Candle making is a fun hobby that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It is also a hobby that will not break the bank. All you need is a little creativity and the right materials. Learning to make candles does take a little bit of patience, but you will be making candles like a pro in no time. The following are some tips to make candle making even more fun and rewarding.
* When you first start making candles a container candle is the way to go. These are the easiest candles to make and you can use just about any non-flammable container to make them. You can try jars, glasses, coffee cups, natural objects like sea shells and even small salad bowels. Your imagination is the limit.
* When you want a scented candle use a container candle. Container candles use a lower melting point wax and this enhances scent retention and scent dispersion. Your scent will last longer and an added advantage is that the wax will not drip.
* Choose a container that is not flammable. This means no plastic or wooden containers.
* To minimize air bubbles in your wax stir the wax very slowly as it melts. Make sure that you are pouring it very slowly into your mold or container to keep air bubbles out in this stage.
* Keep your container tipped to one side as you pour the wax. Tap the sides of the container lightly as you pour to help air bubbles that do get into the wax escape.
* To avoid pock marks in the candles do not use too much releasing agent on the sides of the mold. If you spray too much on initially then wipe the sides of the mold so that there is only a thin layer left.
* If you are getting your wax too hot then set the temperature of your thermometer to a lower setting when you are melting the wax.
* When you are adding fragrance you need to make sure the wax is the right temperature. Adding it when the wax is too cool or two hot will not allow the fragrance to bond well with the wax. 180 degrees is the magic temperature for your scented candles.
* For a shinier and more lustrous candle you can cool your candle in the mold in a bucket of cool or room temperature water. Make sure that you read detailed instructions of this process before beginning.
* If you have a minor imperfection in your candle there is no need to melt it down and start again. You can use a heat gun to fix most minor imperfections. You can also use the heat gun to re-level the top of a candle. They also make cleaning your mold a snap because you can melt leftover wax right out of the mold. If your entire candle is stuck in the mold you can heat the mold a little with the heat gun and it should slide right out.
