One way to make candles look more interesting is to color them! Coloring the candles can make them more interesting and match the desired theme. Start by melting the wax in a double boiler on the stove. You can also use paraffin to make candles at home. Add a small amount of powdered or liquid wax coloring to the kettle. Stir and add more coloring little by little until you are satisfied with the final result. When the color of the wax is just right, pour it into the mold, add the wick, and let it harden.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Melting the Candle
Step 1. Use old wax
White candles are a good option because they can make the resulting color more interesting and stand out. Since the wax will melt, choose a wax that is plain and does not contain a container. If you want to use wax in a jar or can, use a small knife to remove the wax from the container.
- You can mix small candles to make one large candle. However, make sure the candle you choose is made of the same material.
- The candle you choose should not contain decorations such as flowers, shells, or glitter.
- Do not use scented candles. When melted, the wax content will change and the aroma will become unpleasant.
Step 2. Prepare some paraffin blocks to make your own candles
If you want to make candles at home, buy several packs of paraffin blocks. Paraffin is a type of wax that is quite easy to melt and color. Paraffin and other candle-making supplies can be purchased at your local craft store.
- Beeswax or soybean oil wax are good alternatives if you want to make paraffin-free candles.
- Don't forget to buy enough wicks so that every candle you make has at least one wick.
Step 3. Prepare a double boiler to melt the wax
If you don't have a double boiler, fill half a large pot with water and heat it to medium heat. After that, place a heat-resistant container, such as a glass bowl or measuring cup, into the saucepan and let it float. The heat from the pan will transfer to the small floating container without making the heat too intense.
- Alternatively, you can also use a coffee can or other metal container if you don't want to clean your cookware from wax after you're done.
- Do not melt wax with fire as this can change the consistency of the wax and even cause a fire!
Step 4. Slice the wax block into small pieces
Use a sharp knife to cut the wax into 2cm long blocks. This can make the wax melt faster. The smaller the size of the candle, the faster the wax will melt.
- Place the candle on the cutting board to prevent the tabletop from being scratched.
- Be careful when using a knife. Wax contains oil so it is quite slippery when cut with a knife.
Step 5. Place the candles into the double boiler
Place the chopped wax into a small floating container in the pan. If using paraffin, add 2-5 blocks, depending on the amount and size of wax desired. Paraffin blocks can also be sliced into smaller pieces to make them melt faster.
You can use 2-2.5 paraffin blocks to make a standard-sized candle. Five blocks of paraffin will produce a wax that is almost the size of a 1 liter milk carton
Step 6. Start melting the wax
Don't forget to stir the wax occasionally so that it melts completely. The wax will begin to melt after about 5 minutes and completely melt after 8-10 minutes. When it melts, the wax will thin out, become transparent, and soften. Candles are ready to be colored!
- Use a small wooden stick or ice cream stick to stir the wax.
- The wax may melt completely 2-3 minutes longer if it is made of paraffin or beeswax.
Part 2 of 3: Coloring Candles
Step 1. Use a suitable wax dye
Most wax manufacturers sell liquid wax dyes that are specifically designed for use with their products. However, there are many brands of dye that can be used to color any type of wax. Make sure you choose a dye that matches the type of wax you want to color. If they don't match, the dye won't mix well.
- Powder dyes, such as Rit Dye, can be used to color the wax.
- Do not use food coloring. When mixed with wax, the liquid food coloring and wax will separate so that the resulting color looks like a "spot".
- Alternatively, you can also use crayons. Since wax and crayons contain the same ingredients, the crayons will mix well.
Step 2. Add a small amount of dye to the melted wax
Pour in a few drops of liquid coloring, or 2-3 tsp. powdered dye to the melted wax. Don't add too much dye at once. Remember, wax dyes can produce very intense colors. Therefore, add the dye little by little.
- The amount of dye you need to add will depend on the size and number of candles you want to make, as well as how vivid you want the color to be.
- Coloring candles with crayons is not difficult. Simply remove the crayon label, place the crayon pieces into the melted wax and stir.
Step 3. Stir in the colored wax for about 2 minutes
Stir the colored wax slowly and constantly. This is done so that the wax dye is completely mixed. Once the color is even, you can stop stirring the wax. Observe the color of the candle to make sure it is the color you want it to be.
Stir the wax gently to prevent the wax solution from splashing onto the wall or table
Step 4. Add more dye little by little until it fits
The more dye you add, the more striking the color of the wax will be. If you want a darker wax color, such as navy blue or dark green, you may need to use 2-3 times as much dye as usual. Remember, stir the wax evenly when adding the dye.
One way to determine the amount of dye needed is to multiply the mass of the wax by 0.05%. For example, to color 500 grams of wax, you will need 0.25 grams of dye
Step 5. Allow the wax to dry until it reaches 57-60°C
Once satisfied with the resulting color, turn off the stove and remove the candle holder from the pan. The wax must be allowed to cool until it cools down before pouring it into the mould. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the candle.
Pouring wax above 60°C can cause the wax to shrink or the glass case used may shatter
Part 3 of 3: Pouring Candles
Step 1. Choose a container to hold the candles in
If you dye old wax, you can reuse the container. However, you can also use a new container. Make sure the container you are using is heat-resistant, openable, and large enough to hold the candle. Metal cans, shotguns, teacups, and jars can also be used as candle molds.
- Use a gelatin mold or tea light holder to print large amounts of wax.
- To make a long, buildable candle, you can cut off the top of the milk carton. Once the wax has hardened, cut and remove the cardboard that is sticking from the wax.
Step 2. Place the wick on top of the candle mold
Prepare the uncut wick. Tie one end of the wick to a wooden stick or pencil. The other end of the wick should touch the base of the wax mold. Place a wooden stick or pencil over the mouth of the candle mold so that the wick is centered and hanging straight down.
- Wood clothespins or tape can also be used to hold the wick.
- To place two axes, simply tie the second axis at a distance of 4-5 cm from the first axis.
Step 3. Pour the wax into the mold
To keep it from falling apart, you can use a funnel or transfer the wax to a container with a pouring spout. Make sure there is 1.5 cm of space at the top of the mold. This is done so that there is sufficient space to accommodate the melted wax when the candle is lit.
Use the remaining wax to make small candles. You can also wait for the wax residue to harden to pick it up and remove it
Step 4. Allow the wax to harden
The wax will harden after letting it sit for at least 1 hour. When it is hard, the shape of the wax will resemble the shape of the container. After that, you will have a new colored candle! As long as the wax is still hardening, don't touch it. If touched, the wax will be dented, stained, or damaged.
- Do not touch the wick while the wax is hardening.
- You can also refrigerate the wax or place it in a cool area to make it harden faster.
Step 5. Cut the candle wick
Untie or cut the wick from the log. Take scissors and cut the wick 0.5 cm from the surface of the candle. Candles are ready to be lit and illuminate any room in your home!
If the wick is too short, the candle may be difficult to light. However, if the wick is too long, it will burn inefficiently
Tips
- Remember, the original color of the candle will affect the final result. For example, adding blue to a plain candle will turn it blue. Meanwhile, adding blue to a yellow candle will turn it green.
- Wear disposable gloves when using dye. The reason is, the dye that sticks to the skin is quite difficult to remove.
- Add a few drops of scented oil to the wax that is setting to make a scented candle.
- Hand-painted, re-colored candles are great gifts!
