Melting down Candles

After unpacking, okay more like while unpacking because we all know I am still not finished, I found that all of the candles that we had brought with us were melted. Many of them so misshapen they were unusable. I couldn't just get rid of them. So, I figured I would melt them. It couldn't be that bad, right? Well, it wasn't as easy as I had anticipated but it was still enjoyable!

And I did learn, after I had done it...if you are going to melt wax you need to use a double boiler. Do not do what I did and heat it directly on the burner, because wax will flash into flames at 350 degrees. I am glad that didn't happen to me. So here is the process I took:

1. I first thought I would put them in cups out in the sun. It worked, but not as well as I planned. It gets hot enough to melt them, But not hot enough to completely melt them down.

2. Melted the candle on the stove.

3. Grabbed the wick out of the melted wax.

4. Cut the top off of a soda can.

5. Pour a little wax in the can. Note: Don't pour it in all at once or fast, the can will start bubbling and it will cause itself to tip over and make a mess all over your counter. I mean all over. I did learn this from experience, take my word for it, don't try it.

6. Fill until it is to your liking.

6. Put the wick around a skewer.

7. Place skewer on top of can and let the wick dangle into the wax.8. Poke holes in the top of the melted wax that has hardened. This helps to keep the middle from caving in while hardening.
9. Let sit for a while until hardened and not warm. About 4 hours.10. Take your heat gun and heat the top of the candle until it melts and fills in the cave in the middle. This will make the top even.

11. Let candle wax harden completely.

12. Tear off the metal can. Please don't cut yourself. That would hurt.13. And there you have it. A new candle.

Hey it's not professional, but I had allot of fun. And I learned that I won't ever try to make a candle again, it's just not my thing! So hats off to those of you who do it! My respect for you just grew a hundred fold!!! I am off to the store to buy new candles for my sconces!

And for those of you who are going to try it...to make a multi color candle: Pour the first wax in the container and wait until it forms a skin like this on the top. Then pour the second color over the top.

And you'll have something like this.

Disclaimer: I can not be held responsible for any injuries or damage created by following this tutorial. Please do so at your own risk, and use your personal judgment, wax will become flame instantly when heated to 350 degrees.