Homemade Candle Wicks

Wicks are an essential part of candle making. While commercially prepared wicks are available in a wide range of styles and sizes including many specialized candle wicks, many candle makers like to know how to prepare their own special wicks.

Why Make Candle Wicks?

There are many reasons why a candle maker would want to make candle wicks. The joy of candle making for many people is the fact that by making their own candles they can create their own unique items. A candle maker can create a candle by choosing a specific wax or blend of waxes, a color, a fragrance or scent and a particular style for the candle. It is unlikely that another candle maker will have created exactly the same candle.

Creating homemade candle wicks is another way of making unique handmade candles. Unlike candle wicks that are produced by machine, no two handmade candle wicks will be the same. By making candle wicks, a candle maker has complete control over many important aspects of the wicks.

The Size of the Wick

Creating a candle wick is a good way to produce unusual or custom sizes. This is particularly useful when making wicks for exceptionally large or small candles. Creating handmade candle wicks means that a wick can be created for any sized candle.

The Materials Used

An important part of making homemade candle wicks is that the candle maker has complete control over the materials used. This is important for candle makers who have special requirements. Candle makers who create organic candles, for instance, may wish to use candle wicks that use only organic cotton or are manufactured to organic standards. Creating their own wicks might be the best way of assuring that the candle wicks meet their standards.

Convenient Wicks

Even if a candle maker does not make their own candle wicks all the time, knowing how to do so means that a candle wick can be created at any time, without the need to wait for a special delivery from a candle supply store. This is ideal for the times when a candle maker wants to make a candle, but does not have the perfect candle wick on hand.

How to Make Homemade Candle Wicks

Most candle wicks are made from braided fibers that gently burn in the wax of the candle. All that is required to make a homemade candle wick is cotton and some wax. The cotton strands are braided together to form a length of braid. Different numbers of strands can be used to create different thicknesses of candle wicks. Very large candles require thick wicks and thinner candles require correspondingly thinner wicks.

Type of Cotton

The best type of cotton to use is undyed cotton. Thin craft cotton or string will work well and gives the candle maker a greater degree of flexibility over the finished wick.

Wax

A little melted wax is required when making candle wicks. The braided wick is dipped into the wax to give it added strength. This is called 'priming the wick'. Any type of wax can be used, although most commercially produced wicks are created with paraffin wax. Other waxes, such as soy wax for making soy candles or other vegetable waxes can be used and this is often preferable for people who make natural candles.

Finding Out More

Many candle making classes and candle making Web sites offer detailed information about all aspects of candle making. This can be a great way to find out more about this fascinating craft.

Creating handmade candle wicks is a useful technique for a candle maker who wants a greater degree of control over the candle making process.