, put on an apron or clothes that you do not mind. If paraffin drops on clothes, then it will be almost impossible to return it to its original form.

What is so good about a silicone mat?

Drops of paraffin that have fallen past the form easily leave it.

It is easy to clean.

Easy to fold, roll up and stow away.

It is soft and pleasant to the touch.

Water bath attachment

The very first thing you can't do without is water bath.

All candles are made from candle mass melted on water bath, otherwise it cannot be melted. No way! In no case should you melt the candle mass in a microwave, double boiler, multicooker ...

Otherwise, the paraffin will instantly overheat and ignite!

If you don't want a fire, then strictly follow these tips.

Only a water bath!

What is a water bath?

You will need an old metal saucepan (you won't use it anywhere else) and a smaller ladle, preferably with a long handle.

Water heats up and boils in a saucepan, heating the candle mass in a ladle. Gradually the mass melts. Thus, paraffin will never reach the boiling point. This means that harmful vapors will not be released into the air you breathe.

Make sure that the molten candle mass does not drip onto the stove.

Paraffin on contact with a hot object (or when boiling) evaporates, releasing harmful vapors. Don't be confused! When melted in a water bath, paraffin does not release anything!

My saucepans look like in these two photos. I bought one scoop in a specialized online store in the United States, the second I bought from my hands. More convenient with plastic handle since does not heat up.

Food paraffin (P-2)

Why is paraffin wax called food grade? It is used in the food industry, for example, in the coating of cheeses to slow down the deterioration of the product.

Paraffin is in shavings (loose, photo on the left), and sometimes lumpy (below in the photo). It is cheaper to buy paraffin in a briquette (layer).

Paraffin is a product of the distillation of oil.
Substance white crystalline structure, in a molten state has a low viscosity.
Melting temperature t pl = 40-65 ° C.
Density 0.880-0.915 g / cm³ (15 ° C).

Pay attention when buying paraffin on its marking. There is also technical paraffin (marked T), which contains a large% of technical oils, from which food paraffin is maximally purified!

It is cheaper to buy paraffin in briquettes, but in this case you will have to buy 5 briquettes in a bag, and each one is made in factories about 5 kg. I'm already used to it and buy paraffin in bulk, 25-45 kg each.

At retail, paraffin is most often sold in shavings (flakes), since it is easier for the seller to pour and weigh it.

What else do you need besides paraffin for candles?

You can only make candles from paraffin. Then you get the same effect as in the photo. After the candle hardens, the surface turns out with bubbles, streaks, or "snowy" - who as they say - that is, heterogeneous.

This is because the wax requires a so-called "plasticizer" because the wax does not solidify evenly.

The snowy effect is great for holiday candles!

What to do if we want to avoid this effect, we will analyze further.

Until then, check out how you can use the effect!

An important property of paraffin is shrinkage

Due to the fact that paraffin molecules have a weak bond, there is no surface tension, such as that of water, or, for example, a molten soap base. It's weak. Thus, when the paraffin hardens, firstly, it settles, and secondly, a funnel is formed, as in the photo.

How to remove this funnel?- most frequent question... Do not be alarmed at the sight of a funnel and do not think that this is your fault. This funnel always appears. It's important to just hide it. But how?

It is necessary in the process of paraffin hardening to pierce the hardening surface with a long knitting needle or stick in order to remove excess air and open the voids.

And then add the filling.

This way the funnel can be hidden.

Stearin

Remember when we talked about the "snowy" effect? It can be removed. Stearin can serve as a plasticizer, a binder for molecules for paraffin.

That is, if you put paraffin and a little stearin in a water bath, then the effect of snowflakes will disappear, the color will be even.

Stearin is used in the production of candles as an additive to paraffin (10-20%) or in pure form.

Solid, translucent mass, greasy to the touch.

Melting temperature t PL 53-65 ° C.
Density 0.92 g / cm 3 (20 ° C).

Stearin candles burn evenly and do not float, they do not change their shape when exposed to heat.

But making candles from pure stearin is quite expensive. Therefore, it is better to have stearin and add it to paraffin so that the candle mass shrinks less and the candle "flows" less.

