Candle Making

Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are hydrophobic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give low viscosity liquids. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, non-polar solvents. Natural waxes of different types are … Read more

Candle making was developed independently in many places throughout history. Candles were made by the Romans beginning about 500 BC. These were true dipped candles and made from tallow. Evidence for candles made from whale fat in China dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). In India, wax from boiling cinnamon was used for … Read more

Beeswax (Cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into “scales” by eight waxproducing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, who discard it in or at the hive. The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey-storage and larval and … Read more

A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance such as tallow that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. It can also be used to provide heat, or used as a method of keeping time. A candle manufacturer is traditionally known as a chandler. Various devices have been … Read more

*Dissolve 2 tablespoons of table salt and 4 tablespoons of borax in 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Soak a 1-foot length of regular cotton kite string or twine in the solution for 15 minutes. Hang each string with a clothespin for 5 days to be sure it is completely dry. Use a paperclip to … Read more

It is strongly suggested that rendering of tallow be done outside. There are two major reasons for this. Most important is the extremely high potential for fire. Second, the boiling fat will leave a greasy coating which is difficult to remove. Care should be taken to not overfill the pot and to keep the tallow … Read more

Necessity is the mother of invention and early candles sometimes took rather bizarre forms to utilise available resources. The use of, and improvements to candles has parallelled man’s ascent from the stone age. There is no historical record of the first candles used by man, however clay candle holders dating from the fourth century B.C. … Read more