Choosing The Right Candle Making Mold For Your Candle
Just like waxes, wicks, dyes and fragrances, there are many different types of candle making molds that you can buy out there. They are made in many different shapes and sizes, and what you buy is really up to what your preference is and how much money you have to spend on it. A mold is simply what you pour the hot wax into to create the shape. It will cool down and then you just remove the mold.
As you can see that there will be a variety of the size and shape you can choose from there will also be a variety of what type of material the candle making mold is made from. These will range from metal, aluminum, and plastic, to polyurethane, rubber or latex. No matter which one you choose just make sure that you remember that the bottom of the mold is actually the top of the candle. If you go with a metal mold you will find that it's a bit more durable and longer lasting then the others.
Candle making molds made from aluminum are next. These types of molds are also commonly used by candle makers because they are a bit more inexpensive than some and will provide a great way to hold your candle in place. Taking care of any mold you buy is important. You do not want to scratch the mold on the inside of the candle because it will cause your candle to look different when the wax cools. If you keep your mold cold if will give a more primitive appearance, while the warmer molds will give a bit more of a gloss appearance.
Metal candle making molds give a lot less variety then some of the lesser expensive ones. Plastic molds for instance will give you a lot more designs to choose from in order to create some of the more unique candles. Really the biggest downside to plastic opposed to metal is that plastic is less durable therefore you will typically get more scratches on the inside of the mold than you would with a metal one.
Another route as stated above that you can go is polyurethane molds. These specific types of molds are very durable and if well taken care can last up to ten years or more. It is important that you understand that it's a bit more expensive but because of the durability of the material you will cancel out the cost of having to replace it in the future.
Now if you are looking for more of a specific detail to your candle, you may want to choose a rubber or latex mold. The reason why you would do this in the case of detail is because most rubber or latex molds are very flexible so you can move them in different directions creating odd shapes.
Silicone molds are another option if you so choose to use them. In a way they are a bit like rubber and latex because they are soft and flexible which allows the candle maker to create his own shapes. Something with silicone that you have to watch out for is that they are hard to maintain. You must keep them out of sunlight and when done using, it's best to place them in a clean plastic bag.
And last but not least there are glass molds. Glass molds are great to use if you take care of them properly and handle them with care. Then cool the wax very fast, and will leave a very smooth finish, and also rarely stick. But if not handled properly you will find that they will crack and scratch easily making the finish mold stick more.
As you can see there are many different types of candle making molds out there to use, just make sure that you do some research on what's best for the candles you are makings.
Scott Steward is a candle making enthusiast. For more great information on candle making molds, visit www.easycandlemaker.com where you can subscribe to a zero cost and a no-catch 10-part course on candle making.
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Hobbies Articles Via RSS!