Formula for the production of candles from paraffin and stearin:

80% paraffin + 20% stearin. Try it!

Natural beeswax *

* For adherents of everything natural, there is an opportunity to make candles from beeswax, soy (etc.) wax.

When I bought a natural large briquette of natural beeswax, I fell in love with this material at first sight! Why are all these artificial flavors needed when there is the most fragrant honey beeswax? Ehhhh ...

Beeswax is a waste product of bees. Registered as a food additive E-901.

It is secreted by special glands of honey bees, from which bees build honeycombs.

Solid from white (with light yellow tint) to a yellow-brown color with a characteristic honey smell.

Possesses strong bactericidal properties.

At 35 ° C, the wax becomes plastic.

It melts at a temperature of 62-68 ° C.

I pour this wax into small silicone molds (I will show these molds later). The candles are small in weight, fragrant and beautiful.

By the way, for melting the beeswax, I use a separate dish, because it is difficult to wipe off the wax.

Beeswax is aromatherapy
Freezes many times faster than paraffin
Natural product

But, of course, beeswax - expensive product... It costs 4 times more than paraffin wax.

Candle Molds

When you start making candles, life turns into a constant search for candle molds. Until you acquire professional forms.

My secret weapon was cotton swabs.

They are not only round, but also in the form of a heart, a flower.

Who Said Non-Professional Forms Are Bad Candles?

The main thing is that the candle mass, dyes and fragrances are at their best. Execution, of course, too :-)

Polycarbonate molds

I acquired these forms in the USA. Forms are convenient because they are transparent.

However, polycarbonate is not permanent and will crack over time.

I recently threw out one mold (cracked and started leaking) after 4 years of use.

Plastic Candle Molds

These molds are stronger and cheaper than polycarbonate.

However, the downside is that they are opaque.

The difference is that they have a plug (cover) at the base of the form. This is quite convenient when you need to take out a finished candle.

Soft plastic for mini candles

These are the forms (used in the manufacture of soap).

Holes for the wick are made with a hot knitting needle, and the mold is ready for making mini candles.

Plastic Molds Milkyway Molds

There are also some very interesting plastic forms.

In Russia, I have not yet seen such.

Molds manufactured by Milky Way Molds, consisting of two parts. It is a durable plastic that can withstand temperatures up to 200 ° C.

I have such forms, but I don’t make candles out of them ... it’s too bulky to turn out ... about 2 kg!

Metal forms(aluminum, steel, etc.)

Metal forms are "forever". Strong, stable, super, in a word. Molds are made of aluminum, steel, and other metals.

You need to be careful, because the metal quickly heats up from the filled candle mass, you can get burned.

Mold thickness 1-3 mm. I really enjoyed casting candles in metal molds... The candles are smooth.

Silicone bakeware

You can use silicone molds for baking or ice: tall molds in the form of hearts, cupcakes, roses, as well as small molds in the form of fish, stars, etc. as a decoration for candles.

Silicone baking dishes are flexible, inexpensive, but when the bottom is pierced, they are not so durable (when removing the candle from the mold, the hole gradually breaks out, and this entails paraffin leakage when pouring, although this can also be solved with paper tape or other secrets, which I talk about in my master classes).

Handmade silicone molds

You can buy silicone molds at the store. But there are such unique silicone molds that cannot be done so easily, which is why I will tell you about them. I order my silicone molds from the master. These are not all the forms I have.

It takes experience to make a candle.

Make a silicone mold yourself

According to the technology of preparation, silicones are two-component (the so-called "compounds"): consisting of a base and a catalyst (hardener), which must be mixed in a certain proportion before use, and one-component - ready for use.

To make the mold, we need a two-component compound. When both components are mixed, they begin to gradually solidify.

Mold your own form from plasticine or take a finished one (ball, toy, etc.), place it in a disposable bucket (jar or any other container, fix it firmly with glue or tape. Mix the components in a ratio of 100 grams of base and 3.5 - 5 gram of hardener and pour in. After 8-10 hours the form is ready.

