Making Taper Candles

Making taper candles is somewhat intimidating, but they're not actually any more difficult than any other kind of candle you make yourself.

When you're talking about making taper candles, there are actually several different ways you can go about it.

First, you can take sheets of beeswax and wrap them around a piece of wick, making a taper-style candle. You can also sometimes purchase plastic molds that are shaped like taper candles, which allow you to make a taper candle in much the same way you would make any other candle in a mold.

Finally, the project most people probably think of when they think of making taper candles is the process of dipping a piece of wick into a coffee can or specially designed taper candle making melt pot. The more you dip the wick into the pot, the thicker your candle will be.

If you've never made a taper candle before, you might want to start by making a beeswax taper. Beeswax is sold in sheets that are all different colors. You can choose a classic color like beige or a bolder color for a more contemporary look. However, many colors of beeswax sheets run more toward pastel shades than actual bright colors.

Start with a length of wick a couple of inches longer than you want your finished candle to be. You can simply roll the wax onto the wick, tapering it a one end, or you can jazz it up by trying different colors. For example, take two sheets of beeswax, each a different color, and cut them in half diagonally. Stagger them slightly so you can see both colors and form them around the wick. Start at the wide end and your candle will automatically taper at the top.

Sometimes you can find taper candle molds made either of plastic or metal at your local craft store. You can also find them online at shops like Candle Chem and Candlewic.

Using these molds is the same as any other kind of candle mold, with the exception that the plastic molds might need to be held upright. A box full of sand or a couple of heavy aluminum food cans can help with this step.

Follow the regular procedure you would use to make any other kind of candle, being careful not to overfill the mold. Be careful when removing the candle from the mold, allowing it to cool completely before doing so.

The final way of making taper candles involves dunking the wick in the melted wax as many times as necessary to get the candle the size and shape that you want. You have a lot of control in this method, because you can make long, skinny candles or short, fat candles, depending on how many times you dunk the wick.

Start by melting your wax in a coffee can or a wax melting pot. Add your dye and color, if desired, and stir well.

To make the candle, simply dip your length of wick into the wax, then lift up again. Keep going up and down in a smooth, steady motion, not leaving the wick in the wax for a very long time each pass.

Remember to take the wax off the heat before you begin dipping, or it will get too hot. Tie the end of the wick that's not going into the wax around a dowel, chopstick or wooden skewer to make it easier to hold onto. You will also use the stick to hang the candle from as it dries. Use a cardboard box that's deep enough to hold the candle without having it touch the bottom, or any other box you have on hand.

Making taper candles in this way is tedious, but the results are really lovely. It's worth the time and effort to be able to decorate your table with a bunch of beautiful taper candles that you made yourself.

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