I’m labeling this “Part 1″ because I’m sure I will think of more common mistakes later on so I figure I will prepare it to be a series. =)

Anyways, this blog will address common mistakes beginner’s make when they’re first starting out candle making. Keep this in mind if you’re going to be starting off your first batch so that you will be prepared and not make them.

1. Always Bring a Stirring Utensil - A Metal One That Is
   When you are waiting for the wax to melt and when you add your dye and fragrance, you will need a metal stirring utensil to mix it thoroughly. Using a plastic cooking spoon is not a good idea.
2. Don’t Forget That Mold Release - Unless You Plan On Using The Mold As A Candle Holder!
   This is I think one that is overlooked by newbies. You think, “Oh it won’t be THAT bad”, but oh yes it will. You absolutely need a mold release, or at least some “Pam”. You will be scraping your candle out of the mold otherwise, and ruining your candle in the meantime.
3. If it doesn’t specifically say it’s single pour wax, then it is DOUBLE pour wax.
   I think this is a biggie. Be sure to check the wax you purchase, if it is not single pour, then it will shrink and you will need to make a second pour. Yeah, it sucks, but that’s just the way it is. So be sure to keep enough wax handy to make that second pour.
4. Getting the RIGHT mold for the job.
   You really need to think about the type of wick your using - tabbed or spool. If you are using spool for pillars (which is probably the best idea - do you ever see tabs on the bottom of pillar candles in the store?) then you will need a mold with a hole in the bottom. Otherwise, you should not get a mold with a hold in the bottom. Most likely, you will be leaking wax out of the bottom of your mold and be cleaning up a big mess.
5. Put Down The Newspaper.
   When pouring you might have splatters so it’s a good idea to put down some newspaper under the molds or containers you are pouring into. This makes clean up a snap.
6. Measure Out Your Wax.
   Don’t assume you know how much you need, weigh it. After all, you are a beginner, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You just need to get a feel for how much before you stop weighing. Even then, it is probably a good idea to continue to weigh it out, just in case.
7. Using Crayons For Coloring.
   This not only makes your candles smell like…crayons…but it also is very dangerous. It can cause your candle to smoke and smother the wick. It’s just not a good idea, go out and get some coloring specifically for candle making, it really is not expensive at all and you’ll have much richer, more luxurious colors.
8. Don’t Get Stingy On The Color.
   Sure you don’t want to use it all in one candle, but using less will not give you the rich color I’m sure you’re looking for. Red is a popular mistake in this category, use too little and your candle will turn out hot pink or salmon. So use enough! This is a hard one to predict though, it will take practice so it’s okay if it’s not perfect the first time.
9. Using Perfume For Fragrance.
   Like with the coloring, this is not a good idea at all. The fragrance will most likely not come out smelling like your perfume and it can be very dangerous because perfume is flammable. Instead, find some candle friendly fragrance that is similar to your perfume…or make your own.
10. Mixing Fragrances Woes.
    Okay so you mixed a couple fragrances together thinking it would turn out magnificent. And…well…not so much. That’s okay, that’s what candle making is all about, trial and error. However, I do suggest for beginners, try out the fragrances you buy alone, see what they smell like by themselves in the candle itself. Then, go ahead and make your magic by mixing that fabulous new scent.

If you have any other suggestions for newbies please feel free to post them. Let’s hear the mistakes YOU made when you were just starting out. =)

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When making any candles, the most popular form of wax to buy is candle wax in slabs. Whatever type of wax it may be, it is important to be safe while breaking it up as well as breaking it up into as small of pieces as possible more accurate measuring and so that it fits in your double boiler nicely.

There are several options for how to break up wax, and all of them work pretty well. First we’ll start out with some preliminary safety steps and then we will get into the various methods.

Preliminary Safety Steps:

1. Wear safety glasses to keep your eyes safe.
2. Be careful while breaking up wax to prevent flying pieces and watch your fingers and toes! =)
3. Place the slab of wax into a plastic bag. This is so when you are breaking it up, pieces won’t go flying everywhere and they will stay contained in the bag. This will also make it easy for storing if you are not using the entire slab in one pouring session. Preferably use a clear bag so that you can see how broken up it is without having to open the bag or feel around.
4. Note About Using The Bag: It is safer to place the wax in a bag while you are breaking it up, however, you may need to take the separate pieces that you break and put them into a bag by themselves to break them up more easily.

