Candle making is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to create beautiful, natural candles using wax from your own bee hives. In this guide, we'll take you through the process of making candles from beeswax, including tips on how to prepare your wax, the tools and equipment you'll need, and the different methods you can use to create your candles.
Preparing Your Beeswax
- Preparing beeswax for candle making is a simple process that can be done at home. You'll need to start by harvesting the wax from your hive, which can be done by using a hot knife to slice the comb from the frames.
- Once you have your wax, it will need to be cleaned and filtered to remove any debris and impurities. This can be done by melting the wax and straining it through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.
- After cleaning, the wax will need to be re-purified by heating it to a high temperature to remove any remaining impurities.
Tools and Equipment
- The tools and equipment you'll need to make candles from beeswax are fairly basic and can be found at most craft or candle-making supply stores. You'll need a double boiler or a heatproof container to melt the wax, a thermometer to measure the temperature, a pouring pitcher and a container to hold the wax while it cools.
- You'll also need wicks, wick holders, and some form of mold to shape your candles. You can use a glass jar, metal molds or even a paper cup, as long as it can withstand the heat of the melted wax.
Methods for Making Candles
- There are many different methods you can use to make candles from beeswax, including rolled, dipped and poured.
- The rolled method involves rolling beeswax sheets around a wick to form a candle. This method is best for making small, simple candles and is suitable for beginners.
- The dipped method involves repeatedly dipping a wick into melted wax to build up the candle. This method is more time-consuming but allows you to create thicker, more substantial candles.
- The poured method involves pouring melted wax into a mold around a wick. This method is best for making large, complex candles and is suitable for more experienced candle makers.
Adding Scent and colour
- Once you have your basic candle, you can add your own personal touch by adding scent and colour to the wax. You can use essential oils, fragrance oils or even dried flowers, herbs, or spices to scent your candles.
- You can use natural or synthetic colourant to add colour to your candles. You can use powdered pigment or liquid dyes.
Making candles from beeswax is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to create beautiful, natural candles using wax from your own bee hives. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced candle maker, this guide will give you the information you need to get started. With a little practice and some creativity, you'll soon be making candles that are not only beautiful but also smell great and have a warm and inviting glow.