| A candle mold is simply the container that holds | | | | demold. |
| the wax while it cools. Ice cube trays are an | | | | Storing and cleaning of metal molds. |
| example of the most common household mold. | | | | Metal ones should be stored upside down. This |
| When you pour water into an ice cube tray, you | | | | prevents dust and dirt from collecting inside the |
| are basically using a mold. The end result is frozen | | | | mold. Cleaning metal molds is a simple process and |
| water shaped like the cavity in the tray. Candle | | | | requires a baking sheet and your oven. Line the |
| molds range in appearance, size, materials and | | | | baking sheet with foil. Put it upside-down onto the |
| styles. Molds can be very simple household items | | | | baking sheet and heat them at around 150 |
| such as a paper cup or they can be very large | | | | degrees for about ten to fifteen minutes. This will |
| and made from wood. I have seen molds that | | | | cause the left over wax and residue to melt and |
| produce candles that are 3 feet tall and 2 feet in | | | | run out and onto the foil lined pan. Be careful |
| diameter. I never understood why someone | | | | when you remove them from the oven, as they |
| would need a candle that size but if that's what | | | | will still be hot. While wearing oven mitts you can |
| you want you can make it. With candle making | | | | simply wipe the inside out with a paper towel. |
| you are really only limited by your imagination. | | | | Plastic molds |
| Candle molds have changed a lot in the past few | | | | Plastic molds or polystyrene vacuum formed |
| years.Advances in the polymer industry have | | | | molds are by far the cheapest of all the molds |
| produced flexible molds that can be used to | | | | but they do have drawbacks. They can be brittle, |
| create just about anything you could imagine. The | | | | they have a short lifespan and they can cut your |
| most common candle molds are listed below. | | | | hands and fingers. They also allow more surface |
| Metal molds or aluminum molds. | | | | detail than metal molds. They can be one-piece |
| Metal molds are widely available in today's candle | | | | molds (think ice cube tray) or two-piece molds |
| making market. They range dramatically in sizes | | | | that require a little more skill and leave a parting |
| and basic shapes. You can find metal candle molds | | | | line. In general they are a great mold for the |
| that will produce square candles, round candles, | | | | beginner but when your candle making hobby |
| oval candles, star shaped candles, heart shaped | | | | turns into a profitable business you will most likely |
| candles and many many more. Metal molds are | | | | move on to metal or rubber molds |
| generally used for creating pillar and votive | | | | Storing and cleaning of plastic molds |
| candles. They are relatively inexpensive when | | | | Plastic molds should be stored upside down. This |
| compared to rubber candle molds. They can | | | | prevents dust and dirt from collecting inside the |
| require the use of a release agent. They are | | | | mold. Warm water and soap and an old |
| relatively easy to clean. The only down side to a | | | | toothbrush will be sufficient to clean these molds. |
| metal candle mold is the fact they are not pliable, | | | | Make sure that the water has either dried or |
| leaving very little choices in the final texture or | | | | evaporated before using the molds again. Water |
| shape of the candle. They can be difficult to | | | | and wax do not mix! |