Archive for October, 2010

The Basics of Soy Candle Making Supplies

Various articles have been posted online and written in print about soy candle making supplies. Usually, they would be talking about the same old things like acquiring a do-it-yourself candle making kit, where to get the supplies, using the proper materials, and adding a touch of elegance in choosing the colors and wax and the wick.

Well, to add to these topics, I would like to stress about the caliber of these supplies and how essential they are in creating the perfect soy candle. The type of soy candle making supplies is responsible for the pleasant experience you get when lighting a candle up. You can either have a candle that burns and emits pollution or have a candle that beautifully melts and easily be cleaned to the last strand of the wick. Which is why it is advisable to go for soy wax rather than paraffin since its components are purer, and would last longer than the usual wax candle. This is mainly why you should always take note of the wax that you will be using. It will make or break your craft.

A good suggestion is to start off making candles with paraffin wax. This makes a good medium for a trial and error type of learning since it doesn’t cost that much. After you’re done, these candles may be beautifully placed in an area where there is much ventilation and space. Bright colors are best positioned in the back portion of your home to give light through the color and glare of the flame. This would also keep insects away, which is an added bonus.

Soy candle wax, on the other hand, is a better alternative since it is more convenient to use because of its flaky composition. Also, many have noticed the ease of the clean up, as well as the reputation of being a renewable energy source. You see, there is a vast production of soy beans in America, and people have lots of uses for it. One of these is the marketing them for soy candle making supplies which has generally won the public at the moment.

In addition to the soy wax that you will need in creating your candles, you also might want to invest in the oil that you will be in making the candles. Since soy candle wax is quite a sensible and high-quality supply, you might want to consider pairing it up with a scent that is elegant and also high in quality. By being particular with your materials and supplies, you can be sure that you r candles will end up providing your visitors, family, and yourself a great experience once they are lit. You can have a room with a wonderful aroma to life up your spirits.

Such an experience is definitely enticing and empowering, too. You see, our sense of smell also allows us to control our body. Whether we want to be relaxed or invigorated, we just have to decide on the scent we desire to breathe deeply in. it creates a perfect haven for imagination, and it does wonders to set a person’s mood. So make sure that your scents are all natural and not those which are trying hard copies of the real thing. It just would not be the same at all.

Once you bear the essentials of soy candle making supplies in mind, you will make the whole experience better for you. From making the candle, to finally sharing it with other people and maybe using it for your own enjoyment.

Ezine:

- Candle making kit – contents – all you need – great gift

- Hobby stores – online

- Wicks – all cotton (not zinc)

- Containers – glass canning jars –

- Success with paraffin – ready for the next level (MB)

- Benefits – soy – clean, purity, burns a white soot, easy to clean – lower burning point (wash up with soap and water), burn 50% longer

- Type of candle – Pillar (need to be harder)

- Start with the basics

Go-Articles:

- Soy wax comes in flakes

- Beeswax and paraffin common additives to harden soy wax

- Tabbed wicks – easier to use for beginners

- Practice – repeat – conquer

- Soy coated wicks

- Dye and fragrance made for soy wax

-By: Kim B. Montgomery

Kim Montgomery is a candle-making expert. If you found her tips in soy candle making supplies, helpful, claim your free ecourse showing you simple steps on how to make the perfect candles, available at => http://www.candlemakingshop-onalbertstreet.com/

Candle Making Crafts That Wow Kids!

Candle making crafts for kids need to be fun, but more importantly, they need to be safe. Once you choose those that are safe, you can look at whether they are simple enough, provide enough fun, and create something awesome enough to delight children. In other words: decide whether they are candle making crafts that wow kids!

What candle making crafts qualify?

First, one that does NOT qualify for kids: a gel wax craft. Gel wax requires too great a heat – even greater than other waxes. Add to that the caution that gel wax must be watched closely to avoid an explosion. I admit that the results are exciting. I agree that children would be wowed by gel wax shimmering with bubbles and playful inserts, but this is not a craft for youngsters. Children might learn how to make inserts for gel wax lights, but they should never work with gel wax itself.

