Rolled Beeswax Candles: Introduction
Warm Your Wax
Beeswax sheets for rolling candles should be slightly pre-warmed. If the sheets are too cold, they will not roll evenly and may even crack or split. If the sheets are too warm, they will be too soft to roll evenly, the honeycomb pattern on the wax will get flattened and your fingers may leave marks in the finished candles. Ideally, store your beeswax sheets at room temperature and warm them slightly before use. Try using a hairdryer or placing them near a warm radiator for 5 or 10 minutes prior to use.
Use a Pizza Cutter
Use a warmed pizza cutter to cut the sheets. Warm it by holding it over a candle flame for a few seconds or immersing it in hot water and then wiping it dry with a paper towel. After you’ve cut a few sheets, you may find the cutter won’t cut easily, so repeat the process to clean it.
Cuddle Your Wick
In order to achieve a candle that burns evenly and steadily, it is important to ensure that there is good contact between the wick and the wax – with no air between them. Therefore, the first wrap is the most important. Press the wax well into the wick on all sides. Then spread your fingers across the length of the candle for even rolling. The tighter you roll the candle, the longer it will burn, since there will be less air in the candle to speed the burning process.
What Wick?
When making beeswax candles, always use square braided wick. This type of wick burns with a slight curl to minimize carbon build up at the end of the wick and is designed to be used with waxes that are highly viscous – such as beeswax. Other wick types (e.g. paper, or zinc, core) are either too thin or burn to cool to use with beeswax (which also has a very high melting point) and, if you try to use them, your candle will either burn poorly or simply keep going out.
Wick Size
If you’re buying wick from a supplier who specialises in paraffin wax, buy a wick that is 1 or 2 sizes larger than the diameter of the candle you will be making. Wax suppliers often quote wick sizings for use with paraffin wax – which uses a smaller wick per unit diameter. Then test your new wick by making just one candle and checking that it burns well without any “mushrooming” (carbon build up at the wick tip) or dripping.
Wick The Right Way Up
Always ensure that the ‘V’ shapes in your square braided wick will end up the right way when the candle is burnt — the pointed end pointing downwards. This will allow the wick to bend as it burns.
Finishing Off
When you’ve rolled all of the wax, press the the outer edge into the candle. If you can, warm the final inch or so of wax using a hairdryer just before rolling it. The final candle will look better and won’t unravel during storage.
Putting It Out
To extinguish a beeswax candle, always use a candle snuffer and make sure the wick is completely extinguished. Square braid wick can continue to glow for a significant time if it’s not extinguished properly! Ideally, use a metal hook to dip the wick into the wax pool to extinguish it and then immediately straighten the wick again.
Safety First
Above all, remember… NEVER leave a burning candle unattended or alone with children!
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