Making hand candles requires very few materials and tools, which are available inexpensively at craft and hardware stores. You can make wax hand prints quickly and easily, or with a little extra work you can make them into hand-shaped candle lights. An adult should supervise work on this project at all stages that involve the use of hot wax.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Melting the Candle
Step 1. Follow the security procedures
This process is less dangerous if an adult follows the instructions exactly. Skipping the steps below can increase the risk of fire, especially if you heat the wax directly instead of using a double-panel pan as described here.
If the candle burns, extinguish the flame with baking soda or a chemical fire extinguisher. Never use water or a water-based fire extinguisher on a burning candle, as this may cause an explosion
Step 2. Put some water in a large saucepan
You only need about 2 inches (5 centimeters) of water. Or about less than half of the pot substitute for stacking pans.
If you have a two-tier pan, fill the bottom pan with water and skip to the "Adding wax" step
Step 3. Place a metal tray in the pan
Find a metal cookie cutter or metal bottle cap, and place it in the bottom of the pan, below the surface of the water.
Step 4. Place the smaller pan
Use an aluminum or stainless steel pan, and place it on a metal coaster. Avoid metals that will discolour or react with the wax, and avoid non-stick pans, as they will be very difficult to remove any excess wax.
Do not use an old melted wax pan for cooking food, unless you are using food grade paraffin wax or beeswax. Even food-grade candles can produce residues that can affect the taste of food, but are not harmful
Step 5. Crush the small pieces of wax into a small saucepan
You can use beeswax or paraffin wax from a craft store, or remove the wick from an old candle light and use the wax. Crush or cut the wax into small pieces so it melts faster, then put it in a smaller saucepan.
Make sure there is enough wax to cover the surface of your hand
Step 6. Add coloring (optional)
You can scrape crayon wax into the melted wax to add color, or you can buy wax dye or finished wax dye at a craft store. If you are using a color product, follow the directions for use on the package.
It's better to assume that any added coloring is not food safe, even if it says non-toxic. In other words, if you use dye, don't use an old pot for cooking
Step 7. Prepare the other ingredients
Before you start heating the wax, thoroughly read one of the two methods below and have all the ingredients you'll need. There are two types of hand candles you can make:
- Hand wax molds are easy to make, and all you need is a bucket of water.
- To make solid hand candles that you can use as candle lights, you'll need a bucket of wet sand, dowels, and a candle wick. Read the preparation instructions below before you start heating the wax.
Step 8. Heat and stir the mixture until all the wax melts
Place the stacking pan on the stove and heat over medium heat. Continue to stir slowly using a stainless steel or aluminum stirrer. If the wax used is not food quality, do not use the stirrer for cooking.
- Stirring will take some time, especially if the wax is in large lumps.
- Do not leave candles unattended during the heating process.
Step 9. Remove the pan from the heater
Remove the pan from the heat and continue with one of the methods below.
Part 2 of 3: Making Hand Molds from Candles
Step 1. Fill a container with cold water
A bucket can also be used, as you will be dipping your entire hand in it. Fill the bucket with water, but leave some space at the top to avoid spills.
You can add food coloring to the water to color your handprinted wax. This type of dye has little effect, but may be a better choice if you don't want to use unsafe food coloring or crayons in your heating pan
Step 2. Wait for the wax to cool
Follow the instructions for melting the wax above, then wait for the wax to cool. Touching hot wax can cause serious burns, so use a candy thermometer or a candle-making thermometer to make sure the wax is safe to touch. The candle is ready to use when it reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43ºC) or slightly lower.
Once a solid film has formed on the surface of the wax, reheat the pan to melt the wax, then cool again
Step 3. Apply hand lotion all over the surface of the hand up to the wrist
Rub your hands up to your wrists with hand lotion, but don't rub the lotion into other parts of your body. Your hands should be covered with white lotion. This will make it easier for you later to remove the wax from your hands without cracking the wax.
Step 4. Wet your hands carefully
Dip your hand that has been smeared with lotion up to your wrist in a bucket of water. Shake off the excess water in your hands.
Step 5. Dip your hand in the wax
Briefly dip your lotion-covered hand in the warm wax and then pull it out again. To make wax removal easier, dip your hand only up to the base of your palm, before the wax spreads to your wrist.
Determine the shape of the hand to be made before dipping the hand and maintain that position until the end of this method
Step 6. Dip your hands in the water and wax repeatedly
Dip your hands alternating between water and wax. Each dip will add a new layer of wax to the hand. The average hand print size is usually eight dips, for small children's hands three or four dips are sufficient.
Finish with a dip in water. A final dip in the water will help to adhere the final layer of wax to the layer underneath
Step 7. Remove your wax hand print
Carefully loosen the wax print on the hand by sliding the little finger of the non-waxed hand under the wrist. If the wax starts to loosen, dip your hands under the water to help the wax slide off your hands.
If the stuck hand can't get out, poke a hole in the wax finger tip with the tip of a pencil to let the air out
Step 8. Do the final touches
Dip the wax in the water again to harden the wax. While the wax is still soft, use your fingers to smooth out any bumps or cracks. When the wax has dried in the air, the job is done.
Optionally, you can dip the ends of your wrists in warm wax, then fold the edges of the wax on your wrists inward to create a solid base so that the wax can stand upright later. This method will not work if the candle on the wrist is damaged or too short
Part 3 of 3: Making Hand Shaped Candles
Step 1. Fill a bucket with wet sand
Add water to the sand little by little, until the sand is damp but firm. The sand should stick together firmly enough to form a mold.
You can buy sand at a building materials store or home supply store
Step 2. Press your hands on the sand
Press your hand and fingers into the sand in the shape of your desired hand. Pull back your hand carefully, without making another additional hole. You will get a hollow in the sand that matches the shape of your hand earlier.
Step 3. Thread the candle wick into the mold
Tie a candle wick or cotton string to the dowels, and place the dowels on top of the bucket. Set the wick to hang into the mold you made by hand earlier.
If you want to light a candle with the fingers pointing up, the wick of the candle must touch the bottom of the mold hole
Step 4. Pour the hot wax into the mold
Follow the instructions for melting the wax above. As soon as all the wax has melted, carefully pour the wax into the hole formed in the sand.
Wear gloves when pouring hot wax
Step 5. Let the wax freeze
Depending on the type of wax and the size of your hand, this process can take 2 to 8 hours, but it's a good idea to leave it overnight if necessary.
Step 6. Remove the wax
When the wax has hardened, you can dig up the sand around it, or place a plastic bag over the mouth of the bucket and gently tip over the hardened wax. You may need to cut the hand wax if the wax is seeping from the original mold, or scrape it slightly to remove the wick. After that, your hand wax is done.
Tips
- Hand wax lamps will give the best results if they are made from "hard" paraffin wax, with a high melting temperature. Softer wax can stick to the sand and change the texture of the wax surface.
- To remove hardened wax on pots and utensils, reheat all utensils and pans, and clean when the wax is warm and soft, but not too hot to touch. Alternatively, store pots and utensils in the refrigerator and poke frozen wax on pots and utensils.
- To make your handprinted wax last longer, fill the hole with cast plaster. This plaster can be purchased at garden supply stores.
