Caution: Paraffin is easily combustible.
Do not heat paraffin directly over the burner. Use a double
boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water.
I put the coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the
rings, not the flat lids).
If the can is not set on top
of something, the concave bottom creates a vacuum when the
water begins to heat up, plus if it's on the bottom of the
pan, it's just that much closer to the burner.
Candle Craft Supplies
- 1-quart beverage carton (milk, fabric softener, or orange
juice type)
- 1 pound of paraffin wax
- 4 or 5 old crayons
- 2 trays of ice cubes
- double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan)
- 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six
inches long.
- (Ed. Note: purchase candle wicking at your local
crafts store
Trim the top part of the carton off so that what remains
is about six inches high. Cut the string to six inches long.
(To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces
of string together.)
Melt the paraffin wax over medium
heat in a double boiler
or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a
pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares
for a larger candle. Once the water begins to boil, it will
take 10 or 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt.
Break the crayons into small pieces and add to the melted
paraffin. If the crayons are added first before the wax is
melted, the color makes it difficult to see if all of the
paraffin is liquefied.
Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip the
string into the paraffin. Dipping the string will ensure that
it is coated with paraffin since the ice cubes may prevent
some sections from coming in contact with the liquid wax.
Hold the string so that it is in the middle of the carton
and fill the carton with ice cubes. Pour the hot paraffin
over the ice cubes.
The candle will be set in about 30 minutes. Let the candle
stand for another hour or two until most of the ice cubes
are melted. Pour off the water. Peel off the carton. Place
the candle in a tray or on a plate to catch the rest of the
water from the ice cubes as they finish melting. Let the candle
dry and harden for a day or two.
TIP : The candles I have made with a single piece of
string only burn for an hour or so and burn quickly enough
so that most of the paraffin remains intact. (To make a
wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string
together.) To use the paraffin again, melt the candle and
pour the wax into other containers to make solid candles.
Solid Candles
To make solid candles, select several glass containers. Pint
or half-pint canning or jelly jars work well.
For the wick, measure out a few more inches of string than
is needed to reach the bottom of the container. Tie the string
around a pencil. Put the pencil across the top of the container
to hold the wick in place.
When the paraffin and crayons are melted, pour the liquid
wax into the container(s). When the candle is set, snip off
the wick about a half inch above the wax.
Scented Candles
To make scented candles, put three or four teaspoons of vanilla
extract or several drops of essential oil into the bottom
of the double boiler (or the coffee can) and then add the
paraffin and crayons. When the wax is melted, pour into containers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ©2003 LeAnn
R. Ralph
LeAnn R. Ralph is a freelance writer in Wisconsin.
She is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer
(the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers'
Assoc.) and is the author of the book: Christmas In Dairyland
(True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003). Share
the view from Rural Route 2 and celebrate Christmas during
a simpler time. Click here to read sample chapters and other
Rural Route 2 stories -
http://ruralroute2.com
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