Essential Gear for Safe Candle Making - By: Josephine C Johnstan

Candle Making Equipment

The very first requirement is a pot(s) in which to melt your wax. The double boiler method is probably the most popular...and also the safest. But it is also the slowest. There are several ways to melt wax for making candles, and we'll go through them all to help you determine which is right for you.

Under no circumstances should you melt wax on your stove without the use of a double boiler. Don't melt wax with anything that does not have some form of heat control . Wax has a flash point and will ignite when it reaches that point...so you must have a way to control the wax temperature and, in so doing, prevent fires. Make sense? Flash points will vary between 290 - 380 degrees so by no means allow your wax get within that range. Safety always comes first when you make candles.

You don't need an expensive wax melter to make fantastic candles . I suggest you buy a Presto "Kitchen Kettle" from your local hardware or Walmart store. They are available for approximately $20. Make certain you are getting the "Kitchen Kettle" because there are several variations on the market. The "Kitchen Kettle" has a numerical temperature control. Never melt wax in anything that doesn't have a numerical temperature gauge. Even a simple candy thermometer will suffice...just don't ever use a melt pot with only high, medium and low settings.

Next up is a good thermometer. You'll use this with your kitchen kettle to double check candle wax temperature. You can buy a thermometer for about $5 while you're buying your kitchen kettle. Even a candy making type thermometer works great when you are learning to make candles...and, really, its all that you will ever need.

You will need a "pour pot" to pour the molten wax into your molds. Quality aluminum pour pots are available from most craft shops, but I'll tell you that a $5 one-quart Pyrex measuring cup works just as well. You can even start out using an empty coffee can to pour your candles.

Next, you will need an accurate and reliable scale for weighing out your wax to put in your melter. A scale that works up to 10 lbs should be enough. Once again, have a look at Walmart...or any office supply retailer like Staples or Office Max. I try to purchase my wax in pellets, but if you wish to buy wax in blocks, you will need a hammer to bust it up into chunks small enough to fit onto your scales and into your melt pot.

The Presto "Kitchen Kettle" we discussed earlier will hold 7-8 lbs of wax. You can melt any amount up to that but I recommend that you start off with no more than 5-6 lbs at one time while you're learning how to make candles...simply because while stirring you might slosh some of the wax out of the pot and create a big mess.

So, to summarize, you will require the following items to start your candle making experience:

1. Melting Pot
2. Thermometer
3. Pouring Pot
4. Weighing Machine
5. Hammer to break up wax

All of that should come to less than $50...and probably less because most folks will already have a few of the components at home.

I've kept everything as simple as possible and I suggest you do the same. It's most important to remember, keep it safe and, of course, enjoy the journey.

So, let's go

Do you have a proper candle making set-up? If not, read the guidelines above very carefully and get yourself to an arts and crafts shop or the online version...and, as you can see, much of the apparatus can be purchased inexpensively at a Walmart or Target in your neighborhood.

Now its just a matter of putting your plan into action.

Enjoy yourself!

About the Author

Our author is the creator of How to Make Scented Candles, an info-rich website that discusses how to make candles at home and how to use your candle making skills in developing a profitable business. For more detailed info, visit=> How to Make Candles at Home

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