Light My Fire
As a kid I tried few times to make candles by myself, with some help from my Dad. Well, they were never very good, mostly because I couldn’t make a good wick.
Last two years me and Michel didn’t throw out the remains of the candles we are using at home /and we use many candles ;-)/ and he always says that one day we can make new candles from them.
I decide to try last Saturday and, armed with Google, I found many different advices for making a good candle wick.
Of course, I didn’t have all that I need for it, so I just improvised, but the good news are that it was very successful try.
The candles are just fine and not only they look nice, but they burn well. Our big joy and pride is the fact that the wicks are ok and candles burn better than some of the originals we ever bought.
If you decide to make your own candles at home, there are many places in the net you can find useful advices. Anyway, that’s how I made our wicks:
1. Thick cotton thread for doily;
2. You twist it twice or even four times, if for bigger candle, and twist it like for making a plait;
3. Soak it in solution of (in my case) liquid paraffin, vinegar and lime or lemon acid;
4. After 15 minutes or more soaking let it dry well;
5. Dip it in some molten wax and hold it under running cold water for a while, to harden.
I guess you’ll find the making of candles at home very pleasant, just like me.
And its surely useful, as you can use the remains of all candles, instead just throwing them.
Very good technique (for making the candles’ wicks)!
As for the making of the candles themselves, just pour molten wax (use remains of old candles, for example) in a suitable shaped vessel, and make some space for the wick, and that’s it.
:-)