How do i go about making candles?

[Roosterboy]

Well, with the holiday season coming and the economy as it is right now most of us don't want to buy $20 candles from store and catalogs that won't even last that long. Instead of cutting back i was thinking i could make my own. Simple process right? Probably not but can anyone tell me step by step exactly how i go about doing this?

 

[Badhbh]

Container candles would probably be the easiest thing for you to start with- the wax doesn't need to be as hard, and air pockets are less of a concern. I like to scout out the goodwill and look for jars and glasses to use as containers

The hardest part is getting the wick and wax on the same playing field- i've had candles that burned a hole right straight down the middle because my wax was too hard and my wik was too small.

Here's a place to start:
http://www.candletech.com/candle-making-basics/

Bitter Creek has starter kits that will make about 12 candles.
Peak Candle has some too. I'd go with a starter kit if you're not looking at this as a long term investment- the stuff is a little too expensive to buy a piece at a time.

It's good fun

I haven't done any chandler stuff in a while, but I really need to get back in to it. I"m mostly focusing on CP soap right now.

 

[ChickenToes]

Whenever one of my candles burns down, I save it instead of throwing it away. I break it up into chunks and keep the chunks in an old coffee can. When I save up a substantial amount, I melt it down and pour the wax into jars. I suspend a wick inside the jar and when the wax sets and cools down, I have a brand new candle.

 

[cknmom]

Just found this thread, sorry I didn't before Christmas. My DGD and DGS made ice candles for presents. I also keep old candles for making new ones.

Take a milk carton, clean it out well. Cut off the top, tie wick onto something( I use a wooden skewer or pencil), place ontop of carton trying to get wick in the middle. Melt wax. When wax is ready to pour, fill carton with ice, slowly pour wax into carton, trying not to move wick much. Let set about an hr. Peel off carton.

I will take pics of a couple I have around and post them if you'd like.
I have one we did that's tall and we made three color layers, you let the wax set for a short time to harden a little, then pour the next layer. If you wait too long they won't meld together. For Christmas we used red and green and poured them so they were swirly.

Monica