How To Make Gel Candles – Floating Ornaments That Dazzle
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Everyone loves candles but recently gel candles have been the craze. The ability to get creative and artistic with them is one explanation. You can personalize them without difficulty…adding your own character when using as a gift. Another reason is that they last longer than paraffin or wax candles as they burn at a slower rate.
When buying the wax to make gel candles bear in mind that there are three densities of gel wax available -high, medium and low. If you want exceptional fragrance in your candles, high density gel wax will be the best choice since it will be able to hold the fragrance better than medium or low density wax. This means that the scent of the candle will be stronger.
Use a non-stick mult-cooker instead of a double boiler, skillet or sauce pan when melting wax to make gel candles. This is because the multi-cooker speeds up the melting process…since gel wax is thicker than other waxes.
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Be sure not to use anything made of wood for stirring the gel wax. Use something made from hard plastic or metal to minimize bubbles in the gel wax .
Due to the high viscosity of gel wax, you may find it challenging to pour gel wax into the mold…be patient as you pour. In addition, molding time will be longer due the consistency of the gel wax.
One of the splendid advantages of a gel candle is the thickness of the gel and how it can “suspend” or “float” different types of objects in your candle. By using bright, rich liquid dyes, you can get creative and change the color of your gel candles. The transparency of the gel wax is preserved by the liquid dyes. It only requires a few drops, so be careful when adding it to your wax. You don’t want to use too much and mess up your candle.
Do not use soap dyes, food color, clothing dyes, or even childrens crayons. The use of these materials will cause it to burn differently since these are not made for candles!
These techniques will allow you to make gel candles fast while having lots of fun!
Why not see how to make beeswax candles next?
