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	Molded Candles

3-D Turtle and Soft Drink Can

See the Candles Chapter for more instructions, hints, tips, and ideas.

Plastic molds are available at craft stores. They come in several varieties. One-sided molds are like ice cube trays or candy molds. These can be used for floating candles or thin shapes for decorating the sides of larger round or square candles. Two sided molds are used for making 3-D figures.

  

There are a lot of things that can be found around the house that can be used as molds, also. Some of these include soft drink cans, milk cartons, juice cans, muffin tins, cardboard tubes, cups (paper, plastic, or Styrofoam), and cardboard cones. The mold needs to have straight sides or tapered so that the candle will slide out.

If you use soft drink cans, cut the top off with a hacksaw and cover the sharp edge with tape.

Melt the wax and add color, hardener, ... to it. Remember that wax shrinks as it cools so you want to have some wax left over to top the candle off once or twice after the initial pouring. Make it now so it will have the same color and chemistry. To minimize the shrinkage, let the wax cool as much as possible before pouring it into the mold.

Prepare the mold if necessary. If the mold is a bit flimsy, reinforce it with stiff paper and/or duct tape. Put mold release on the inside of the mold, except for acrylic molds - don't use mold release on these. Store bought molds should have a place for the wick. For improvised molds, punch a small hole in the bottom of the mold using a nail. Tape one end of a primed wick to a craft stick. Push the other end of the wick through the hole. Pull the wick taut. The wick should be straight when the stick rests on top of the mold. Push mold sealer tightly around the wick where it goes through the hole in the bottom of the mold. This will hold the wick in place and prevent wax from draining out the hole. The candle will be poured upside down so the bottom of the mold with the mold sealer will be the top of the candle.

If you can't poke a hole in the mold for the wick (for example the muffin tins), then make the candle without a wick. Once the candle has been removed from the mold, use a hot ice pick or drill to make a hole through the center of the candle. Pour some wax into the hole. Push a primed wick into the hole and let it stand until it has set.

Pour the wax - Place the mold in an aluminum pan (to catch any excess wax) and carefully pour the wax into the mold. Make sure the wick is centered. Tap the mold or use a long wire to remove air bubbles. Let stand until the wax has cooled and hardened.

Top off the candle because wax will shrink and form a dimple as it cools. The larger the candle the bigger the dimple that needs to be filled. Use that extra wax that you made when you first poured the candle to fill in the low spot. It may be necessary to do this a couple times.

Remove the candle from the mold. Remove any tape and mold sealer first. If you can, just cut or tear the mold away being careful not to damage the candle. If you don't want to destroy the mold, turn the mold upside down and gently tap it on a table. If the candle is stubborn, place it in the refrigerator for a couple minutes and try again. See the Candle page for hints on fixing blemishes on the sides of candles.

Trim the wick - On the bottom of the candle, the wick should be trimmed completely off, flat with the bottom of the candle. On the top of the candle, leave 1/2" of wick.

Level the bottom of the candle by trimming it with a knife or place in a warm pan and rotate.

  

• Layered - Make layers of different colors. Simple add one color and allow it to harden (see the Candle page for hints on cooling it faster). After it has hardened then add another color. Repeat for as many layers as desired.
• Tilted layers - Make the same as a layered candle except tilt the mold at an angle. Tape the stick that is holding the wick so that it doesn't move. You can either leave the candle with the same tilt for each layer or put every layer with a different tilt. The last layer must be done with the mold flat.
• Cubed - Either make cubes or buy cubes of different colored wax. Place cubes in the mold after you have put the wick in place - keep wick in the center of the mold. Then pour clear wax into the mold. Consider using a thin candle instead of just a wick - it will stay straight better.
• Shapes - Instead of cubes, make shapes using a cookie cutter. Place a wick or thin candle in the mold. Arrange the shapes around the sides of the mold (remember that the candle will be poured upside down). Then carefully pour clear wax into the mold.
• Embedded - Items like flowers, leaves, rocks, or shells can be embedded into a candle. Place the items in the mold after you have put the wick (or a thin candle) in place. Carefully arrange the items around the outside of the mold so they will be more visible. Remember that the candle is molded upside down. Use a long wire to arrange items after the wax has been poured.
• Free form - Start with a container of damp sand. You can scoop out a free-form shape or the shape of an object like a bowl or cup. Place a piece of aluminum foil on top of the sand. Using your hand, press the aluminum foil into the sand until you are satisfied with the shape. If you are impressing an object into the sand, put the aluminum foil over the object and them press it into the sand. Coat the aluminum foil with mold release.