[beaglebiz]

I have box of broken and partial pieces of wax from various candles. id like to melt them down into functioning candles. I know I need to buy some wick material from the craft store, but what is the best/cheapest way to make them, and what to use for a mold?? Also, can you make your own wicks??
I really am not looking for a work of art, just thnking about refilling the emergency candle box

 

[Amylb999]

Milk cartons make good molds. A wick can be made with cotton string, braided and dipped in wax. I've read that some people first soak the string in a mix of borax and water then dry them before dipping in the wax. The borax is suppose to make the string burn slower.

 

[Wisconsin Ann]

you can try dipping candles. it's easy, but time consuming.

otherwise, molds...milk cartons, cylindrical potato chip box, PVC pipe...anything that will withstand 170degree heat of the wax being poured in and that you can make watertight.

Spray the mold with oil (like pam cooking spray) or a silicone release agent (both work well) Wick....like amylb999 said, your wicking could be made from cotton string, braided or twisted TIGHT and dipped in wax. otherwise, wick is pretty cheap at places like JoAnn Crafts, Hobby Lobby, etc.

If you make your own wicks, remember a larger wick is needed for a larger diameter candle. hmmm....if you know yarn types...a sock yarn size would be the size for 1"dipped candle. 2x that would be good for a 2"diameter pillar type. I think a crochet cotten, braided or twisted in three strands, might work...I've never tried it tho, so youshould probably test....check the size of the candle wicks you have NOW in other candles and in the stumps...you'll get the picture

ETA: Oh, if the candle won't come out of the mold when it's cool, try putting it in the freezer for a couple of minutes....the wax will shrink away from the mold and should slide out easily.

 

[gone-a-milkin]

I have made them in toilet paper rolls and wrapping paper rolls. Then you can just peel the paper off. I always have sprung for store-bought wicks though.

 

[Lynn Bodoni]

You can cut the old pieces up into small chunks, fill a mold with them, and then pour white or cream wax into the mold, so that it makes a sort of mosaic candle. These can be quite striking. I have no additional wick information, everyone here has already posted what I know about wicks.

I second the milk cartons. Use half gallon or quart sized for large candles. You'd have to pay a good price for a candle this large at the store!

I have an old spaghetti sauce jar that I cleaned thoroughly, removing all sauce odor, label, and glue. Now I position votive candles in the middle of it, one at a time, with a pair of tongs. I light the candles, and the first one made a ring of scented wax on the bottom of the jar, with a hole in the middle. I put another votive in the hole, lighted it, and repeated. Now I have a clear jar that has several layers of wax built up, with a hole in the middle. I think it looks interesting, and I doubt that there are many like it out there. The wax is not really wasted, as some of the old wax melts with each new lighting, and it also forms decorative layers.

 

[Trisha in WA]

I use the votive holders as my mold since that's where I will be burning the candles anyway. Also canning jars make great candles too.
Have fun! I love remaking candles!
Trisha

 

[Spinner]

Dixie cups make great little molds for votive candles. So do metal coffee cans with a cardboard liner to make the sides smooth & 3 wicks in the candle. Just about anything that doesn't melt will make a good mold.

Before you pour several candles, be sure to do one for a test burn. If the wick it too large for the candle it will have to high a flame and smoke, if it's too small it'll burn a hole down the center of the candle and the little bowl of melted wax will put out the flame.

I used to go to a candle site that had a chart giving the size of wick for the diameter of the candle, but it's been so long I forgot the name of the site. If you do a search, you should be able to find a online chart. Seems like the name of the site was candlecauldren, but I'm not sure.

 

[Wisconsin Ann]

http://www.candlecauldron.com/ is a GREAT site for anyone interested in making candles. Thanks for the reminder on them. Nicely laid out...TONS of information.