Method #1:

1. This method uses one or two pieces of boards (2×4 or 2×6 should be good) and a hammer.
2. Prop the wax up on a piece of the board(s) and with a hammer carefully hit the center of the slab. This should break it into 2-4 pieces. Then take the larger chunks and do the same procedure with each.
3. Continue doing this until you have chunks small enough to fit in your double boiler.

Method #2:

1. This method uses a box large enough to prop your wax up at an angle and a hammer.
2. Lean the slab of wax against the side of the box and like you would do with Method #1, hit the center of the slab with a hammer carefully. This should break it up into 2-4 pieces. Then take the larger chunks and repeat the same procedure with each.
3. Continue doing this until you have chunks small enough to fit in your double boiler.

Method #3:

1. This method uses a large knife, hatchet, or meat cleaver to cut the wax into sections. Be careful when using this method to not cut yourself!
2. Using the cutting tool of choice, cut off how much of the wax you will need or score the entire slab and cut them into equal segments.
3. This produces nice clean sections easy for measuring, however, it can be the most dangerous, so be careful.

Whatever method you may decide to go with ALWAYS practice good safety procedures and be sure to measure out how much wax you need before placing in your double boiler. This cuts time when melting and prevents wasting wax.

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Good afternoon everyone! Today we will be learning how to take the tools you purchased from the previous post and putting them to good use - making candles!

1. Prepare The Mold
   In order to prepare the mold you should coat the mold with a mold release or oil in order to aide in the removal of the candle from the mold when it is complete. If you are creating a container candle, however, you do not need to do this step because you will not be removing the candle from the container.

   If you are making pillars or votives, place a wick pin in the center of the mold in order to be able to place the wick when the candle is finished. If you are making tealights, place the self-centering pre-tabbed wick into place. If you are making container candles, then you will be placing the wick into the candle later on.

2. Get Your Double Boiler Ready
   Depending on what type of double boiler you decided to go with, this step will be different. If you’re going with the step that I prefer using the pouring pitcher inside the saucepan, then do the following:
   • Place a medium sized pot onto the stove.
   • Fill with a couple inches of water on high heat.
   • Place the pouring pitcher into the pot while the water is still heating up.
   • Note: There should always be some water in the pot, however, it shouldn’t be too much to cause the pitcher to float around. The weight of the pitcher and the wax inside it should stop this form happening.
3. Prepare The Wax
   While your water is still warming up, you can begin to get the wax ready and place it in. First you will need to cut up the wax which you’ve most likely purchased in a 10-11lb. slab. Be careful while doing this! Cut them into small chunks which will fit in the pitcher easily. The smaller the better!
4. Melt The Wax
   After you’ve cut up your wax, even if the water is still warming up, you can start placing it into the pitcher. Place in as much as you think you’ll need for the candle(s) you’re making. This can be a rough estimate. As time goes by you’ll know how much is needed for different types of candles. It’s all about practice and experience.After you’ve placed the wax in, stir with a spoon. When the wax is entirely melted and is only liquid with no chunks or pieces in it at all, continue on to the next step. For reference, look at the wax you purchased, because each wax has a different melting point. Therefore, the lower the melting point, the faster the wax will become liquid.
5. Add Color To The Wax
   This is an optional step. If you’d like your candles to have some color to them, then continue. Depending on the type of coloring you’ve chosen, this step will be slightly different. Follow the directions on the packaging of the coloring you bought for the amount of wax you are using.

   As with anything, add more for darker coloring and less for lighter. Also be sure to add more if you are making a soy candle because soy wax doesn’t soak in coloring as well as paraffin.

6. Add Fragrance To The Wax
   This is also an optional step. If you’d like your candles to smell pretty, then continue. How much you add will also depend on the fragrance you have purchased. Some fragrances are much more potent, and don’t need as much added. Take a look at the fragrance you purchased for more information.

   As I said above with the coloring, for a stronger scent, add more, for a lighter scent, add less. If you are using soy wax, then add more because it doesn’t soak up fragrance as well as paraffin. It is also good to look at the fragrance you are purchasing to see how compatible it is with soy wax.

7. Pour The Wax
   When the wax is ready to be poured, after it is entirely melted and the optional coloring and fragrance has been added, you can pour it into your container or mold.It helps to tilt the mold or container slightly toward the pitcher to help with a cleaner pour. If you are using a mold, also be sure to leave a little space at the top for easier removal.

   When you are pouring a pillar, votive, or tealight wax, be sure to keep the wick pin/wick in the center while you are pouring, at least try your best to, it might shift slightly, however.

