Candle Making Molds - Traditional And Experimental
Candle making molds are part of the essential equipment for a serious candle maker. It's true that there are types of candle which can be made without the use of molds, such as container candles or hand rolled beeswax candles, for example, but if you restrict yourself to making only these types of candles, you'll be missing out on a lot of the fun of candle making.
Candle molds are simply containers which are used to hold the melted wax until it cools, when it will hopefully have assumed the shape of the mold. Molds are available in all sorts of materials, in all shapes and sizes. Metal molds are extensively used in making votive and pillar candles. Aluminium molds have the added advantage of leaving a smooth finish with no seams in the finished candle which gives them a professionally made look.
You will also find molds made of plastic, rubber and silicone. Plastic molds tend to be the least expensive, but as with many cheaper options, they are rarely the best. Plastic molds are certainly good molds for beginners as they are easy to use and easy to clean, but if you're going to get into candle making in a serious way, you'll certainly need to consider the other types of mold available.
At the other end of the scale, silicone molds are the most expensive molds. They are flexible but also have a certain stretchable quality which makes it easy to release the finished candles from the mold without the use of releasing agents. Getting the finished candles from the molds can sometimes be a headache even for the seasoned candle maker. Like a lot of things, it gets easier with experience and practice, but the serious candle maker would never be without his releasing agent!
Once you've made a few candles, you may want to start experimenting with molds that you can make yourself from items you have in your own home. I've heard that some candle makers have successfully used Pringles cans, but you can also use Chinese take-away containers or waxed milk cartons. You need to make sure that the cardboard is coated with wax in some way otherwise the melted wax will get absorbed into the cardboard. Before you use your home-made molds, you will need to ensure the inside is clean and dry. After you have located your wick in the center of the container, start off by pouring just a little wax in and wait a few seconds to make sure it isn't going to leak. Once you're happy everything is ok, go ahead and pour in the wax almost to the top.
Wait at least a few hours, or preferably overnight, for the wax to cool and harden. Then you can peel the container away to reveal your newly made candle. The great advantage of this type of home-made mold is that they are one use only and can then be disposed of.
Julie Sinclair is a candle making enthusiast who enjoys helping others to get started in this amazing hobby. For more great information on candle making molds, visit www.candlemakingtoptips.com
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