Make a beeswax candle. Magic candles made of honeycomb and wax with your own hands. Required initial investment

What is beeswax? 4 commercial grades are considered, including wax for foundation, and it is indicated by what technology candles are made - 3 standard and 7 artistic technologies.

Beeswax is the basis of additives E901 and E902, that is, food and candle wax. In the Russian GOST, the properties of another product are indicated - raw materials for foundation. The foundation sheet must be of the highest quality, otherwise the bees will not accept it. Other natural grades exist, such as E903 carnauba wax. You can start making any candle from wax by studying the properties of this material.

Compliance with safety regulations in the manufacture of candles

The wax will already melt at 65°C. When heated to 100 °C, a whitish foam will appear.

Protective apron when working with wax

The critical temperature is considered to be 120 ° C, when vapors are released that can flare up. Therefore, at home, wax is melted in a water or steam bath.

You can not extinguish the flame with water - there will be an explosion. Use soda. And to block the access of oxygen, any improvised means will do. Before work, they put on a canvas apron, gloves, and clothes should hide the maximum surface of the body.

Preparing to make beeswax candles

Equip the workplace:

• Install a container with soda powder;
• You also need a pot or bucket of water in which you can put both hands;
• Remove grease and wax from equipment parts;
• The room must be ventilated.

Prepare dishes - iron, enameled, copper. Aluminum will smell.

Steam and water

A sponge is placed at the bottom of the container with water, and dishes for melting are placed on the sponge. The water level must be above the wax. The steam bath does not work like this: there is a bowl on the dish with water that covers the entire steam tank.

With a steam bath, the main thing is not to make a mistake with the volume of evaporated liquid. And the raw materials are washed, cooled and crushed before melting.

Tools and materials for making beeswax candles

You need to think about what to make a candle wick from. Usually three cotton threads are twisted or braided. You will also need:

• Pencil;
• Weight (can be taken in a tea candle);
• Needle for the wick, but only when making short candles.

Forms can be made from any material, but first they are lubricated with detergent. Wooden molds can be lubricated with vegetable oil.

Product E901

The base material is better to buy in granules, and wax E901 is white and yellow. Wax candles are of high quality, but they are sold only to beekeepers.

Materials for coloring candles

The dye is added to the melted wax and mixed. Materials:

• Wax crayons. Edible crayon cannot be made from paraffin.
• Fat-soluble food colors - powder, gel, paste;
• Acting makeup, but not much, 2-3 gr. per liter;
• Kandurin (gold), glitter (aluminum sequins). The glitter will leave a smell.

Gel dyes are suitable for both gel and wax candles.

food coloring

Makeup emits harmful substances, but it is needed for pastel shades.

Do not use dyes that are soluble in water.

Steps for making beeswax candles

Wax is brought to T=80 °C. The wick must be waxed by tying a weight to it and fixing it on a pencil. Next, the wick is fixed on the mold:

• The weight remains on the thread;
• The thread with the knot is passed through the hole at the bottom of the mold.

If a tunnel can be made in the candle, this step is skipped.

Candle without thread

At “step 2”, a dye is added, and a flavoring agent is added before pouring.

Pouring material into a mold

Even before melting, the mold is immersed in a detergent solution, then wiped, but not dry. It will be obligatory and warming up with a hairdryer.

Shape set

The wick must be vertical. The wax is then poured into the center of the mold.

Wax almost does not shrink, and hardening goes from the edge to the center.

Removing the candle from the mold

If a weight was used, the candle is pulled by the wick. For the variant with a node, this method is not suitable. The knot is cut off, and needles, hooks, etc. are used to extract it. With a form without a bottom, this method is also used.

If the mold is flexible, the candle can be squeezed out.

Types of wax candles

A compound candle always consists of the upper and lower halves. And candles with a short wick are sculptures that do not have a regular wick installed. Figured candles are obtained only in detachable or disposable forms. An example is geometric shapes. How to make such candles with your own hands, for beginners, is described in the video.

Figured wax candles at home

The form is made of paper, glued and painted over from the outside. Staining is carried out in order to seal the joints.

"Geometry"

A wick with a weight is installed, casting is carried out. The form is removed after cooling.

The valves at the joints will be only "external" (see photo).

