Candle Making Trouble Shooting

Knowing some candle making trouble shooting tips is always a good idea before you start making candles. With this knowledge, you can prevent trouble before it starts or at least understand what might have gone wrong.

Many of the potential problems you might have when making candles can be remedied by taking the proper safety precautions. For instance, did you know hot candle wax can catch on fire? That's why it's a great idea to heat your wax in a double boiler or on very low heat and to never, ever, leave melting wax unattended.

Before you get started making a candle, make sure you have all the materials you're going to need, including your wax, wick, mold, any colors or dyes you're planning to use, etc., all in the room you're going to be working in.

Cover all work surfaces with newspaper and prepare your mold before you start melting the wax. Measure out the amounts of wax, color and scent you'll need according to the recipe you're following. If you're winging it, take notes on what you're doing. If the candle turns out really well, you'll know how to replicate it.

Follow the steps in your instructions carefully, allowing the wax to melt fully before adding fragrance or coloring. If you want to be extra careful and precise, use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax.

Let's say you've done everything right from the aspect of safety and when you burn your candle it's still not quite what you wanted. Here are some of the most common candle making problems and how to deal with them.

A black bulb on the top of your candle wick when it burns means the type of wick you chose was too big for the candle you made. This problem can also cause candles to make an excessive amount of smoke. Next time, try a smaller size wick.

On the other hand, if the wick is too small, you'll get a sort of crater down the center of your candle and the outside part won't even melt. Again, try a thicker wick with that mold next time.

The most common candle trouble shooting issue that beginners mention is the well that's formed in the center of the candle as it cools. This is completely natural and not really a problem at all.

If you're following instructions they should note this and remind you to save off a bit of wax when you pour the candle. Allow it to harden overnight, then melt and repour your remaining wax over the top of the candle in the hole that has been created. After this second pour, your candle should have a nice smooth surface.

Another potential problem with wax is not getting it hot enough. Many candle making recipes will give specifics on how hot the wax should be when it is poured. It's a great idea to use a thermometer instead of just guessing or going by what you think the melting point of the wax you're using is.

Pouring the wax when it's too cool will give your finished candle a mottled, frosty appearance, which is kind of nice if you do it on purpose. It will also leave some waxy deposits in your molds, so make sure you clean them up after doing this, whether accidentally or on purpose.

There's one thing you should always remember when it comes to candle trouble shooting: it's just wax and wicks. You can almost always fix your mistakes by simply remelting the wax, removing the old wick and trying again.

That's actually part of the fun of candle making, too, that you can always keep trying new things or different ways of doing things. Your skills will continue to evolve with each candle you make.

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