CANDLEMAKING
Members may opt to leave their candle on display and accept risk for melting OR provide a
picture of their finished candle one week prior to exhibit. A picture display will be created for
public display. Your label will be attached to fair display for those who submit photos.
No gel candles are allowed.
DIVISION I
Make a simple candle using a one-piece mold. Do not add any decorations to the
candle. Scented candles are acceptable. Multiple colors are allowed. Do not exhibit the
candle in the mold.
Candle mold might be a:
Pringles can
Juice can
Polypropylene candle mold
Metal candle mold
Jello mold, etc.
What to watch for when exhibiting your candle:
Candle is right side up
No air holes in candle
Nicely finished seams
Right size of wick for the size of candle
Bottom is neat and no well on the inside of candle
DIVISION II
Make a candle and decorate it with one or more of the following:
Whip wax - beating melted wax until it is foam
Painting - using acrylic paint and painting detail or using melted wax and painting detail
Decoupage - adding a print or decal and covering it with wax
What to watch for when exhibiting your candle:
Air holes in candle
Seams are nicely finished
Candle is neatly made and finished
Wick is proper for the type of candle
Whip wax is evenly added
Bottom of candle is neatly finished
Painting is done neatly
DIVISION III
Make a candle and decorate it with one or more of the following:
Artificial flowers - adding flowers to the inside or outside of the candle
Applique - pouring or making an applique and adding to the candle
Wax flowers - making wax flowers and adding them to the candle
What to watch for when exhibiting your candle:
Air holes in candle
Seams are nicely finished
Candle is neatly finished and made
Wick is proper for type of candle
DIVISION IV
Make a candle and decorate it with one or more of the following:
Ice - using ice cubes and adding it to the wax to give it a holey look
Wax chunks - make wax chunks and add them to the candle to give it a two tone
effect
Layering - pouring different colors on top of each other to get a striped effect
Drip - dripping melted candle wax on a candle
What to watch for when exhibiting your candle:
Air holes in candle
Layer line in candle
Seam lines are neatly finished
Wick is proper for the type of candle
Bottom of candle is neatly finished
Candle is not over-decorated
Candle is neatly made and finished
DIVISION V & UP
Make a candle using one of the following:
Sand or rocks - make an impression in wet sand and pour hot wax in for candle, or line a
mold with rocks and fill with wax
Aluminum foil - make a mold with foil and set in wet sand, fill with wax
Plastic bag - pour wax in plastic bag and let cool, take out and decorate
Hurricane - fill a mold with wax, let cool till sides are half an inch thick,
pour hot wax out and let cool; take shell out of mold and make a
small candle for inside. Decorate outside.
What to watch for when exhibiting your candle:
Air holes in candle
Layer lines in candle
Wick is proper for type of candle
Candle is not over-decorated
Candle is neatly made and finished
Bottom is neatly finished
No purchased candles are permitted to be used
CHECK YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE
CANDLES
SUPPLY CATALOGS FOR ORDERING MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE EXTENSION
OFFICE
02/2013
CANDLEMAKING
General Instructions
EQUIPMENT
Double boiler, melting pot and pan, or melting pot and electric skillet
Candy thermometer
Long handled spoon
Pouring container (seamless coffee pot or coffee can)
Long handle paint brush, knitting needle or wooden dowel
Pot holders and plenty of newspaper
MATERIALS
Slab candle wax (usually sold in eleven pound blocks - paraffin may be used
but candle will not have as nice of finish
Candle wick - there are different sizes for different size candles (DON'T USE
STRING OR SHOE STRING FOR WICK)
Molds - metal, plastic, rubber, or glass. Tin cans, milk cartons, plastic
bags, foil and sand may be used but finish may not be perfect.
Candle scent - oil based commercial candle scent or your favorite perfume, no
cologne
Stearic acid or hardening crystals
Floral clay or molding clay
Mold release - silicons spray, no-stick cooking sprays, vegetable oil, etc.