Cheap candle making kits do not qualify either. Some adults think that because kits are available, they are great for classes. As a career teacher, I beg to differ.

Candle making crafts should let kids create from basic materials, not from kits. They have more fun, and derive more satisfaction when they know that they crafted their creations the way professional chandlers do.

Here are three candle making crafts that DO qualify as those that wow kids.

Beeswax Crafts

Beeswax luminaries made with sheet beeswax qualify in all four ways cited:

1. This craft is safe. No heat source is needed for beeswax. No knives or other sharp instruments are necessary.

2. It is simple. Children who are old enough to follow a few simple instructions can make beeswax luminaries.

3. It’s fun. Kids love to think about – and talk about – the fact that bees made the wax. It is a good story. They love to imagine worker bees creating the wax and carefully constructing tiny nurseries for baby bees. They love to feel the honeycomb pattern on the beeswax, and see a piece of real honeycomb in its original form. It is a great tactile experience.

4. This craft produces a product in which children can delight. Watch their eyes gleam as they hold their finished candles. Watch them finger the honeycomb surface wonderingly. Watch them sniff the sweet fragrance. Even if they roll their beeswax crookedly, they will get completed projects that are beautiful pieces of art.

Floating Water Lights

Candle making crafts that result in floating lights wow kids in a different way. Call them “Swimming Lights” or “Snorkeling Lights” to get more excitement going. If you live on a body of water that sports buoys, tell children these are “Bobbing Buoy” lights. If you live on a woodsy lake, you might want to turn these into citronella candle making crafts to ward off mosquitoes in the evening.

Floating water lights also qualify in the four ways cited:

1. This is a safe craft. No heat source is needed for making swimming lights. Nothing sharper than a pair of scissors is necessary.

2. They are simple. With little oversight, children can follow instructions and make beautiful little lights in a variety of gleaming, colorful shapes. Some will want to make flowers while others opt for fish and other sea creatures.

3. These lights are fun – and the cold water used in their production makes them a great outdoor craft for warm weather. Kids vie with one another to create new, clever names for their floating lights.

4. Children love displaying and using their finished products. Don’t be surprised if they eagerly make up stories about their creations as they watch them float on the water.

Jelly Blob Candles

Blobs of jelly! Kids laugh over the name “Jelly Blob Candles” when you introduce this as one of your child-friendly candle making crafts. Don’t confuse these with gel wax projects. These cute lights use jelly wax.

1. They are safe: no heat, knives, or scissors.

2. They are simple: squeeze jelly wax from tubes into containers.

3. They are fun: what kid would not like smearing bright blobs of jelly?

4. When completed, this candle making craft gives kids jewel bright luminaries to light a birthday party or a family dinner.

Candle making crafts that wow kids grow in number as children grow and develop, but these three are good starter crafts.

-By: Anna Hart

? 2009, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to get her instructions for these three candle making crafts at http://www.secretsofcandlemakingcrafts.com. Anna has posted articles on that site about a variety of other candle making crafts, too. If you want to locate a candle making craft for experienced candle makers, you won’t want to miss her article on that subject.

Candle Making Molds – Tips For Beginners

Starting out with Candle Molds

If you’ve been making only container or hand dipped candles, you may not have any experience with candle making molds. Your skills as a candle maker will never be complete without learning this aspect of the candle making business.

If you aren’t sure that you will continue to use molds in candle making after your initial attempt, don’t spend a lot of money purchasing them in the beginning. Make a determination as to what size you would like to begin with and only purchase that size. Prices for molds vary depending on the source. Small votive molds can be purchased by the dozen for around $10. Large round molds 10 inches high cost in the neighborhood of about $12 each.

If you are planning to produce large diameter candles, it will be necessary to have more than one wick. For that reason, you may prefer to stick with molds with a 2 inch diameter or less.

Seamless molds yield prettier candles than seamed ones for obvious reasons. They may cost more than other mold types, but it’s worth the expense if you are planning to sell your candles and desire a more polished professional appearance.

