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Candle Making Moulds, Types And Styles
Author : Chris Taylor
Submitted : 2010-05-01 Word Count : 597 Popularity: Not Rated
Tags: candle making, candle making molds
Whether intending to make candles professionally or as a hobby, it's important to have the right candle making moulds. How a candle turns out depends on the moulds themselves. Moulds can also be called 'molds', as the former is the Olde English version of the latter, a more modern or contemporary word.
Long a source of light and more recently a source of beautiful scents and decoration, candles used to be made from animal fats and tallow, as well as other ingredients. Candle making moulds were used if certain styles of candles were wished for. The different types of moulds would decide how the candles turned out in the end.
Candles can come in three forms, as tapers, container candles or mould made candles. A taper candle is made by sticking a wick into melted wax and drawing it up and down until the wick is heavily coated and becomes the candle. A container candle is made by pouring wax into a container and setting the wick inside while the wax solidifies. Mould based candles require candle making moulds, which can be commercially purchased or made at home. The wax is poured into the mould and allowed to become hard, then later on peeled away.
Candle making moulds might be made from glass or metal, or more flexible materials like rubber, plastic, latex and silicone. Flexible materials are easier to manufacture, meaning that one can buy them in more sizes and shapes than the other kinds. It's also easier to pull a candle out of a flexible mould.
Stiff material moulds like metal and glass have longer lives than other types of candle making moulds. However, they can and do get broken, dented or ruined. Also, stiffer moulds are harder to use because they don't come in as many neat shapes and designs. They are also harder to separate from a ready candle.
Many people make their own candle making moulds at home using recyclable waxy cardboard containers. Some types of potato chips come in a cardboard tube that's coated with wax. Chinese take-out also comes in waxy containers, and both of these make great moulds. When the container is cleaned out, a pencil or popsicle stick can be lain over the opening, with the wick for the candle hanging from it. Melted wax or paraffin is poured into the container and around the wick. It will take several hours for the candle to set but in the end, the mould is easily peeled off.
Egg shells can also be used as candle making moulds, as long as the egg is cracked near one of its ends instead of in the middle. When the egg shell is cleaned, the egg shells can be placed in an egg carton for support and the hot wax poured into the shell. When a thin film shows at the top of the wax, it's time to put the wick in. The candles don't take long to settle and the shells are not removed. As the candle burns, it gives off a neat glimmer from the raggedy edges of the eggs.
Candle making can be a fun hobby but can also provide an income if someone takes it on professionally as a craft. The right reusable candle making moulds can help make all sorts of interesting candles. Making the candles themselves can be a very fulfilling experience.
Author's Resource Box
To read more great information about candle making molds, read the authors other works on candle making.