DIY beeswax candle with floral motif

When using silicone, you can create a three-dimensional ornament. The detachable form is pulled together with clamps, and the wick is tied into a knot. With a one-piece form, on the contrary, a wick with a weight is used.

You can try to make a mold from 5-7 layers of sealant.

The sealant is applied to the sample covered with oil.

Do-it-yourself openwork wax candle

If pieces of ice are added to the mold, the finished product will be openwork. An example is in the photo.

Ice is lighter than water, and wax even more so. As it cools, the melted ice flows through the holes.

Precautions: the wick with a weight is glued to the bottom of the mold.

Colored wax candles

It’s even amazing what you can do with wax with your own hands, without using either silicone or paper.

Layer alternation

A candle of constant section is immersed in colored wax, alternating several layers. You don't need to wait for drying. Get a smooth transition or more complex effects.

White wax is the base material.

How to make a beautiful big wax candle

Take a multi-layer workpiece. And on the edges they make “leaves”.

carved ornament

All tiers are processed with a cutter in turn. Start from the top tier.

The previous chapter covered how to make an interleaved layer.

How to make a wax rose with your own hands

The basis of a rose is a waxed wick. It is wrapped in petals.

wax roses

A small master class:

• The wax is poured onto a saucer;
• At T=37-40 °C the plate is removed with a thin knife;
• Form a layer of petals.

The more layers, the more solid the result.

The plate, without removing it from the saucer, is sometimes cut into 2 or 3.

Candle made from palm wax

Product E903 is supplied in granules which are poured into glassware. The surface must be leveled, and a waxed wick is installed in the center.

Wax pellet candles

The design looks simple. But a wick 10 cm long will not burn out even in a day.

Other names for E903 wax are Carnauba, Brazilian, Palm.

Nuances in choosing a wick

Beekeeping magazine determined what the optimal wick diameter is if the raw material is foundation.

These data are also valid for E90X materials. The color of the E901 granules does not play a role. And for the product E902, the numbers in the first line must be reduced.

When making candles from beeswax, they also make a wick with their own hands. Impregnation can be copper sulphate, salt or zinc filings. And the flame will be painted in the color of a sea wave, light blue or cornflower blue. And the material is cotton thread.

Video - Master Class

Benefits and uses of beeswax ear candles

A tube of gauze with wax will help remove the sulfur plug. The method is not approved by medicine, but it is used in Asia.

Waxed gauze

Mode of application:

1. Cut off part of the cone;
2. Cover the patient's head with a cloth made of natural material (linen), make a slit;
3. Install the tube and set fire to it;
4. Extinguish the flame when it reaches the mark.

Then, for 15 minutes, a cotton wool turunda is installed.

Benefits of beeswax candles

A tubular candle helps to get rid of diseases:

• Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), rhinitis, otitis;
• sinusitis;
• Hearing loss;
• tinnitus, dizziness;
• Sleep disturbance.

Antibiotics are needed to cure the infection. Without them, the benefit of the considered method will be zero. And if the wax gets into the ear canal, there will be a difficult treatment, however, without surgical intervention.

Another “minus” is the fire hazard. Contraindications: purulent otitis media, ear infections, allergies to pollen or propolis.

Candles with their own hands. Why and who needs them?

It makes no sense to ask what is the use of art for a person. Still can't find an answer.

Technology "3 layers + thread"

From everything that is discussed above, the benefit will be to the master himself, that is, to the author of the work. And if it turns out to be successful, it can be used in any of three qualities:

• As a bright and memorable gift;
• As a business card of products offered by the beekeeper;
• As proof of the naturalness and high quality of wax raw materials.

The number of candle painters in Russia is now small. And success does not come to those who try to copy one of the well-known technologies. The possibility of inventing a new technology is another reason to master the candle business, and it is better if the beekeeper masters it himself.

Use of wax at home

Glaze and chocolate are prepared with edible wax, it is part of chewing gum. Medicine uses the bee product in a different way - it serves as the basis for ointments and is an important material for dentistry. And the product corresponding to GOST 21179-2000 is intended not only for foundation. It is used in the same way as E901 granules.

Use in traditional medicine is not considered here.

Data

White granules E901 look like paraffin. It is impossible to distinguish one from the other by color.

A new kind of art

However, a paraffin candle leaves soot on the mirror. Other disadvantages are listed below.