Molds for Cheap or Better Yet, Free

If you don’t want to spend any money on candle molds, you can use other things for molds, such as tin cans. As long as the can is smooth on the inside so the candle can easily slide out, these tin molds work fine. Keep in mind if the can has a rim at the top, it will restrict the candle from easy release. Be selective in the tin cans you choose for molds.

There are a great many different kinds of molds you may choose from. Besides round and square molds, there are octagons, stars, and many other shapes. The vast majority of molds for tower candles are constructed of metal alloys; however, there are some plastic molds that are suitable for the job as well.

Tip for Candle Release

Removing candles from molds after they set is sometimes difficult. If you do not coat the inside of the mold prior to pouring with an easy release spray, you will more than likely have problems. Using a silicone spray or wiping the inside with vegetable oil aids in the release of the finished candle. Another reason that candles stick is because the wax is too hot when it is poured into the mold. Always check the temperature of the wax before you pour for this reason.

If you do experience a problem with candle release, one tip many chandlers use is to place the mold in the freezer for a short time. Another alternative is to place the candle in a bucket as soon as it is poured and pour cool water around it. If you try this, weight the candle down so it won’t float, and do not pour the water above the top of the mold.

Candle Making Kits

If you are new to the fantastic world of candle making, you could start out with a kit for making candles, complete with molds. You need to be careful to get the kit with the size and shape of a candle you may want to make. Many inexpensive kits do come with the plastic candle molds, but even these can work out if you just want to try it.

Add Variety To Your Candle Making

Tower or pillar candles look very professional when they are made correctly. If you have only made container candles, you owe it to yourself to try your hand producing a wider candle variety with candle making molds. Start out with just a few additions in the beginning. If you like the candles you produce using this method, you can add more molds to your collection a few at a time.

-By: Dorothy Santoro

Dot started out making candles way, waaaay back in the day. She made candles from molds, in sand and even in water! You’ll have to think about that last one, right? Candle making became part of her business and she soon started selling them in her gift shop in Clearwater, FL. But that was many years ago and times have changed, but candle making is still a lot of fun and very rewarding. Check out her new website at Candle Making Central. Check this out for more info on Candle Making Molds.

Useful Information About Soy Candle Making

Soy candle making has become very popular today. This material is more suitable than paraffin wax, which is in form of slabs. Soy wax is usually in form of flakes hence you do not have to cut it first. It is very easy to use soy wax to make candles. The candles making exercise could happen at home. You need these candles at home, because they are very clean when lit. Of course, they burn better than paraffin wax. This explains why soy candles and wax are rather expensive compared to paraffin. In fact, when you make these candles for the first time, you will not stop it.

These days making soy candle is a very simple procedure because you can buy some kits. You will be happy to find some in your local stores. The reason for it is that many people have embraced this art now. If you want to start enjoying the art as well, buy your soy wax kits online. These kits are inexpensive and many people can afford them. If you compare prices, you will notice how easy it is to find cheaper kits. What does a soy candle making kit contain? It contains all the equipments and supplies in one place. Once you purchase a kit, making your first soy candle is easy.

You will even notice that the prices of beeswax and soy wax are different. Soy wax is affordable, explaining why many people are buying it. Another fact about soy is the ease of making the candles and they smell good. All you have to do is to add fragrance. The fragrance will certainly make your homemade candles exceptional. Once you lit the candles, everybody else around you will enjoy the scent. This explains why you want to launch a business to manufacture and sell candles. You do not have to think a lot about it.

This type of a business is no different from any of those you have already started. Start with a business plan so that you can put everything in order. The most important detail to include in a business plan is the estimated costs for starting the business. It is also very imperative to decide between a home-based type of a business and an open store business type. You will also need to account for all the raw materials, equipments and who your main suppliers would be.

Of course, if you are like every other entrepreneur, saving up is your first priority. This will not happen if you do not research first. Many online stores sell cheap supplies in bulk. You want to be careful at the start of the business. It is not easy to speculate the business and how it will be like for you. Once you settle in the business, it will be easy for you to speculate correctly. If you know soy candle making perfectly, people will effortlessly love your products. You get consecutive orders from happy buyers. Without a question, the type of soy wax you purchase determines making quality candles. Therefore, you should cautiously select soy wax. Make sure it is made of soybean oil.

