| "body"> | | | | mold, certain important steps must be taken to |
| Candle making molds give an optional way of | | | | produce a quality product. |
| making candles, other than hand dipping each and | | | | When the wax has melted and is at the |
| every one. Molds are used for specialty candles, | | | | recommended temperature, additives are |
| as well as standard round and square ones. | | | | incorporated into the mix for fragrance, color, and |
| Time was that candles were all hand dipped. To | | | | hardening. It is crucially important that these |
| clarify that statement, it is not taking into | | | | additives are mixed properly into the wax. It is |
| consideration the ancient candles that were oils | | | | better to spend more time than is necessary |
| poured over hemp or straw and burned in some | | | | mixing the wax than to spend too little. When the |
| kind of container. True free standing candles, | | | | wax is poured, it will be too late to get the |
| made from wax, were hand dipped by the | | | | fragrance evenly distributed. Timing and attention |
| Europeans and American colonists. | | | | are important factors. |
| The process of hand dipping is more taxing than | | | | The candle mold needs to be coated with an oily |
| simply pouring wax into a mold. In the old days, it | | | | film that permits the wax to release easily after it |
| involved a large pot of hot melted wax and a | | | | has hardened. After coating the inside of the |
| weighted wick. Each wick was lowered into the | | | | mold, the wick has to be placed and tied off |
| wax for a brief period of time, pulled up, and held | | | | above the mold to keep it centered throughout |
| to give the wax time to cool off some, but not | | | | the pour. |
| completely. | | | | Just before pouring the wax, it is important to stir |
| Each time the wick was lowered into the wax it | | | | one more time to distribute the heat evenly |
| came back out with a little more wax sticking to | | | | through the wax. When the wax is poured, the |
| it. That is, of course, if the process was | | | | wick should be held to keep it from moving away |
| performed correctly. The dipping and cooling | | | | from the center. After the wax hardens, remove |
| process was continued until the candle was of | | | | the candle from the mold. If you have performed |
| sufficient diameter to suit the chandler. | | | | the steps properly, the finished candle should be |
| Some people devised racks to use for the dipping | | | | smooth and free of voids. |
| process so they could make more than one | | | | Making candles using candle making molds is easier |
| candle at a time. Even so, the process was tiring | | | | than hand dipping and the results should be seen in |
| and repetitive. Believe it or not, some people still | | | | more perfect looking candles. Molds require much |
| like making candles by dipping. | | | | less time, and over the years candle making |
| Most assuredly, candles made in molds are more | | | | methods have improved enough to allow for so |
| attractive than hand dipped ones, when they are | | | | much flexibility in the entire process. Keep a |
| made correctly. A seamless mold should produce | | | | candle burning! |
| a seamless candle. When making candles with a | | | | |