Gel Candle Making – How To Make Gel Candles – Making Gel Candles
What is it with making gel candles that people find hard to resist? As a gel candle making enthusiast, i feel it is my duty to teach you how to make gel candles of your own, so lets get started. The primary characteristic that distinguishes gel candle making, is that the gel has semi- soft transparent properties where non-melting decorative items can be shown. Making it a glowing attractive sight once lit. A lot of people, including myself, definitely love the idea of burning gel candles in their homes. But it is be more fun if one would be able to make their very own version to add a personal touch to their homes. Or to make something that they could give as a gift to their friends at half the cost.
Initially, this type of gel wax is a primary concern to candle makers. This is because there are three primary types of gel wax, ranging from CHP which is high density, CMP which is medium density and CLP, which has the lowest density. For light to medium scented gel candles, the CMP and CLP type is recommended. However, for those who would want to place decorative suspensions, the CHP is the most fitted for the purpose of gel candle making.
Buying a non-stick pan specifically for melting the gel wax is a good option along with a metal spoon to mix the gel mixture. To monitor this, you must keep a thermometer at hand. Wearing safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing is recommended as a precaution especially for beginners.
Providing colouring to the gel is fairly easy and only requires a small portion of the dye. Mixing in the dye drop per drop is recommended to achieve the desired gel colour. On the other hand, when it comes to mixing in fragrances, one should test for polarity first by getting test tubes containing gel wax and pouring in samples of the fragrance and observing the development of the scent for five minutes. If clouding in the mixture occurs, one should consider other fragrances since cloudy mixtures would be unsafe and may cause explosions when lit. However if the sample maintains its clear properties, such a fragrance is polar and is safe for use since it lowers the flash point of the resulting gel candle.
Making gel candles also requires careful inspection of the container where it will be placed. It is important to choose a heat resistant glass container to avoid glass shards when placing molten gel wax. This could help avoid possible explosions.
After melting the gel wax, the next process of gel candle making is the wicking. Choosing the appropriate size of wicks is crucial as this will dictate the intensity of the fire produced. The placing of decorative embellishments inside the container also follows as the gel wax is placed. These must not include plastic items that may eventually melt. Just a final reminder, for seascape themes, you must remember not to burn all the way down to the embedded objects to prevent explosion. Finally, place the newly made gel candle in a well ventilated place and after it cools down, your homemade candle is ready.
You now know how to make gel candles at home, if you want more information on candle making in general. Feel free to sign up for your free candle making mini course below. In the mean time, have fun making gel candles.
