Candles are simple to make, require few special tools or materials, and are powerful focal points for visualization and personal power. You can certainly run to the store to purchase candles for rituals, but those you've made yourself will personalize your magic to an even greater extent.
Step #1: Decide what kind of candle you'll be making.
Step #2: Purchase either paraffin or candle wax from a crafts store.
Step #3: Assemble all your materials before you start melting the wax, i.e:wax, containers, wicking, wax coloring, herbs, oils, wooden spoon, saucepot(to be used only for melting wax!), coffee can or a can large enough to fit in saucepot and leave space enough for water, molds,etc.,...
Step #4: Fill the pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Break the wax into smaller pieces and when water boils place can in water and wax inside can. Turn heat down to medium. Watch closely to make sure wax doesn't get too hot. Turn heat down if necessary. Once wax melts turn heat down to low.
Step #5: Depending on what type of candle you are going to make; Add color to wax, add oils or herbs and blend well.(If you used herbs you should decide if you're going to strain the wax or leave the herbs to burn(Warning-burning herbs don't smell the way you think they should!).
Step #6: Prime your wicking by saturating it with melted wax and letting the wax harden before using. Cut wick to the size you want plus 1-2 inches.
Step #7: If you are using a container to pour the wax into be sure the mold is warm before you pour. If you are going to make taper candles pour wax into a dipping can (one that's as long as you want your candles to be).
Begin dipping. Hold a length of wicking between your thumb and forefinger. Dunk it into the wax. After dipping, hold it in the air for a moment or two until the wax has set. Dip again, and again until the candle has reached the width you want. When done, hang the candle in a spot where it won't be touched for several minutes. A cabinet is a good spot, stick the top of the wick under the bottom of the cabinet door allowing the candle to hang freely.
Test the candle after 20 minutes or so. The wax should have set but still be warm. Lay a piece of waxed paper on the counter and roll the candle back and forth GENTLY!. This straightens the taper and reduces irregularities on its surface. When the candle is fairly straight, cut off the inverted cone at the bottom of the candle with a sharp knife. Dip the taper two more times and hang to dry until hard.
Step #8: If you poured the wax into a container; attach a base to the wick, wait until the wax has formed a thin skin on the top then drop wick down the center and hold in place until skin forms around it enough to hold it itself. (I've been known to use a couple chop-sticks to keep the wick from moving, that way you can get on with things). After about 20 minutes or so, you'll notice a dent in the top of the wax. If the top is firm to the touch pour wax into the depression to make a flat surface. Let wax set completely(8-24 hours) and trim the wick to 1/3 inch.
It was recently brought to my attention that I left out a few necessary instruction in this candlemaking guide.
1. When melting wax, it is important to bring it to the appropriate temperature; for basic gulf-wax paraffin like you get at the hardware store that's about 130-150. But if you make it too cool, tapers come out lumpy and cast candles are very difficult to remove from the mold because they don't contract enough. If it's too hot, tapers take forever to build up, and cast candles shrink too much and exhibit white marks on the outside and sometimes tiny crackle effects and/or cracking. so, right wax, right temperature. You know it's too cool if it isn't perfectly clear and it's too hot when you start seeing heat swirls in it - like it's behaving like cooking oil when that starts to get HOT. But a candy thermometer for 5 bucks is probably the best insurance you can get for producing consistent candles.
2. For a container candle the container works better if its warm. But if you will be unmolding the candle, it better to get the wax temp right and have the mold cold. It gives a smoother finish and helps the wax set up quicker. It also causes the outside layer of wax to shrink quickly even before the mold is completely filled, so it makes to easier to remove.
3. When you make a molded candle, tie a tight knot in the wick. Thread the wick UP through from the bottom to the inside and pull it up taut so the knot is pressed against the bottom of the mold. Put the wick-rod across the top of the mold and tie a half-hitch keeping the wick taut. Now, on the bottom of the mold if its metal, find a small screw and tighten it into the hole around the wick (professional molds actually comer with a wick screw and it's easier to just wrap the wick around it instead of knotting it). Then no matter what type of mold, put some sticky putty (candle putty is best, but others work) or even krazy glue if this is a disposable mold like a milk carton, anything to make it water tight. Test the seal with water, and be sure to dry the mold completely afterwards. If the mold is metal, put it into a bath of water to get a really smooth finish (this also helps keep the bottom from leaking because it sets the wax real quick).
4. This is REALLY important. The wick type and size MUST be matched to the diameter of the candle and the type of wax. Braided wicks should always be used in pillar candles. An undersized wick will give a really weird burn... it'll drift through the center of the candle and never give a complete burn but it's more annoying than dangerous, and the candle may become self-extinguishing. But if done properly and undersized wick can create a wax shell that can be refilled with tea-lights or votives. This is what i do on my carved unity candles so they can be everlasting. but an over-rated wick IS dangerous. It burns too hot and causes the shell of the candle to fail too soon, thus the melted fuel is not contained within the shell until it is consumed and it will spill out. Also the wick will not properly bend over on itself and consume itself, so it will need to be frequently trimmed or it will become a real smoker. If you've ever used a Yankee candle. you've seen this. but as best i can tell, that's done on purpose. The wick is properly sized to the container, to give a complete burn, but the wax is very soft because of the amount of scent oil so, in effect the wick is slightly over-rated. It seems people would rather have it smoke a bit and trim the wick than have a bunch of really expensive wax that didn't melt. Metal core wick should be used in votives, tea-lights and other container candles so that when there is a lot of liquid fuel, the wick doesn't tip over or collapse. Also, if you use a metal core wick with a wick holder at the bottom when pouring cast candles the way you described, it's much easier because it'll pretty much stand on its own with just a bit of support and it won't float out of center the way a wax primed wick will. Since you have to get wicking somewhere and most places that have normal braided wick also have metal core and wick holders.
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