Candle Making Wax – Secrets of Getting Great Results

Candle making wax: sounds like a boring topic if you aren’t a candle maker. Even if you are a beginner in candle making crafts, it may seem like an unnecessary topic. After all, candle making wax is candle making wax, right? What more is there to be said?

Actually, there is a lot more to be said.

You are probably most familiar with paraffin wax, which is refined from petroleum. Most commercial candles are made of paraffin, and many beginning candle makers use only this inexpensive, white wax.

Candle making wax is not limited to paraffin, though. Candles can also be made from natural waxes. Environmentalists are sure to prefer waxes that are refined from plants such as bayberry, palm, and soy. Beeswax from honeycombs is also included in natural candle making wax.

With so many kinds of candle making wax available, you have choices. No matter which you choose, however, there are secrets to getting good results. Until you know those secrets, every choice brings a question:

· How did my wick come to life? It managed to wind itself up from the bottom and down from the top while my candle cooled.

· Why do I have to wait so long between dippings of my hand-dipped candles? It seems to take them forever to harden.

· When did my candle get that bubble in the middle? It wasn’t there when I poured the melted wax. I’m absolutely certain!

Secret: Candle making wax requires just the right air temperature in your candle making craft room – about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).

Many, many candle making questions can be answered; many problems can be avoided by working in a room where the temperature is maintained at or around 70 degrees.

Candle making wax cools properly at that temperature. That bubble in the middle of your candle was caused by too rapid cooling. You probably didn’t see the bubble until you tried to burn your candle, right? Then all the wax started to drain into the candle’s center where the bubble was. The wick sputtered as it drowned in the deepening pool.

Hand-dipped candles must harden slightly before you can dip them again. You go through a cycle of dip, harden, dip; dip, harden, dip. If the air temperature in your candle making craft room is too warm, the wax won’t harden as quickly s it should. It will take you hours to complete your candles.

Making candle wicks behave is another task handled well by a proper air temperature. Yours isn’t likely to come to life and snake its way upward or downward if the candle cools at 70 degrees.

Candle making wax can be fussy.  Keep your air temperature just right and you’ll be much more likely to get a beautiful candle.