2 - Pour candles
Supplies:
- Paraffin
- Stearin
- Casting mold
- Wick
- dye
- Needle + stopper
- Libra
- Watering can
- Bain-Marie ladle
- Thermometer
- Melting table
Preparing to pour candles into molds.
Cast candles, also often called pillar candles, are formed by allowing the paraffin mixture to harden in a mold.
Molds can be made from PVC, metal or silicone molds.
1. Pour the wax into the stainless steel container and heat it to 80-90 °C in a bain-marie. Add 10% stearin.
The correct temperature of the wax is essential to obtain a smooth surface and easy removal of the candle from the mold!
Be careful when melting directly in a pan! 
2. You can get the desired shade by adding color powder to the wax (standard color).
Be careful with the dosage:
- approximately 2 - 4 g powder for 1 kg of laundry.
- color test: pour a little liquid colored paraffin into a bowl of cold water.
Always stir well or use a mixing rod.
Have you used our colored paraffin yet? The controlled composition of paraffin, stearin, dye and fragrance, gives certainty of the correct composition during candle making.
3. Preparation of the mold.
a. The pit must be adapted to the diameter of the mold.
For non-cylindrical shapes, the average diameter is decisive.
b. Use our needle which can be guided through the mold (bottom). Other needles are too thick where the wick is.
c. Use the stopper, which belongs to the needle, to close the casting mold at the bottom. Tighten the wick between the needle and the stopper.
After everything is securely fastened (wick, wick holder, etc.), the shape at the bottom where the end of the wick is located can be cut off.
Make sure the wick is straight and not twisted in the mold. The twisted shape of the wick can cause restless burning.
Always use flat wicks (these are reinforced) instead of round wicks. For stearin candles, round wicks are recommended. Cut at an angle, the wick fits more easily in the mold.
(needle+stopper )
When casting in layers, the mold can be placed in an inclined position (place the casting mold on a sand bed).
5. When the wax has completely cooled, cut the wick off the needle. Then remove the candle from the mold. If the candle is difficult to remove, place the mold in the refrigerator for a while.
Alternative pour candles:
- Garden candles
- Candles in glass
- Candles with two or more colours
- First melt stearin together with any coloring before melting the paraffin.
- Stearin promotes shrinkage, which makes the candle easy to release from the mold.
- Pouring at a low temperature (+/- 65°C) gives a rough look to the candle
- Pouring at high temperature (+/- 90°C) gives a smooth and shiny look to the candle.
- Take seasons into account if the temperature in the workspace is not stable.
- If you have used too low a temperature but still want a shiny candle without having to melt the candle, you can always use dip varnish.
- At temperatures below 71°C you will get a marbled look of the candle. You will then have to clean the mold more. This method of using lower temperatures is also called cold casting. To get a more even look you can better use marble wax.
- If the paraffin mixture has exceeded 100°C, this mixture can only be used for making outdoor candles.
- Preheating the mold will make it easier to release the candle from the mold.
- Fill the mold to within one cm of the edge to avoid extra work afterwards.
Important:
- Cover the work surface and wear an apron!
- Make sure the mold is clean and dry when pouring the wax.
- Prepare only as much color as you need.
- Check the temperature of the wash with a thermometer.
- To clean the mold, use warm water and rub the mold with a dry cloth or paper towel.
- Only light candles in the presence of adults.
- Beware of fire: never heat the wax directly in the mold.
- Never heat the wax directly in a pan or over an open fire.
- The wax vapour is flammable at 180°C.
- Never leave candles burning unattended.
- Always place candles on a fireproof surface. (See our safety regulations . )
