random candle making help

Elliot6267 · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:38

It's a friends birthday coming up. at the moment, she's into candles...

I thought it would be nice to make her a candle. My idea is to make it in an empty drinks bottle. I.e a glass bottle.

now I realise that the candle will be almost impossible to light once the wick has burned anywhere away from the bottle neck, but I'm hoping it will be more of a decorative piece.

as I have never made a candle before I have a few questions.

1. is it safe to make in a glass bottle
2. what am I going to need? (i.e candle making beads? or can I just melt down old candles?)

I've looked around and got a basic idea of what I need to do, just after any tips off anyone who might have experience....

thanks!

Gilly · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:43

Our lass had a go at this, it's a lot more convoluted than you might imagine

Elliot6267 · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:44

Gilly said:
Our lass had a go at this, it's a lot more convoluted than you might imagine

oh really :/

Sp00n · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:45

I have pictures in my head of the result:

After a quick google it does seem like it would be more hassle than it's worth

Ahleckz · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:45

Collect ear wax, put it in a bottle, shove a string down there, give to girl.

Easy.

StoutMeister · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:47

Wouldn't you break the bottle/mould after completion?

Gilly · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:48

Yeah.

Apparently when candle wax melts it loses something that means it can't form up properly again.

Candles are now made by mixing chemicals, the major one is stearin (which allows them to be molded IIRC). These additives are lost when the wax melts the first time, so it doesn't work properly if you try to form up melted wax.

It's amazing the rubbish I learn when our lass fails at something

If you are definitely going to try, get pre-mixed paraffin wax with stearin. Expect to ruin at least one pan.

StoutMeister · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:48

Ahleckz said:
Collect ear wax, put it in a bottle, shove a string down there, give to girl.

Easy.

Win!

Very cheap too, an austerity candle in fact.

The IPB · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:49

I made a giant candle by melting lots of other candles, and it came out OK.

Elliot6267 · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:56

StoutMeister said:
Wouldn't you break the bottle/mould after completion?

no, the idea being that it looks like its a full drink... but not... :/

Linkex · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:27

It is possible to do this - You can use Soy wax, smells better, easier to work with. You can also get dyes and scents to do the job properly.

Anyway, simple enough, get a wick, dip it in the wax and let it dry. Blob of superglue on the bottom of the wick holder and glue it to the bottom of the bottle. Give it time to dry, then pull it taught, without pulling hard enough to pull the wick out. Then, melt your soy wax, add dye and scent if you like, mix and then pour. Something the size of a wine bottle will take about 48 hours to fully dry. It'll take you about an hour or so to do if its your first ever candle and you take your time with it.

Oh, put the wine bottle in the oven at its lowest setting for a few mins before you pour - this will help stop the wax shrinking away from the inside of bottle as it cools.

Might want to try http://www.4candles.co.uk/ - Seem to be about the best selection/range when it comes to home made candle stuff.

*Edit - Forgot to say, to position the wick holder, get a bit of long thin wood, and use some wax to hold the wick holder on it. Then, once the superglue drys, just give it a twist, the wax will give before the superglue does.

div0 · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:34

Elliot6267 said:
It's a friends birthday coming up. at the moment, she's into candles...

10 posts in and no-one's mentioned forgetting the candle idea and just dipping his own wick for her birthday present?! Shocked.

Snograt · 12 Sep 2011 at 17:36

Linkex said:
Might want to try http://www.4candles.co.uk/

Surely you mean http://www.forkhandles.co.uk/