Tips For Making Beeswax Candles
One thing that most people don’t know is that beekeepers are generally more than happy to get rid of their beeswax, so this is the place to start. When making beeswax candles, ensure that they use the lighter wax that forms as a byproduct of honey. The wax should sit in water overnight in a stainless steel container. When working with fresh beeswax, you want to avoid any metal other than stainless steel, as metals will actually darken the wax before it is even melted.Once you’ve obtained the wax, making beeswax candles is a pretty simple process, with a few things to keep in mind. To begin, it is important to bear in mind that beeswax is a denser wax than others you will buy. This becomes very important when it comes to wicking your candles. For example, if you are making beeswax candles that are large, you will want to ensure that the wick is placed in the center. More so than with other candles that can be reheated with relative ease to change wick placement, it becomes more difficult with beeswax due to its density. Therefore, you should find a way to keep the wick in one spot as it dries. In large scale production at the factories, they’ve come up with a simple solution for this; tongue depressors. These are very inexpensive at your local medical supply store and unless you are starting the next Yankee Candle in your basement, one box will last quite a long time.
When you get the depressors, drill a 1/8th inch hole through the center of each one. These will not come in contact with the wax itself generally, so this is a product that will be completely reusable. Once you pour the candle, center the wick in place, ensure that it has extended completely and has no bends or kinks that you will be dealing with as the candle burns. Then simply extend the wick through the hole you’ve made in the tongue depressor, fold the wick over to keep it in place and rest it on top of the poured candle. Making beeswax candles with good wick placement is critical since the density of the wax has the added effect of making them last longer. If you mess up, not to fear, you can use a heat gun or hair dryer to melt the wax again; it just takes longer than other types of wax.
Finally, when making beeswax candles, do not under any circumstances allow the core temperature of the wax to become greater than 185 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, the wax will break down and the candle will not burn properly. Working with beeswax can produce great candles that last forever, as long as you keep these things in mind.