How to expose paraffin

A natural product should sink in 44% alcohol. The density of paraffin is lower and it floats. Also, paraffin melts at a lower temperature than wax. But this problem is solved in its own way - they add natural ceresin. Its melting point is 65-88 °C.

Regardless of what is added, the density only goes down.

Candlestick cleaning

It is easy to clean the candlestick from wax - you need hot water, optionally boiled. And soot leaves paraffin or ceresin. To clean it off, you need chemistry. And let it be neutral in relation to enamel or coating.

The second way to remove wax is to freeze to T = -1 °C - -2 °C.

The composition of the candle

The products of some candle factories leave no doubts about the high quality.

Candles in retail

What is considered a food product is used for casting candles! But more often a mixture of wax and ceresin is used. The first of the two components is the E902 wax.

Comparison of the cost of E901 and E902: "2.5 to 1" or "3 to 1".

Disadvantages of paraffin candles

A thin synthetic wick is a sign of a paraffin candle. The burn rate depends on the diameter of the wick. And the soot left by candles consists of paraffin combustion products. Among them, a significant part of the entire periodic table is represented.

Wax, consisting of 50 organic substances, does not leave any soot.

Beeswax has many unique properties. In addition to medicine, it is also used in other areas. Alternatively, you can make your own candles from beeswax. This process will not require much time, effort and financial costs. Candles create a special atmosphere, especially if they are made by hand. How to make candles from beeswax with your own hands? Following simple recommendations, creating them will be very simple.

Necessary materials

It is no secret to anyone that today candle manufacturers use paraffin to create them. But few people know that this substance, when burned into the air, releases toxins that do not affect our body in the best way. There is a way out - candles can be created from beeswax without leaving home.

To make a quality product, you will need:

• beeswax;
• stearic acid;
• cotton cord - you can buy it at the store or use a thick cotton thread, after dipping it into a melted wax substance and waiting until it hardens;
• for a pleasant aroma, essential oils are selected based on their own preferences.

candle making process

To create a candle with your own hands, you will need to take 90% yellow or bleached wax and about 10% acid.

Creating a candle involves the following steps:

1. Wax is chopped into small pieces or, alternatively, rubbed on a coarse grater. It is placed in a water bath together with acid, it is necessary to wait until the mixture is completely dissolved.
2. After it is removed from the fire, it cools. Various oils are added to it - 50-60 drops per 100 grams of wax.
3. Cups with thickened walls are being prepared. You can also purchase special interesting shapes for candles. A hole is made at the bottom into which the wick is pulled. It must be stretched strictly vertically, so it will need to be fixed somehow, for example, tied to a small stick and placed vertically on the form.
4. The wax mixture is poured into a cup or mold.
5. The product is cooling down.

Such candles burn much longer than those made from paraffin, in addition, they do not create soot when burned. Products made from natural beeswax have a very light honey smell, and essential oils will fill the room with a pleasant aroma.

You are on the verge of an amazing discovery of the world of candles.

In order not to throw a bunch of materials for making candles in the trash, you first need to study their properties.

• How to save your time?
• How to avoid beginner mistakes?
• How to save on materials and not throw away the money spent on materials and their delivery?
• Want to learn how to make candles yourself?
• Do you want a new hobby that you can earn money from?
• Then read the article to the end!

Of the many materials for creating candles, it is not easy to choose the right ones for you. There are a huge number of articles on candle making on the Internet, and, to put it mildly, not all of them are true. Often online stores that sell materials for candles (or for soap and candles) sell them and give the wrong advice, or simply try to sell you more (in other words, to make money on you).

It is necessary to take into account the properties of each material and separate the necessary from the secondary.

Candlemaker's desktop

Your work table, where you will make candles, should be protected from paraffin, dyes and everything with which you will create.

The table needs to be covered.

It can be an old newspaper and a magazine divided into sheets, polyethylene, old cut bags.

It is very convenient to use silicone baking mats (blue and red are mine).

Of course, before starting work, put on an apron or clothes that you don’t mind. If paraffin drops on clothes, then it will be almost impossible to return it to its original form.

Why is silicone mat so good?

Drops of paraffin that have fallen past the mold easily depart from it.

It is easy to wash.

Easy to fold, roll up and put away.

It is soft and pleasant to the touch.

Water bath accessory

The very first thing you can't do without is water bath.

