DIY tuinkaarsen maken

4 - Making garden candles

Supplies:

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Garden candles bring the coziness of the inside outside. A garden candle is also ideal for processing all the remains of candles. The black smoke, with renewed paraffin, will leave marks on walls, which can be the result of reused paraffin in the house.

Ratios of stearin and paraffin

With candle remains

Candle remains, old candles, paraffin remains

When making your first candles, you will probably use candle remains that you had or received yourself. Because we do not always know the composition of candle remains, I advise you to use the following proportions. It is also very important that the candle remains are first cleaned properly. Melt the candle remains and pour everything through a metal fine sieve in which you place one sheet of a paper handkerchief so that impurities and old wicks remain behind.

Mixing ratio:
50% candle residue
50% new paraffin
10% stearin = of the ratio of candle residues/paraffin.

Prepare the mold for casting the garden candle.

Melting kettle for paraffin 1 Heat the paraffin to the melting point ± 68°C
Keep the temperature as low as possible or until the paraffin becomes liquid.
The lower the temperature, the less the paraffin will shrink and the better it will adhere to the shape of the pot.
Add a scent such as citronella or lavender.


Wick, fuse, wick for making garden candles 2 Prepare the wick using the wick support. Wick base for fuses, metal support for wick.
You can use a double-sided sticker, but I find it easier to pour a base of liquid paraffin and then, after the paraffin has hardened, tighten the wick.
3 Tighten the wick using a needle or stick.
I like to make my garden candles BIG. They burn long and the warmth of candlelight on a chilly evening is always a bonus.

4 Pouring the mold is not unimportant. Because of the thick wick that is not waxed, you will have to pour over the wick. By pouring over the wick, the wick will be better soaked by the paraffin, this makes the candle burn stable and not 'dance' while burning. Air in a wick/candle makes the candle unstable and will smoke and go out with a small gust of wind. Our wicks are braided in such a way that the wick easily absorbs paraffin.

Finally:

Enjoy burning your own made garden candle.

Important:
  • Cover the work surface and wear an apron!
  • Pour yourself in, making sure the pot is level and on a firm surface.
  • Prepare only as much color as you need.
  • Check the temperature of the wash with a thermometer.
Warning:
  • 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 instructions )

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