Candle Making Equipment Every Crafter Must Have
Have you always wanted to make your own candles, but you were daunted by the idea of buying all the candle making equipment? Well think again, because you probably already have a lot of the equipment you need to start making candles right away. Let's see what equipment for candle making you need to get started.
Before you go out and buy wax, you need to have something to melt the wax in. Whatever you do, don't use the microwave, and don't just plop a block of wax into a saucepan on the stove. If you try it anyway and end up with a wax fire, be sure to keep the lid of the saucepan on hand, because you'll have to put the lid over the saucepan to smother the flames. Never, ever pour water on a wax fire.
You Need Something to Melt Wax In
The best way for a beginner to melt wax is in a double boiler system. A double boiler has two pans that fit on top of each other, the smaller pan on top. The bottom pan is kept full of boiling water, and the boiling water creates a gentle, radiant heat that melts the wax safely without a risk of the wax catching on fire.
You should be able to find an inexpensive double boiler at a discount store for under $25. Once you use the boiler as candle making equipment, do not use it for food preparation. You will also need several other inexpensive items which you may have on hand: a candy thermometer, a kitchen scale, a ladle, and a small pan with a spout for pouring wax into molds. Again, once you use these items as equipment for candle making, they should never be used again to prepare food.
If the idea of melting wax intimidates you, then you should look into making beeswax candles. Beeswax candles are made of a sheet of beeswax rolled by hand around a wick, and they are the easiest candles to make and require no stove, no boiling water, and no melting.
Wax and Wax Additives
You can't make candles without wax, and paraffin is one of the most favorite waxes to use. Buy high quality paraffin from a candle making equipment supplier. You'll be tempted to use the cheap canning wax in the grocery store, but you'll be disappointed if you do. A candle making equipment supplier will also have blocks of dyes, fragrances, and other additives on hand.
Wicks and Molds
Finally, you need a supply of wicks and molds, and any candle making equipment supplier will have a wide variety of both. Wicks are pretty straightforward, but molds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Start with a simple cylindrical pillar and work your way up to the more complicated shapes as you gain more experience working with candle making equipment.
