- Choose the wax/es you want to use.
Make sure you have enough to fill the mold to the height you want along with some extra for a second pour.
Break the wax into chunks with a knife and place it in the pouring pot.
Melt it over low heat until it reaches 175-185 degrees. Never leave hot wax unattended!
- While the wax is melting, prepare the mold.
Make sure the mold is clean with no wax from prior candle making.
Spray with mold release and then thread the wick through the mold,
leaving at least an inch of wick outside the wick hole.
- The bulk of the wick will be sticking out of the open end of the mold.
Tie the wick tightly around a skewer or a wooden spoon handle so the wick is centered and nice and tight,
while making sure that you do not pull it out of the wick hole in the bottom.
- Place the screw in the wick hole and wrap the excess wicking around the screw making sure that the wick is tight and has no slack.
Tighten with a screw driver (avoid tightening it to the point where it cuts off the wick or damages the mold).
Use mold sealer to seal the wick hole,
pressing it on around the screw and working out until it is sealed as tightly as possible.
- Cover a plate with wax paper and place the mold on it. When the wax is at 175-185 degrees, you are ready to pour.
- You can either pour the wax into the mold on the plate, or hold the mold with potholders and pour the wax into it at an angle.
Pouring it in at an angle is usually the better technique since it helps prevent air bubbles.
Pour the wax slowly and carefully until you reach the height you want for your candle.
- Place the mold on the plate to allow the candle to cool.
As the candle begins to cool a crater may begin to form around the wick.
Use a skewer to poke holes around the wick to release any air bubbles that may form.
Don't poke all the way through to the bottom of the mold.
You may need to repeat this process several times as the candle is cooling.
- Once the candle has cooled to room temperature, if there is a crater, you will need to do a second pour.
Reheat the wax until it is 5 degrees hotter than it was at the initial pour.
Once it has reached that temperature, pour it in the mold to fill the crater without overflowing (over filling may result in wax seeping into the edges of the candle, making it difficult to remove).
Allow the candle to cool completely.
- Once the candle is completely cool, remove the mold sealer (if no wax has seeped out, you can reuse this!), and unscrew the mold screw.
Pull the wick out straight and then turn the mold upside down.
The candle should slowly slide out of the mold.
If it doesn't, try placing it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Never pull on the wick to force the candle out, and NEVER tap the mold on any surface as it may dent it rendering it useless.
Once the candle is out, you need to untie the wick wrapped around the spoon or skewer and then trim the wick flush with the surface of the candle.
If you want an extra smooth bottom,
you can try placing an old aluminum pie plate on a burner on low and rubbing the candle base on it until it is melted smooth
(be sure the pie plate does not have holes!).
- Trim the wick on the top side to 1/4 inch and you are done.
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