8. Container Candles - Placing The Wick
   If you are creating a container candle, now is the time to place the wick. While the wax is still liquid, place the wick into the candle, being sure to get it into the center, Then using a tool like a wick bar or stirring stick, wrap the end of the wick around it to keep the wick centered and standing upright while the wax dries.
9. Removing The Candle From The Mold
   After the candle has completely hardened, you can remove it from the mold. Be patient and careful while doing this for the best results in the end. Turn the mold upside down and tap on the bottom of the mold to release the candle.

   If the candle doesn’t come out right away then carefully insert a knife between the candle and the mold. Jiggle the knife slightly, but carefully. If it still doesn’t come out then repeat this process on opposite ends of the candle until it comes loose and releases from the mold.

   If the candle will now come out of the mold at all then place the mold into a bucket of very hot water for a couple seconds.  This will melt the outer part of the candle, allowing it to come free of the mold and release.

10. Enjoy Your Candle!
    The funnest part of candle making. Enjoy your candle and learn from the experience. If you plan to make candles often, then keep a log of your candle making recipes to find the perfect blend.

That’s all there is to it. Stay tuned for more in depth tutorials on each of the steps above, various techniques to make your candles better, etc.

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Hello Everyone! Today we will be going over the tools every candle maker needs in order to get started making candles. If you’ve always wanted to get started in the wonderful world of candle making, then get out your notebook and jot this stuff down. After you have your materials gathered, we will go through how to use them with a basic candle making tutorial!

1. Melting System - This is also known as a “double boiler”. There are several options here for varying budgets.First, you can go out and buy an actual double boiler. Second, you could buy a pouring pot (which is a good thing to have anyways) and set that into a pot deep enough. Lastly, you could use one of the DIY double boiler methods which are:
   • To use two saucepans, one inside the other.
   • Or to use a coffee can inside of a saucepan.
2. Thermometer - Next you will need a special thermometer for measuring the temperature of the wax. It would be a good idea to get this from your local craft store because a normal thermometer will not work. This thermometer needs to cover a scale of 100-350 degrees Fahrenheit (38-177 degrees Celsius).
3. Scale - A standard kitchen scale will work just fine. This will be for measuring out how much wax you need for the most part.
4. Pouring Utensil - If you are using the melting system above where you place the pouring pot into the pan then you will be able to use a pouring pot for this. Otherwise, you will need a ladle or something else that you will be able to move the wax from the pot to the container.
5. Wax - Of course you will need this! Did you even doubt? There are many types of wax and for the seasoned candle maker there is a clear difference. But for getting started, you can probably stick with the standard Paraffin. There is also soy, gel, and container wax, as well as a wide variety of types within each.
6. Wicks - Another crucial ingredient to a candle. There are many types of wicks and the main factor when your just starting out is the size of the wick. If you are making a tealight as apposed to a pillar, you will need a much smaller wick. Go to your local craft store and see what varieties they have. You should find everything you need to get started.
7. Coloring - Next you will need to add some color and life to your candles. There are several different choices here, including the following.
   • Block Dyes - The cheapest option and probably the best for beginners.
   • Color Chips - Another fairly cheap option, also good for starting out.
   • Liquid Dyes - Gives off a much deeper color but is more expensive than block dyes. Probably not the best type of coloring to start out with.
8. Molds - If you want to make anything but container candles, you will most likely need some molds. These come in a very wide variety of shapes and sizes. They also come in metal (the most durable option), plastic, rubber, latex, and glass. While metal molds are the most expensive, they will last a long time and stand up to many, many batches of candles.
9. Extras - Other good things to have are:
   • Additives - There are a very wide variety of different additives to make your candles shinier, more colorful, burn longer, etc. It’s probably best to start out without these to get the hang of the actual candle making process.
   • Mold Seal - This will hold cored wicks in place inside the mold. It is a reusable type of putty.
   • Heat Gun/Blow Torch - Can be used to cover up and correct mistakes, preheat metal molds, give a shiny finish, get rid of bubbles in gel candles, etc. The ultimate tool to make your candles look absolutely professional.
   • Wick Pins - Mostly used in votive and tealight molds where the wick is pre-centered within the mold.
   • Wicking Needles - Used to pierce rubber/latex molds to insert the wick into the candle through the mold.
   • Water Bath - A bucket of cool water to place a freshly poured candle into. This will simply make the candle cool quicker and give it a shiny finish.

With the above tools, you will be able to get started with candle making! Come back soon to view the basic tutorial on how to make your candles with the new tools you buy.

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