Guest Author - Benito Lugo
Using wine goblets as a container for your next candle making project will add a special touch to any occasion. Wine glasses come in many different sizes, so feel free to experiment. Add a scent of your choosing, some candle suppliers sell a variety of liquor scents with appropriate colored candle dye chips. Such as burgundy or cranberry for red wines.
Set up your work area using newspaper on countertops and tables to catch any spills and ease of cleanup.
Keep paper towels on hand for cleanup.
Cover stove burn plates with aluminum to catch wax drippings.
Supplies needed:
Wine goblet shaped containers
Container candle wax
Plastic bag
Small hammer
Color dye chips of your choice
Vybar - 1 teaspoon per pound of container wax
Cotton core wicks
Wick clips
Candle scent of your choice, one ounce per pound of wax is typically accepted
Double boiler
Pouring pot
Wooden spoon
Crafting scissors
Wooden dowel or commercially available Wick centering bar
Thermometer
Pour two inches of water into the bottom of your double boiler and place on medium high. When water starts to boil, turn heat to medium low.
Take wax and place into plastic bag and break into smaller pieces using your small hammer.
Place desired amount of wax into upper portion of your double boiler, allow to melt and maintain proper temperature. Follow wax supplier guidelines for temperature. Pouring temperature should be 190 deg F. Never leave melting wax unattended.
While wax is melting prepare your containers by wiping them clean with a damp paper towel. Cut your wicks to appropriate length. (two inches above top of wine goblet)
Insert wicks into wick tabs
Add candle dye if desired, following your wax dye manufactures guidelines.
Add your Vybar. Vybar suppresses mottling and will give your candle an opaque finish. One teaspoon of Vybar for every pound of wax. Stir until it is completely melted and mixed into your wax.
Adding fragrance is the last thing to do before you begin to pour the candle. Fragrances lose their potency when exposed to high heat for extended periods of time.
Once your wax has reached the pouring temperature of 190 deg F, pour into your wine goblet container to desired level.
While wax is still liquified, place tabbed wick into center of goblet. Do not allow to rest on bottom since his will be visible once it is hardened. Use a wooden dowel or wick centering tool to hold the tabbed wick in place. Secure the top of the wick to your centering tool with a paper clip or tie the top of the wick to the wooden dowel.
As your candle cools it may require a second pour due to the wax shrinking around the wick. Pour a sufficient amount of remaining wax to fill in hole, not to exceed the top of original pour level. Allow to cool. Trim top of wick to 1/4 inch.
Now enjoy the fruits of you labor.
