Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => CRAFTING CORNER => Topic started by: dale_2275 on May 07, 2008, 07:34:47 pm

Title: Candle Making questions
Post by: dale_2275 on May 07, 2008, 07:34:47 pm

Hello,

I'm playing around with candle making and got about 20 lbs of raw wax from the local bee supplier.

I ordered votive wicks from Betterbee and a mold and thought I was good to go. 

Melted the wax down in the double boiler, to about 180 F, poured through some old nylons and into the mold. 

The problem is that they don't burn well and actually drown in wax (I think the term is pooling).  I spoke to someone at Betterbee and she suggested that I need to boil the wax in water to separate out the honey.  I did that and it seems a bit better but not enough to say that it's working.

Someone suggested that the wick is too small but the wick was made specifically for votives so I assumed it would work. 

Any idea would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Dale

Title: Re: Candle Making questions
Post by: Brian D. Bray on May 08, 2008, 11:44:58 pm

Ideas:
Use a solar wax melter to render the wax, it is usually made to filter out foriegn matter.
Try doing the old dip method 1st.  Put a small split shot (fishing weight) on the end of a length of wick and dip, after it has a few layers clip the split shot of and dip until it has the size and shape you want.  Easiest way to make tapers and can keep kids amused for hours.

Title: Re: Candle Making questions
Post by: ooptec on May 14, 2008, 08:09:59 pm

Hey,

Beeswax candles need square braided cotton wicks.

For votives try #2 as most useable in different smaller candles or #1 if want to burn longer.

cheers

peter