A Lowdown on Candle Making Equipment Basics
Neither is the required equipment heavy in quantity nor in cost.
In this article, we will look at some of the basic equipment that you require for making candles.
One important point that you would like to keep in mind, is the purpose for which you are going to be making candles - would it be just for personal use, or would you be looking to market and sell your candles? This would make a difference to the kind of equipment that you acquire for yourself, for making candles, as for the latter purpose, you should ideally have equipment that stands the test of time.
Wax The primary equipment for making candles, is of course the wax that essentially constitutes them.
This wax can be of different kinds such as paraffin wax, soy wax, beeswax, gel wax and so on.
Make sure you are reasonably clear about the kind of candle that you are planning to make, as that will determine the type of wax that you use.
For instance, if you are looking to make innovatively designed, fancy candles then you might want to go in for gel wax as it is the most pliable of all the different kinds of waxes.
Overall though, soy wax seems to be making major headway in terms of its choice as the preferred kind of wax, for numerous reasons such as the ease with which it burns without any smoke or odor, the fact that it is completely natural, and lastly since it tends to burn longer than other kinds of wax such as paraffin wax.
Wicks The next most important equipment for making candles is the wick that runs through their center, allowing candles to burn.
Again, wicks can be of different types, so make sure you get the right kind of wick as per the candle that you are making.
Stove and Melting Pot Making candles requires that you melt the wax at your disposal, so that you can in turn give it the shape, size, color and formation that you desire.
This can only happen when you melt the wax.
Therefore, you compulsorily require a source of heat like a stove (though a microwave oven can also work just as fine in some cases) as well as a melting pot in which you will melt the wax.
Clipped Thermometer This is a vital equipment that you must have for making candles; the process of making candles also mandates a certain temperature up to which you melt the wax.
Thus, this thermometer would be essential for you to determine the accurate temperature at which the wax lies heated, before it can be used.
Molds and Jars In case you are planning to make molded candles, then you will need molds for them.
Likewise, if you are planning to make your candles in glasses or jars, then in that case too, you will require the requisite glasses and jars.
Safety Equipment A first aid kit as well as a dry fire extinguisher would be additional equipment that you should always have by your side, while making candles, as you never really know when you might require them.
Finally, a note on the availability of this equipment - besides standard candle stores, you should be able to easily get all of the aforementioned equipment online.