It is better if, when pouring the silicone, you just leave the place where you will later pour the wax. Otherwise, you will have to cut the mold and, when casting wax, strengthen it with a rope or rubber bands. The trouble is that the hot wax deforms the shape.

But the next experiments have shown that the silicone mold is in any case cut along (or across, which is unimportant for us), because the plasticine master model cannot be extracted otherwise.

Get ready for a sharp and unpleasant odor both liquid silicone and cured form. Be sure to add fragrance to the future candle, otherwise the candle mass will absorb the pungent smell of silicone.

And also do not spare the catalyst (it is better to put more by 1 g than less). Otherwise, nothing will solidify, the mixture will not grab, and you will have to get the master model out of liquid, very sticky and unpleasant silicone and fill it all over again (having done a lot with soap and a brush beforehand).

I got such a candle from a homemade silicone mold, the result and the process did not really delight me, so I decided to order the molds from the master. Which is what I am doing to this day.

We make the mold ourselves from plaster

In this case, we will make the mold from plaster. To begin with, you need to sculpt a conceived future shape from plasticine.

Where a mold connector is supposed to be, it is necessary to stick the blades of a safety razor into the plasticine, not very deeply. The whole structure is covered with plaster. The blades will help to quickly separate the mold (the hardened gypsum is not cut and crumbles into small pieces).

These are the mini-candles I got.

Wick

You can buy wicks for your future ingenious creations at candle factories or in specialized stores.

But you need to know that there are a huge number of types and sizes of wicks on sale.

Choosing the right wick is very important. for a candle.

If the wick is too thick, then the candle flame will be large and the candle will burn out too quickly, but if the wick is too thin, then it will burn faster than paraffin, and the candle will "choke" and go out.

For the manufacture of the wick, natural cotton thread is used, which does not smoke or crack when burning.

Wicks are usually marked with numbers.

No. 1 - for candles up to 3 cm in diameter,

No. 2 - for candles 3-5 cm in diameter,

No. 3 - for candles 5-6 cm in diameter,

No. 4 - for candles from 6 cm in diameter.

When you acquire forms, just ask the manufacturer what wicks are available and buy at least 2-3 different thicknesses, so you will test your candles and understand which is better.

Where else can you get the wick?

If you have decided not to buy paraffin and stearin yet and to make candles from old candles or from purchased household ones, then the wick can be removed from the candles.

The only drawback is that the thickness of the wick cannot be matched.

Purchased wick alternatives

Jute twine
Cotton thread twisted several times
Crocheted cotton "pigtail"

Dye

Prepare the candle mass and wick. Fine! Now the question is: how to paint a candle mass? This is very easy to do. When the candle mass has already melted in a water bath, add a piece of dye. I mean a dye designed specifically for candles. I have a huge number of them.

The intensity of the color depends on the amount of dye.

Keep in mind that the brightness of the color of the molten candle mass always more than cooled wax. So if the color seems to be enough, add some more.

And then it will be really enough! :)

Sometimes there is no opportunity or time to get a special dye. Read the next paragraph to understand what effect this or that staining method will have.

How not to paint candles

There are many options to make your candle unique. One of them is to color the candle.

When I first started making candles, there was not much on hand as a candle dye.

And most importantly, there was little good and "competent" at hand.

After all, mixing paraffin and dyes is all sorts of chemical reactions, and you have to be with it more accurate.

And yet I wanted color. I started with gouache.

Gouache... Bad, very bad.

Fortunately, I have not preserved a single candle painted in this way.

The fact is that it is almost impossible to paint the candle mass with gouache: small particles of gouache settle to the bottom of the kindling, and even if you shake the paint a little when filling the mold with wax, it still settles.It turns out a very pale shade, and from this it is cloudy and unkempt.

Once I was just visited by nostalgia (I still wanted to pour, albeit without normal dyes). And I on "maybe" poured into the melted wax EARTH FROM A HOUSE WITH FLOWERS !!! It looked, of course, funny, a white candle, at the bottom of which something dark shines through. It seems at first glance there are no shortcomings.