Candle Dipping - Project for Kids or Students (not intended for professionals)
 |
|
Dipped Candles are Easy for Kids Using a Presto Pot
|
Just got an email from my kid's friend's mom. Her daughter will be making candles for a class project. Of course it is due soon. (Haven't we all been in that situation!) Here is the layout for a fun and easy craft project. This is not intended for professionals!
Don't forget to cover your work area with butcher paper, parchment paper or aluminum foil. DO NOT use newsprint or wax paper as the print and wax will come off on your counter.
What you will need--
- Presto Pot or Double Boiler
2-Large Pots
Shallow Bowl (heat resistant)
Paraffin wax with ~140 MP
15 ply flat braid wick.
Washers
Candle Dye (Optional)
Create a Double Boiler--
What you want to do fill about 1/3 of the pot with water.
Overturn bowl and put in water in first pot. (make sure to remove air pocket under bowl)
Place other pot on top of bowl. (Remember that water will be displaced when you put the other pot in.)
This is your double boiler. Double boilers are important because wax can ignite at a little over 300F. A double boiler makes it so that the wax can only get up to 212F.
Dip Your Candles
Now, add your wax to the top pot and let it melt. Add candle dye (optional). Cut wick about 18" long. Tie washers to both the ends of the wicks. Drape wick over a small piece of cardboard so that a washer is on each side of the cardboard. Now, dip your wick. Use quick smooth motions. Let cool some before next re-dip. Keep dipping until you get the desired thickness. When you are done dipping simply cut the washers off. NOTE: Don't hold wick in hot wax. It will "eat" the candle wax that is already on the wick. Remember quick and smooth motions.
Also, your candle will only be as long as your top pot is deep. So these will not make long tapers.
Have fun!!
You can use your pots again. Simply fill with water, bring to boiling and toss waxy water outside!
***YES, you can melt down old candles BUT remember that old candles are made of a lot of different stuff and may not burn well together. PLUS, you will need a lot of wax to fill your pot. A slab of about 11 pounds is only about $22 bucks and you can add your old wax to that.
Let me know if you have any questions.
2 comments
So sorry that I did not get back to you soon! We were not alerted to your comment!
The safest way I would suggest is to use something that is wrapped around the melter so that the kids can’t touch it. A fully jacketed melter is ideal but cost prohibitive. Since the kids are about 10 they should be able to know not to touch the sides of the Presto Pot or Dipping Vat. The Presto Pot is the easiest way to go for making short candles and it is a self-enclosed and stable unit. In the picture you can see small candles being made with kids. But the sides are not protected as the sides get up to about 150F and can be harsh on delicate young skin. Having some sort of heat-resistant blanket could work.
Otherwise, the tall dipping vat would work. Since the kids would be dealing with the top that is away from the heat source that would be cooler to the touch. The only issue that makes it less safe is that you would need to have it in some sort of container that could get unstable. We would put these inside of a presto pot and fill the pot with water to go up further on the outside of the dipping vat. Then we would have a container of hot wax to add to the vat to top it off from time to time. You can make longer candles this way.
A crock pot could work if it doesn’t get too hot. Often there are not heat adjustments on those so you would need to test it out.
Whatever you do, do NO put directly on a stove top or burner. You NEED to have an indirect heat source and not make the heat source hotter than 212F. Wax can combust if it gets too hot. Usually somewhere in the 300F range which can happen very quickly on a direct heat source.
Want to make these for Colonial Day in school gr 4. What suggestions would you have for safest heat source. Crock pot? Burner?