How to Make Hand Dipped Candles

Candle making can be either a great hobby or a profitable business venture. It is actually quite simple, once you learn the basics. If you already have the basics down cold, why not experiment with hand dipped candles. These unique creations take more time to make, but they can be quite stunning. One way to make them very interesting is to use several colors on each candle.

If you already are an experienced candle maker, you will have the basic tools needed to make hand dipped candles. Get out your double boiler, and a large amount of paraffin wax, your long wick material, the thermometer and a stirring stick or spoon. You will need color - either in the form of chips, powder, cakes or liquid. If you want to add scent, make sure you have a fragrance oil, not one with an alcohol base. If you want to have candles with more length than the depth of the double boiler, then use a dipping can with depth, and place it in a water bath.

Prepare the wax just like you do for regular molded candles. Once it reaches the 160F temperature, lower the heat, just so the wax stays liquid. Add the color and scent (if you are using it). Add the color slowly, until you reach the desired intensity. Mix in the scent, using a small amount so your candle will burn properly.

Now, cut a piece of wick that is about 3 times the length you want your candle to be. Place the wick over a stick or wooden spoon, so equal amounts hang over each side of the supporting stick. This way, you'll be making two candles at once. Dip the wicks into the hot wax, making sure it is coated well. Raise it out of the wax, and allow the waxed wicks to cool and harden for about 30 seconds. Then dip them again and again, allowing the short cooling time between dips. If you want a multi-colored candle, then prepare more than one color of wax, so you can dip into differing colors. Once the candles are as thick as you want, form the top to a point (easy to do before the wax is cold), and give them one more quick dip to give a smooth finish.

Hang the candles to cool and harden. Once they are hard, you can trim the bottoms flat with a sharp craft knife. Sounds quite easy, doesn't it! However, this process can be a bit tricky at first. If your finished candles aren't quite what you anticipated, you can easily melt them down and use the wax over again. As they say, practice makes perfect.

Although this process is time consuming, you can make some really attractive pairs of tapers this way. You can design your own hand dipped candles by varying the colors, by pouring a final color over parts of the candle, or even by dipping into a series of colored waxes. Why not find a good candle making book with colored photos, giving you step-by-step directions for various candle creations. Another source of good ideas and dipping directions is online candle websites. Whichever you choose, have fun with this.

Source : ezinearticles.com