All candles are made from candle mass melted in water bath, otherwise it cannot be melted. No way! In no case should you melt the candle mass in a microwave, double boiler, slow cooker ...

Otherwise, the paraffin will instantly overheat and ignite!

If you do not want a fire, then strictly follow these tips.

Only a water bath!

What is a water bath?

You will need an old metal saucepan (you will not use it anywhere else) and a smaller ladle, preferably with a long handle.

Water is heated and boiled in a saucepan, heating the candle mass in a ladle. Gradually, the mass melts. The paraffin will never reach the boiling point in this way. This means that harmful vapors will not be released into the air you breathe.

Make sure that the melted candle mass does not drip onto the stove.

Paraffin in contact with a hot object (or when boiling) evaporates, releasing harmful fumes. Do not confuse! When melted in a water bath, paraffin does not emit anything!

My pans look like these two photos. I bought one ladle in a specialized online store in the USA, I bought the second one from my hands. It is more convenient with a plastic handle, because does not heat up.

Food paraffin (P-2)

Why is paraffin called food grade? It is used in the food industry, for example, in the coating of cheeses to slow down product spoilage.

Paraffin is in shavings (loose, photo on the left), and sometimes lumpy (below in the photo). Buying paraffin in a briquette (layer) is cheaper.

• Paraffin is a product of petroleum distillation.
• The substance is white in color with a crystalline structure, in the molten state it has a low viscosity.
• Melting temperature t pl \u003d 40-65 ° С.
• Density 0.880-0.915 g/cm³ (15°C).

Pay attention when buying paraffin for its labeling. There is also technical paraffin (marked T), which contains a large% of technical oils, from which food grade paraffin is cleaned as much as possible!

It is cheaper to buy paraffin in briquettes, but in this case you will have to buy 5 briquettes in a bag, and each factory makes about 5 kg. I have already got used to it and buy paraffin in bulk, 25-45 kg each.

At retail, paraffin is most often sold in shavings (flakes), since it is easier for the seller to pour and weigh it.

What else is needed, besides paraffin, for candles?

You can only make candles from paraffin. Then you get this effect, as in the photo. After the candle hardens, the surface is obtained with bubbles, veins, or "snowy" - as someone says - that is, heterogeneous.

• This comes from the fact that the paraffin needs a so-called "plasticizer" because the paraffin hardens unevenly.

The snow effect is great for holiday candles!

What to do if we want to avoid this effect, we will analyze further.

In the meantime, check out how you can use the effect!

An important property of paraffin is shrinkage

Due to the fact that paraffin molecules have a weak bond, there is no surface tension, such as that of water, or, for example, a molten soap base. It is weak. Thus, when the paraffin hardens, firstly, it settles, and secondly, a funnel is formed, as in the photo.

• How to remove this funnel?- the most frequent question. Don't get scared at the sight of a funnel and don't think it's your fault. This funnel always appears. It's important to just hide it. But how?

It is necessary to pierce the hardening surface with a long knitting needle or a stick during the paraffin solidification process in order to remove excess air and open voids.

And then top up.

Thus, the funnel can be hidden.

Stearin

Remember we talked about the "snowiness" effect? It can be removed. Stearin can serve as a plasticizer, a binder for paraffin molecules.

That is, if you put paraffin and a little stearin in a water bath, then the effect of snowflakes will disappear, the color will be even.

Stearin is used in the production of candles as an additive to paraffin (10-20%) or in its pure form.

Solid, translucent mass, greasy to the touch.

• Melting point t pl 53-65°C.
• Density 0.92 g/cm 3 (20°C).

Stearin candles burn evenly and do not melt, they do not change their shape during thermal exposure.

But making candles from pure stearin is quite expensive. Therefore, it is better to have stearin and add it to paraffin, so that the candle mass shrinks less and the candle "flows" less.

The formula for the production of candles from paraffin and stearin:

• 80% paraffin + 20% stearin. Try it!

Natural beeswax*

*For adherents of all natural, it is possible to make candles from bees, soy (etc.) wax.

When I purchased a natural large natural beeswax briquette, I fell in love with this material at first sight! Why do we need all these artificial flavors when there is the most fragrant honey beeswax? Ehhhh...

Beeswax is a waste product of bees. Registered as a food additive E-901.

