We can cover some of the basics here, but you’ll want to do some more reading before you seriously get into candle making. This is one craft where you may find a kit is a good investment; it will give you all the things you need to make your first candle and see if it’s something you and your child want to pursue. A good candle-making kit is available through the Lark Books catalog.
Project: Candle Making
Level: Medium Age: 7 and up Materials needed: Candles you have around the house (for novice candlemakers), cotton string, an old pot, a large, clean, empty can, old newspapers, an old pencil, the mold or container of your choice, a double boiler (you can create one using the can and the old pot) Directions: Perhaps the easiest and least messy way to get kids involved in candle making is to use sheets of beeswax that can be rolled or layered together and cut into shapes. Add a wick and voilà, you’ve made a candle! A mixture of three parts paraffin wax and one part block beeswax is a good formula for container or molded candles. Note that paraffin wax comes in different melting points, and the type of candle you’re making will determine which melting point wax you’ll need to get. There’s container wax (130°F) for poured candles that will stay in their containers, mold wax (139-143°F) for candles that will set in a mold and be removed, and dipping wax (145°F) for making dipped tapers. There are also various additives that harden candles, extend their burning time, or change them in some other way. You can experiment with stearic acid, lustre crystals, clear crystals, and other materials. You can also embellish the outside of your candle with items like coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, and dried flowers. Candles can be colored and scented, too. Wicks come in different types and sizes. The types are flat braid, square braid, metal core, and paper core. The sizes are small, medium, and large diameter. The larger or longer-burning the candle, the larger diameter the wick. There are a variety of molds available – from metal and plastic to soft rubber, hard rubber, and acrylic. You can also make molds from things you find around your kitchen, such as wax-coated fruit juice cans, milk cartons, canning jars, paper cups, and various empty food containers. Terra-cotta pots and small galvanized buckets also make good containers.
