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The Home Made Candle Process
by Della Bough
http://www.rbcandle.com
Candles are wonderful things, and even though we now really
only use them for decoration or for creating a specific
mood, they once kept society going after dark. We see the
lighting value of the candle if there is a power-out:
though it takes some getting used to, candle light can
provide enough light to go about our business without
needing to use electricity. In fact from the time it was
invented about three millennia before Christ to the end of
the Eighteenth Century it was a key lighting source in any
home after sunset.
Candles are not hard to make, and they are generally cheap
to buy. What's more they last for ages, and many are
beautifully scented. In this article we will take a quick
look at how candles work and how to make them, so you can
decide if you think the home made approach is best.
The candle is a fairly simple structure. The source of
fuel is the solidified wax and this wax can be derived from
a number of different sources - paraffin (crude oil), palm
wax or beeswax for example. Crucial to the design of the
candle is the wick, the string that goes through its
center. Wax itself is hard to light and it does not
readily burn. Wicks are covered with wax and they are the
means for the wax to be turned from solid into gas that
burns. As candles generate heat they can also be used to
maintain the warmth of dishes prior to serving. However,
using candles to cook by could be frustrating!
Candle making needs some consumables - wax and wicks,
mainly - and some basic reusable materials - a mold and a
pouring and measuring jug made from metal. Additional
equipment you can improvise from things around the home.
Like the double boiler - all this is a pan with boiling
water into which you place the metal jug. Usually a piece
of metal is placed in the bottom - something like a cake
ring - so the jug sits on that and does not touch the
metal of the pan. By keeping the jug only in contact with
the water it is easy to control the temperature for ease of
use and for safety.
You secure the prepared wicks in the candle mold, then
carefully fill with the liquefied wax. As this wax
re-solidifies it shrinks. The remedy is one further pour
that helps straighten the finished candle. And there you
have your hand crafted candle. Colors can be changed or
mixed and you can mix up some scents to add. The advanced
candle maker can create their own unique designs.
Exploring your creative side is the most enjoyable aspect
of home candle making. This is not really a hobby that
will save you lots of money since commercial candles are
well priced. Supplies are easy to obtain from one of the
many great internet supply stores. You will also find
inspiration from the great ideas on enthusiastic internet
sites.
As hobbies go, making candles is fairly simple and it can
be fun to look at your creations when you use them.
Moreover, you will be doing something that has five
thousand years of history behind it. Alternatively, if you
think that candle making is not for you, there are lots of
great candles to be bought over the Internet or in stores
around town. They will be a bit more expensive, but will
be perfect.
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