It is secreted by special glands of honey bees, from which bees build honeycombs.

Solid substance from white (with a slight yellow tint) to yellow-brown color with a characteristic honey smell.

It has strong bactericidal properties.

At a temperature of 35 °C the wax becomes plastic.

It melts at a temperature of 62-68 °C.

I pour this wax into small silicone molds (I will show these molds later). Candles are small in weight, fragrant and beautiful.

By the way, for melting beeswax, I use a separate dish, because it is difficult to wipe off the wax.

• beeswax is aromatherapy
• Hardens many times faster than paraffin
• Natural product

But, of course, beeswax - expensive product. It costs 4 times more than paraffin.

Candle molds

When you start making candles, life turns into a constant search for candle molds. Until you get professional forms.

Q-tips were my secret weapon.

They are not only round, but also in the form of a heart, a flower.

Who said that non-professional forms are bad candles?

The main thing is that the candle mass, dyes and flavors are on top. Execution, of course, too :-)

Polycarbonate molds

I purchased these forms in the USA. Forms are convenient because they are transparent.

However, polycarbonate is not eternal and cracks over time.

I recently threw away one mold (it cracked and started to leak) after 4 years of use.

Plastic molds for candles

These molds are stronger and cheaper than polycarbonate.

However, the downside is that they are not transparent.

The difference is that they have a plug (cover) at the base of the mold. This is quite convenient when you need to take out a finished candle.

Soft plastic for mini candles

These are the forms (used in the manufacture of soap).

Holes for the wick are made with a red-hot needle, and the mold is ready for making mini-candles.

Plastic Molds Milkyway Molds

There are also some very interesting plastic forms.

In Russia, I have not seen such.

Molds manufactured by Milky Way Molds, consisting of two parts. It is a durable plastic that can withstand temperatures of 200º C.

I have such forms, but I don’t make candles out of them ... they are painfully bulky ... about 2 kg!

metal molds(aluminum, steel, etc.)

Metal forms are "for centuries". Strong, stable, super, in a word. Forms are made of aluminum, steel, and other metals.

You need to be careful, because. the metal quickly heats up from the filled candle mass, you can burn yourself.

The thickness of the mold is 1-3 mm. I really enjoyed pouring candles into metal molds. Candles are smooth.

Silicone baking molds

You can use silicone molds for baking or ice: tall molds in the form of hearts, cupcakes, roses, as well as small molds in the form of fish, stars, etc. as decoration for candles.

Silicone baking molds are flexible, inexpensive, but when the bottom is pierced, they are not so durable (when the candle is removed from the mold, the hole gradually breaks through, and this leads to paraffin leakage during pouring, although this can also be solved with paper tape or other secrets, which I talk about in my master classes).

Silicone handmade molds

Silicone molds can be bought at the store. But there are such unique silicone molds that are not so easy to make, that's why I'll tell you about them. I order my silicone molds from the master. These are not all the forms that I have.

To make a candle, you need experience.

Make your own silicone mold

According to the preparation technology, silicones are two-component (the so-called "compounds"): consisting of a base and a catalyst (hardener), which must be mixed in a certain proportion before use, and one-component - ready for use.

To make a mold, we need a two-component compound. When both components are mixed, they begin to gradually solidify.

Blind your own form from plasticine or take a ready-made one (ball, toy, etc.), place it in a disposable bucket (jar or any other container, secure it firmly with glue or tape. Mix the components in a ratio of 100 grams of base and 3.5 - 5 grams of hardener and pour in. After 8-10 hours, the form is ready.

It is better if, when pouring silicone, you just leave a place where you will later pour wax. Otherwise, you will have to cut the mold and, when casting wax, strengthen it with a rope or rubber bands. The trouble is that hot wax deforms the mold.

But the next experiments showed that the silicone mold is cut lengthwise anyway (or across, which is not important for us), because the plasticine master model cannot be removed otherwise.

Be prepared for the pungent and unpleasant odor of both the liquid silicone and the cured mold. Be sure to add fragrance to the future candle, otherwise the candle mass will absorb the pungent smell of silicone.

And also do not spare the catalyst (it is better to put more on 1 g than less). Otherwise, nothing will harden, the mixture will not seize, and you will have to get the master model out of liquid, very sticky and unpleasant silicone and fill it all over again (after having fiddled with soap and a brush).

