The Noble Pagan Forums - Votive Candles Made With Recycled Wax

Since we use lots of candles on our witchy work, we end up with lots of leftover wax. We made this votive candles using that wax and making the wicks with braided embroidery thread.

How we made them:
- First, we separate the wax in colour schemes and cut it into chunks, mixing it well.
- Then, we made the wicks braiding embroidery thread and priming it with white wax, also from leftover candles. Priming is just melting some wax and putting the braids in it for a minute – after that, you take them out with pliers and set them to dry on wax paper, trying to keep them as straight as possible. The primed wicks were set aside for one day.
- The following day, we prepared waxed party paper cups and cut the wicks to size, holding the wick with a small bamboo skewer to the top of the cup.
- Double-boiled the wax, preserving some for refilling later, and when it was melted I added a couple of drops of oil perfume, pouring it immediately and setting aside to dry.
- About three hours later, we added the refilling wax et voilá! Beautiful and FREE candles to make scented adornments for the wedding .

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Carolina Gonzalez - The Hoodoo Shop
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I love this! I'll have to try it with some of my clumps o wax. For some reason I always save wax...I think its like a compulsion.

I totally understand! It got us a few tries until we got the wicks right, but it's been a fun learning anyway .

What I have found for my own wicks is to use a very thin embroidery thread (unwaxed, untreated, non-metallic. I prefer a linen (cotton) based thread for this, but other natural fibers work well too.) and make braids of three threads to make a braid. Then take those braids, three of em) and braid them. Take those resulting threads and braid them ad. nauseum.

I do this three times for each wick when I do my own. You can add more if you like depending on whether you want a thick flame or a thin dancing flame.

The length I use is dependent on the type of candle I'm making. The braids do eat up some of the length so for example for a 4 inch dipped taper I use a 10 inch thread to start with for the braids. This typically renders me a 7 inch wick, which I use the left over to wrap around the dipping stick to hold it in place. I trim the wick once everything is cooled and dry.

That is exactly what we do . I use those skeins for embroidery that have six threads together, and make the wick with 18 threads, braided.

So how many braids did I get in my tequila candle CR?



C/S/

Spooder says recycling wax to make new candles is fun and smart!

Well, dang. Now I just feel bad.

I don't make my own candles.

Making them would wind up on my ever-growing "to-do-list", but I admit I'd probably never get around to doing it.

I really admire anybody who does this (and CG, those are super pretty!). 'Sides, my candles always melt into oblivion ('cept for that time when it got into the carpet--don't ask).


Again, those are so pretty. They are actually nicer than the ones I buy currently; you should start an online biz with that--heck, I'd buy 'em!

Hehe

She has one : Specialized In Handmade Items For Hoodoo And Folk by magickshop

OOOOO I love recycled wax candles.... I like when then crackel cause there is ice or water in them LOL OK maybe it was just our first try but soooo fun LOL