Candle Making Tips & Articles
Beginner's Guide to Candle Making Tools
By Kim Hayes
Welcome! I am glad that you are ready to embark on this wonderful hobby of candle making. It is a wonderful hobby and a great way to release your creative energy. This guide will cover all of the essential tools that you need to get started to make your first candle.
Melting Pot
The first tool that you will need is something to melt the wax with. Most people start out using a double boiler. A double boiler works well in melting candle wax, the only down side is that it is a very slow method.
You don't need to buy an expensive candle wax melting tool. I like to use the Presto Kitchen Kettle Multi-Cooker. The most important feature it has is a numerical temperature dial. Don't get one of the units that has low-medium-high settings. What temperature is low? What temperature is medium? You just don't know.
Remember, when heating candle wax, it is a flammable material that has a fairly low flash point. Depending on the type of wax the flash point ranges between 290 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit. When the wax reaches its flash point temperature it can catch fire. While melting the wax is not the time you want the wax to start burning.
Thermometer
The dial temperature gauge is handy and gives you a pretty good idea of the temperature of the multi cooker it isn't always exact. For safety's sake I always use a candy thermometer to check the actual temperature of the wax. Adjust the multi cooker's heat to keep the candle wax at the correct working temperature.
There is no reason to buy an expensive for 'candle making only' thermometer, a candy thermometer will work just fine.
Pour pot
A pour pot is used to actually pour the melted wax into the candle mold. There are a wide variety of candle maker's pour pots that you could buy or use my favorite a glass measuring cup. The handle will keep your hand insulated and away from the hot wax and the spout pours just nicely.
Wick holder
The wick holder's job is to keep the wick centered in the candle mold while the candle wax is being poured and hardens. You can use pencil, chop stick or a wick holder tool. I personally like to use popsicle stick. Drill a hole through the middle of the popsicle stick. Run the wick through the hole and tie it off. Since the stick is flat, it doesn't roll like a pencil has a tendency to.
Scale
An accurate and reliable scale is a must in candle making. You need to be able to measure out the wax by weight. A kitchen scale that can handle up to ten pounds is ample enough capacity. I weigh the chunks of wax measuring out enough for the candle I am making before putting the wax chunks into the melting pot.
Wax breaking up tools
Candle wax is sold in bricks or blocks that need to be broken down into smaller chunks. Smaller chunks melt much more quickly due to the increase in surface area. Taking a hammer to the block of wax is the prevalent technique for breaking the wax into pieces. I like to use a sharp wood chisel to cut the wax.
Wooden spoon
You will need to use a wooden spoon for stirring the melting candle wax. Plastic spoons, even the high temperature ones, are not suitable because some of the ingredients may melt the plastic.
To recap, the basic candle making hardware is:
Melting pot
Thermometer
Glass Measuring cup (Pour pot)
Wick holder
Scale
Hammer and chisel
Wooden spoon
Now that you have the list of tools that you will need to begin your candle making crafts hobby. For more information on candle making techniques, advice and tips visit http://www.candlemakinghome.com today.
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