I got such a candle from a homemade silicone mold, the result and the process didn’t really delight me, so I decided to order the molds from the master. Which is what I do to this day.

Making your own plaster mold

In this case, we will make a mold from gypsum. To begin with, it is necessary to fashion the intended future shape from plasticine.

Where the form connector is supposed to be, the blades of a safety razor should be stuck into the plasticine, not very deep. The whole structure is covered with plaster. The blades will help to quickly separate the form (the frozen gypsum is not cut and crumbles into small pieces).

These are the mini-candles I got.

Wick

You can buy wicks for your future ingenious creations at candle factories or in specialized stores.

But you need to know that there are a huge number of types and sizes of wicks on sale.

It is very important to choose the right wick for a candle.

If the wick is too thick, then the candle flame will be large and the candle will burn out too quickly; if the wick is too thin, it will burn out faster than paraffin, and the candle will “choke” and go out.

For the manufacture of the wick, a natural cotton thread is used, which does not smoke or crack when burned.

Wicks are usually marked with numbers.

No. 1 - for candles up to 3 cm in diameter,

No. 2 - for candles 3-5 cm in diameter,

No. 3 - for candles 5-6 cm in diameter,

No. 4 - for candles from 6 cm in diameter.

When you get forms, just ask the manufacturer what wicks are available and buy at least 2-3 different thicknesses, so you will test your candles and understand which ones are better.

Where else can you get a wick?

If you decide not to buy paraffin and stearin yet and make candles from old candles or from purchased household ones, then the wick can be removed from the candles.

The only negative is that the thickness of the wick cannot be selected.

Purchased Wick Alternatives

• jute twine
• Cotton thread twisted several times
• Crocheted cotton "pigtail"

Dye

The candle mass and wick have been prepared. Excellent! Now the question arises: how to color candle mass? This is done very simply. When the candle mass is already melted in a water bath, add a piece of dye. I mean a dye designed specifically for candles. I have a huge number of them.

The intensity of the color depends on the amount of dye.

Keep in mind that the brightness of the color of the molten candle mass always more than cooled wax. Therefore, if it seems that the color is enough, still put a little more.

And then it will really be enough! :)

Sometimes there is no way or time to get a special dye. Read the next paragraph to understand what effect this or that coloring method will give.

How not to color candles

There are many options to make your candle unique. One of them is giving the candle color.

When I first started making candles, there wasn't much on hand as a candle mass dye.

And most importantly, there was little that was good and "competent" at hand.

Still, mixing paraffin and dyes is all kinds of chemical reactions, and you have to be aware of this neater.

Still, I wanted color. I started with gouache.

Gouache... Bad, very bad.

Fortunately, I have not preserved a single candle painted in this way.

The fact is that it is almost impossible to paint the candle mass with gouache: small particles of gouache settle to the bottom of the kindling, and even if you shake the paint a little when filling the form with wax, it still settles.It turns out a very pale shade, and from this muddy and untidy.

Once I was just visited by nostalgia (I still wanted to pour, albeit without normal dyes). And I "maybe" poured EARTH FROM A FLOWER TUB into the melted wax!!! It looked, of course, funny, a white candle, at the bottom of which something dark shines through. It seems at first glance there are no shortcomings.

Beeswax has long been considered a valuable material, it was not easy to get it. It was originally used to make candles, which were quite expensive. With the wide development of beekeeping, everything has become much more accessible. However, real wax is still common only in narrow circles of beekeepers. But if you yourself or your relatives are engaged in beekeeping, it will not be difficult for you to get material to create wax candles with your own hands, which will serve as interesting decorative elements or excellent gifts for loved ones.

Natural beeswax has many advantages over paraffin or, for example, gel. Wax candles do not form soot when burned, do not emit carcinogens. They also contain propolis and natural essential oils, which have a beneficial effect on our body when burned.

Among other advantages, it should be noted that with the spread of industry and industry, urban life, people began to lose touch with nature and therefore appreciate even small news from the green world more. And candles made from natural beeswax have every right to be considered a link between urbanization and craft origins.