-By: G. Smitty

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from make candles to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!

Soy Candle Making Kits – What You Need For Making Soy Candles

Much ado has been made concerning the use of soy wax in the last few years.

Candle Making Kits – An Introduction To a Practical Pastime

Candle making as a craft and hobby has been around for sometime but has seen a significant rise in its popularity in the last 10 years. This can be largely attributed to three developments, candle making kits, soy wax and gel candles.

Firstly, candle making kits of many types are now widely available, ranging in cost from under $20 to over $50 depending on the quantity and type of wax and the amount of equipment provided. I personally feel that to go for the cheapest to begin with may not be the best option as the results obtained can be disappointing, thus putting the enthusiast off at the start. This is analogous to someone with an interest in astronomy buying a cheap telescope and then being disappointed with the images produced, resulting in the telescope being put in a cupboard, never to be used again.

The advantage of buying a candle making kit is that everything you need is in one place, the equipment, the materials and the instructions so you can get started straight away. The instructions can be a simple printed sheet but the more expensive kits often include a DVD which has the advantage of allowing you to see an actual candle being made.

Secondly, since the 1990s, a new type of wax has been available which has many advantages over the traditional paraffin wax and the much more expensive beeswax. Soy wax, made from soybean oil, is produced in large quantities in the USA, Brazil and India.

Unlike paraffin wax, Soy wax burns without producing black soot or other irritants making it ideal for people with respiratory ailments and being a natural, replenishable resource soy wax is considered eco-friendly. It also has a low melting point making it easier to handle but with the proviso that, especially in hot climates, these candles are better kept in containers where they can’t sag.

Soy wax has no natural aroma and is therefore well suited for scented candles and being in a container can carry a higher amount of essential oil than petroleum-based candles. Another big advantage for the hobbyist is that soy wax can be cleaned up with water and detergent and the utensils used can be put through the dishwasher.

Thirdly, a gel is now available which can be used instead of wax for candle making and is also obtainable in kit form.?Gel candles are transparent, allowing candle makers free-reign in exploring the endless artistic possibilities that this provides, such as imitation fish tanks or preserved flowers.

I’m sure that candle making will continue to be a popular pastime for years to come and some may take it a step further, sourcing their supplies from wholesalers and selling their candles commercially.

-By: Richard Caswell

For more information about candle making and candle making kits visit http://www.ecandlemakingkits.com

Soy Candle Making Kits – Things You Need to Make Nice-Looking Lights

Today, more candle makers have used soy wax in making candles because of a number of reasons. Because of that, soy candle making kits have been created and offered here and there such an in the internet. With the distinctiveness and expediency of the soy and the soy candle, some people wonder why this product was not learned about earlier.

Perhaps, no one has thought of soybean as the top ingredient for candles during the earlier days. Because of that, nobody considered to acquire a collection of candle-making kits for candle making. But now, the soybean had been widely used for feeding animal. It is also the main ingredient in making the soy sauce condiment. Since then, it has turned out as a profitable industry.

Soybeans and soybean products are very popular in the manufacturing industry today. It is manufactured as bio fuel, a substitute for the crude oil. It is also used in making resin, oil, soap, cosmetics inks, clothing and paints. Increasingly, this legume made soy candle into flourishing industry today. To make candles, indispensable soy candle-making kits certainly are very important for makers of candles.

The soybean wax was discovered as a main ingredient in soy candle making in the 1990′s. Soybeans are abundant and cost-effective. Along the process, soybean oil is separated from the soybean solids in a process called as solvent extraction. In a sixty pound soybean, ten pounds of oil is created. Both the remaining solids and the oil are still of use. The process of hydrogenation is also required.

Combining the soybean and the candle-making kits, crafting candles can now be very easy and simple thus, you can really start anytime you want as long as you have all the needed materials with you. In hydrogenation, the oil boosts the width. The oil then responds to the hydrogen along with the presence of nickel catalyst. This process forms the saturated fats containing trans-fats.

