Candle Making Molds
If you make candles at home as a hobby, you are not alone. Candle making is one of the more popular crafting hobbies out there, and because of that, there are a lot of products on the market that are available to you to help you make better candles, faster and easier. One such product out there is the candle making mold. Candle making molds are great, and no matter what type or shape of candle you want to make, you can find a mold out there to suit your needs.
A candle mold is basically a container that you pour hot wax into and let cool. The wax will stay in the shape of the mold when it has finished cooling, and then you have your candle. Candle molds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you can find them in a variety of different materials, too. They can also serve a variety of different uses.
Aluminum Candle Making Molds
One of the most popular types of candle making molds are those made of aluminum. At home candle makers like aluminum molds because they are both heat resistant and durable. Aluminum candle molds give the candle the appearance of being professionally made, as well, because aluminum molds leave the finished candle with a smooth and seam free surface. This type of metal mold is frequently used for crafting both pillar and votive candles. Another added bonus to aluminum candle making molds is that they are also very easy to clean and relatively inexpensive when you compare them to the cost of other types of molds, such as rubber.
One down side that candle makers often cite for aluminum molds, however, is that they are not flexible, so you do not have much choice in the matter when it comes to the shape, size or even the texture of the candle you create with it. If you are looking for more versatility like that, then rubber candle making molds like polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are going to be your best bet.
Polyurethane Candle Making Molds
Polyurethane candle molds are flexible, though they do not stretch very well. They are also usually slightly cheaper than silicone molds are. One problem with some polyurethane molds is that they tend to have a strong odor that can be passed along to the candle itself, and like metal molds, they require a releasing agent to get the candle out. These molds are commonly used to make pillar and taper candles.
Silicon Molds
The other popular type of rubber candle making molds is silicone. They are the most expensive molds, but they are also the most versatile and useful and an important consideration for candle making at home. They leave no seams or lines in the finished candle, and they are flexible as well as stretchable. The stretching means you can pull the candle out without having to use a releasing agent. After that, you have latex and plastic. You can make your own latex molds by purchasing spray latex and coating objects with it, but this can get tricky.
Plastic Candle Making Molds
Plastic candle molds are the least expensive of the lot but they are not always the best. One of the biggest negatives with them is that they have a shorter lifespan then the other types of molds because they are more brittle.
On the positive side, plastic molds are exceptionally easy to clean. All that is required to clean them is some warm water and a little soap. Just make sure that the mold is completely dry before you use it again or you could get water bubbles in your candles. And you definitely don’t want that.
Plastic candle making molds are the ideal choice for the beginner that is just getting started out in candle making at home. As you become more experienced you will begin to acquire more and more molds and will begin to identify with the advantages of using molds of different material.
Using Candle Making Molds
The basic steps for using any candle making molds are quite simple. You typically want to start by lightly lubricating the inside of the mold with a releasing agent. A tip that can be used here to save from having to buy an expensive releasing agent is to use a standard, household cooking spray or vegetable oil.
Step 2 – Cut the wick
Prepare the candle wick by first measuring the length of the candle making mold and then cutting the wick 2 or 3 inches longer.
Step 3 – Place the wick
Use a wick tab and fasten the wick to it and place it in the bottom of the mold. Caution should be made here to ensure that the wick tab is centered. Using a small drop of melted wax will help ensure that the wick tab is held in place. Note that the wick can be added after pouring the wax too; it’s really just a matter of personal preference.
Step 4 – Suspend the wick
Bring the other end of the wick up to the top of the mold and loosely tie it to a popsicle stick or pencil that spans across the opening at the top of the candle making mold.
Step 5 – Pour the wax into the mold
Ensure that the wick is straight and aligned up the center of the mold and you are now ready to pour the melted wax.
Candle making at home requires practice and patience – take your time when choosing your candle molds to get the ones that will work best for you and give you the kinds of candles you are looking for. It may take some experimenting, but there are tons out there for you to try, which will make it both easy and fun!