Rules for working with wax

To avoid force majeure that can overtake you when working with wax, remember a few simple rules:

1. Always use an apron. It is desirable that it be made of dense canvas fabric.

1. Do not wear revealing clothing while waxing. It is better if you wear a sweater or long-sleeved shirt, so as not to get burned if hot wax gets on your body.
2. Wax starts to melt at 65o, care must be taken that the wax does not overheat, otherwise it may ignite. This can be easily prevented by heating the material in a water bath when the condition of the wax can be constantly monitored.
3. When heating wax, you need to constantly be nearby, you can not leave.
4. If wax ignites, it should never be extinguished with water, otherwise an explosion may occur. In this case, you should always have baking soda on hand.

Observing all the rules for working with wax, this activity will bring you only joy and pleasure.

Materials and preparation for work

To make original candles, you need to choose their design and color in advance, decide whether they will be scented or regular.

For work, we need the following materials and tools:

• saucepan for a water bath;
• a container for melting wax;
• candle molds. Before work, it is better to lubricate them with liquid soap, dishwashing detergent or vegetable oil;
• baking soda;
• wick. For wax candles, the use of natural cotton threads is recommended;
• dyes for wax. Natural wax crayons, food coloring (but not water-based), gel pigments can also be used;
• stick or pencil. Needed to secure the wick;
• weight for the wick;
• natural wax. It can be purchased in specialized stores in the form of foundation or granules.

Manufacturing progress

The process of making wax candles is quite simple. If everything is done correctly and all uncomplicated conditions are met, you will enjoy not only the work itself, but also the excellent result. This master class will help you navigate the choice of product and perform it in the best possible way.

First you need to melt the wax in a water bath.

On a note! If you have purchased large pieces of material, then it is better to cut it into smaller pieces.

Next, we proceed to fix the wick. We attach a weight to the lower end of the thread so that the future wick does not hang out when pouring wax into the mold. If it is possible to make a hole in the bottom of the container, then the thread is threaded there and a knot is tied at its end, in this case a weight is not required. It is desirable to wax the thread itself. Tie the upper end of the wick to a pencil or stick, as shown in the photo:

Now you can start filling the form with wax. Let the wax harden. No need to rush to pull the finished candle out of the mold, let it stay in it longer.

When the product has hardened well, you can pull it out of the container by pulling on the end of the wick. This will work if a weight is attached to the wick. If the thread is fixed on the form with a knot, you just need to cut it.

If desired, you can easily and simply give the candle any color and shape. The color is created with the help of dyes, the shape can be initially chosen curly. The easiest option is to use silicone baking molds. They are easy to handle, it is easy to get a finished candle from them, they can be found in any hardware store in a large assortment:

You can also give an unusual look to a candle using paper gluing:

It is possible to use a detachable form:

The option of using ice to create an openwork candle is very simple and interesting. When filling the form with wax, pieces of ice are added to it, which then flows out through the holes, leaving an unusual ornament:

It is possible to make a magnificent rose from wax with your own hands. This does not require special skills. Making your own petals is not difficult. It is necessary to pour the melted wax on a saucer in a thin layer, then start wrapping the plates that have not completely solidified around the wick.

Video on the topic of the article

The videos below will help you do the wax candle making job correctly and without problems:

Good day dear friends! It's almost winter now. Many beekeepers are now preparing for the next season: they are repairing the frames, stringing wire into them, buying some equipment, inspecting their farm, including the honeycomb one, melting the wax, etc. So I recently drowned wax in my small one. Immediately after that, the thought arose: where else can beeswax be used, except for how trite to change it to honeycomb? It turns out that you can make candles from natural beeswax with your own hands.

Candles with their own hands. Why and who needs them?

Many may ask: “What is this for?” Well, at least in order to please yourself and your loved ones, as a maximum - to get additional profit from the apiary.

Friends, the New Year is coming soon! I don't even believe it. Many people associate this holiday not only with fun and holidays, but also with fuss, with gifts. No one wants to deprive loved ones, leave them without attention. But after all, not always and not everyone has the opportunity for this, including the material one. Here's an idea for you: make wonderful fragrant candles with your own hands from natural beeswax, not from paraffin, not from boring chemicals, but from an environmentally friendly natural product and give it to your loved ones! Even at school, in elementary school, our first teacher Svetlana Alexandrovna told us: “The best gift is the one that is made with your own hands and with love!”. Thanks her! I remember these words for the rest of my life.