BASIC CANDLE
1. Prepare work area
A. Spread newspaper to protect area.
B. Get all tools together so you are ready to make your candle.
2. Prepare wax
A. Break slab of wax into small pieces so they fit into container.
B. Melt candle wax in a melting pot over boiling water. (An electric
skillet works best, the heat can be controlled better and there is
less chance of a fire.)
C. Test wax with thermometer.
D. When wax reaches 190 degrees add hardener if you are using wax that
does not have hardener.
E. Add color dye. You may use cake type or liquid. Add slowly until
desired color is reached. Crayons may be used but the coloring may
separate when candle is cooling in mold. To test color pour a little
wax into a bowl of cold water. Color will be a little darker.
F. Add scent. One fourth ounce to two pounds of wax. Stir so scent will
mix.
3. Prepare mold
A. Wash mold so it will be clean. Use mold release and wipe any excess
out of mold.
B. Thread wick through closed end of mold. Cut wick so there is plenty
to work with at both ends of mold.
C. At the closed end of mold coat wick with wax, lay it flat against
mold, apply floral clay to seal wick and hole off.
D. Turn mold right side up. Pull wick tight and secure it around a
pencil, that should lie flat across the opening of mold. Center the
wick.
4. Pouring wax
A. Hold candle mold to a slant and pour wax in at an
angle. Let wax flow down side of mold to help prevent air bubbles.
Fill mold to desired level but allowing some wax for later.
B. Make sure wax is level. Take a dowel and go around sides of mold to
release air bubbles or tap mold until all air bubbles are released.
C. Let wax cool.
5. Filling well
A. After candle has cooled for about 45 minutes insert a thin dowel or
knitting needle into center to relieve the pressure caused by the wax
shrinkage.
B. Reheat wax and pour into the cavity. Do not pour the wax past the
first pouring. Keep on filling well as it keeps on shrinking.
6. Maturing the candle
A. Let candle cool at room temperature for at least 8 hours.
B. Remove the floral clay and untie the wick.
C. Turn mold upside down and let it slide out. If the candle does
not turn out of mold, place it in to the refrigerator for 15 to 30
minutes. If using plastic mold, turn upside down, tap on table until
loose.
7. Finishing touch
A. If candle has seam remove with a knife or cheese cutter. Then polish
with nylon stocking.
B. Cut desired length of wick.
C. Make sure bottom of candle is neat.
D. Remember bottom of candle mold is the top of candle.
POINTS ABOUT MAKING CANDLES
Don't leave wax unattended, it may catch on fire.
Don't heat wax over direct flame.
Make sure work area is covered well with newspaper.
Run cold water over a burn caused by wax.
Never pour water on a wax fire, as it will cause the fire to spread. To
extinguish a fire in a pan, cover with its lid. Always keep baking soda
handy, as it will extinguish a wax fire.
Never drop chunks of wax into hot wax. Avoid splashes by gently slipping chunks
of wax into the pot of melted wax.
Use a thermometer whenever heating wax.
Use a hot pad or heat resistant gloves when handling hot wax.
HELPFUL HINTS
PROBLEMS
Candle is soiled.
SOLUTIONS
Apply a small amount of cooking oil to a
soft rag, rub it on candle, let stand, and then gently
polish.
Pit marks on the surface
of the candle
The wax was poured into the mold to fast.
Bulge appears on a candle
poured in cardboard
container.
Scrape the candle level with a palette knife and dip
it in 230 degrees wax. Scrape the candle level with
a palette knife and cover with a wax decoration.
Candle does not have a
shiny surface.
Rub lightly with cooking oil.
Polish the candle with a nylon stocking.
Soft white blemishes on
the surface of candle
Too much oil was on the surface of the mold or in
the crevices.
The candle drips
continuously.
The wax is too soft and stearic acid needs to be
added. The wick is too small.
The candle smokes
continuously.
The wick is too large.
Layer separation
The first layer is too cool or the second layer is not
hot enough when poured to bond the first layer.