The second option may be to use the resulting product(s) for commercial purposes. The product line on the counter of the beekeeper should always strive to expand. The market does not stand still. The buyer has become picky, choosy (or vice versa illegible ...), demanding, capricious and stingy. Including stingy and in relation to their health, but that's another topic. The buyer needs to please and hit right on target, to identify and satisfy his needs for the here and now. Why not put five candles on the counter? Beautiful, quite original (so far), exclusive. I think it makes sense.

How to make a wax candle with your own hands?

I, as usual, went the way of the least material costs. It is known that molds are needed to make candles. Most often they are made of silicone. After the wax has cooled, it is very easy to remove the silicone mold from the finished candle. Plastic molds or other molds made of hard, non-elastic material can be problematic.

So, where do you get these molds for making candles? Ideally, of course, it is better to buy them in a store. There is a wide choice of shapes and sizes. There is room for fantasy. But there is one point that at the initial stage can repel - the price. The price varies on average from about three hundred rubles to three thousand for one form.

I chose a different option. I went to one of the household stores and saw a silicone baking dish. I thought, "Why not?" It cost about 300 rubles. But there are six different options for baking candles. That is, one comes out to about 50 rubles. Bought.

And here is the view from the inside.

Then there was the question of choosing a wick. I have never made candles and after thinking a little I came to the conclusion that the wick should be made of natural material, since synthetics will surely burn with the release of an unpleasant odor. Nothing better came to my mind than to buy a jute cord. Two hundred meters in the coil came out about 60 rubles. Pennies. The cost of such a wick does not even need to be taken into account when calculating the cost of one candle.

I came home, took some wax and put it in a glass jar, and put the jar in a saucepan. That is, he made a water bath. Of course, it’s better not to use glass, it can burst, but I didn’t immediately orient myself. Probably because I wanted to quickly try to make a candle with my own hands))

While the wax was melting, I chose the prettiest mold and prepared it. Immediately made a hole for the wick. I did it with a fountain pen refill. He, by the way, was also useful to me in the future. It’s more convenient, of course, with an awl or a carnation, but it was too lazy to go to get it)))

I made a hole right in the middle. It is important. Then he threaded the future wick into it.

The tail of the wick took out a centimeter by 2.5-3. Then he again took the rod from the fountain pen and fixed the wick on the inside of the mold.

The wick must be stretched strictly vertically. If this is not done, then the candle will not burn evenly.

By this time, the wax had just ripened. It remains to carefully and evenly pour it into the mold.

Yes, the form must lie on a horizontal surface. Our candle should turn out to be even.

Literally immediately, the wax began to cool, forming a beautiful pattern. Wife looked at this beauty with rapture))

Well, the wax is almost frozen. There is no need to rush to take the form. Our candle is still soft and can be inadvertently deformed.

While the wax was curing, a small amount of it flowed out through the hole we made for the wick. It turned out not to be critical. So I left our candle to cool.

Here you go. Came in a couple of hours, when the mold had already cooled down. A sign was a noticeable decrease in the size of the candle itself and a small distance appeared between the candle and the mold walls.

Can be taken out. Here's what happened. From above, near the wick, I had to trim a little with a knife, since the wax turned out to be not quite clean and there was a little honey and water in it, which flowed down to the bottom of the mold and occupied part of the cavity there. The first pancake is lumpy. Now I will know that the wax should be as pure as possible. Yes, I trimmed the length of the wick a little more.

Everything, the candle is ready! To my surprise, it even caught fire and did not go out))) You can have a candlelit dinner.

So, a brief summary on using this method of making candles from wax with your own hands.:

• ease of manufacture, low cost and availability for the beekeeper of everything necessary is a definite plus;
• wax must be clean, without impurities;
• the wick must be made of natural materials;
• the form must be placed strictly horizontally, and the wick strictly vertically;
• do not rush to remove a hot candle from the mold;
• minus - poverty of variants of forms.

Conclusion: it is possible to use this method for domestic purposes and for experimental purposes, to analyze the market (demand). However, later it is worth looking at with a more pronounced and interesting volumetric texture and theme.

Well, now, as promised, an interesting crossword puzzle. The first five people who send me a list of correct answers in free form by e-mail will receive an electronic collection of Beekeeping magazines, consisting of 333 issues of this legendary magazine!

My email address is on the page

Please do not write answers in the comments!