The wax formed from hydrogenation is good for candles in container. With pillar candles, hard wax and other forms of waxes are mixed. Soy candle making kits can vary with the design and content of the candle that you wish to create. It is essential to know whether soybean wax is modified or pure prior to its use in the candle making. To use soy candle making kits efficiently, determine the substance and design first.

-By: Kristin Reda

Kristin Reda is a candle and soap making expert.
Do You Want To Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Make Beautiful Candles And Soaps From Your Home?
Discover more information about Soy Candle Making Kits, visit Candle Soap Making.

What’s in a Soy Candle Making Kit?

Soy candle making kits are popular among many candle enthusiasts because buying by the set is always cheaper than buying the individual supplies. Usually by buying a complete kit it could save you around $20 to $30 compared to buying the individual items.

So what are in a soy candle making kit?

A soy candle making kit usually contains:

Wax

Candle kits usually come with large quantity of candle wax. It is quite common that a kit contains more than five pounds of candle wax. That’s why getting a kit saves you money, because you won’t have to pay at retail price for each pound of wax.

Thermometer

Use a thermometer to check whether the wax is approaching its melting point.

Soy wax melts at 180 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no need to increase the setting of the stove because the soy wax will melt eventually even with a low stove setting.

Use a low setting in order to reduce the smoke produced during the melting process.

Pouring pots

Pouring pots are usually made from ceramic or glass. These small pots have spouts specially designed to facilitate the transfer of wax that has just been melted into small containers. Pouring pots reduce spills and make candle making that much more enjoyable.

Candle molds

Many suppliers ship molds for votive candles (the kind that is smaller than jar candles). If you don’t want to make votive candles, you can just purchase additional glass jars.

Wick pins

Wick pins or wick tabs are metal stabilizers that are manually attached to zinc wicks or cotton wicks. These tabs let you place the wicks directly in the candle container. The wicks will stay in place when you pour the wax into the container.

Fragrance

Different suppliers ship different fragrances. The most common kind is vanilla, but do experiment with as many different kinds of fragrances available. You can also try mixing different scents to come up with a completely different scent – maybe your own signature kind!

Dyes

Expect at least two different types of dyes included in your candle making kit. Use only onedye per batch as colors generally do not mix well when you add them into wax.

Scales

Mini weighing scales can be used to make your measurement more accurate. Nothing beats accuracy when it comes to making candles.

So now you know enough to go on your shopping trip and starting your next soy candle projects. Remember to check all the items included in the kits to make sure you get the ones that are right for your project.

-By: Daniella Lawrence

Check out my website here if you’d like more tips and tricks about making your own soy candles and the various supplies needed.

Discover the joy of candle making today. Get more insightful ideas and articles for FREE from http://www.CandleMaking-Guidebook.com.

Beeswax Candle Making Kits

Most individuals think that beeswax candles are not easy to make because of the gummy texture of the wax when melted and the uncommonness of the crude material. However, as soon as you get into the beeswax candle making procedure, you’ll learn that beeswax is an exceptionally user-friendly ingredient to make use of for handcrafted candle making. You can either roll the beeswax or you can use the conventional technique, i.e. thawing the wax and pouring into molds or containers. Unfortunately beeswax is more costly than the other components, which could make it inappropriate for mass production.

However, what you should be aware of is that people really fancy beeswax candles because of their smell and general quality. This kind of candles won’t leave behind a grimy mark on your walls if you employ these candles for decoration. People will willingly pay more for the mild honey scent that is typical of beeswax. These are ideal for use in the dining table during a ceremonial dinner. Can you imagine the profit margins you can achieve if you become an expert in the art of making beeswax candles?

Before you start your beeswax candle making at home, here are some tidbits of information about beeswax. It is a gooey substance taken from hives. Besides honey, beekeepers also harvest beeswax for selling or for personal use. More often than not, beeswax can be bought in wholesale from beehive keepers and honey wholesalers. This means it’s more inexpensive to buy your beeswax raw ingredients directly from honey bulk suppliers than anywhere else.

You can produce beeswax candles at home and then share these with your family and friends during special events. All you have to do is to put a decoration around the ones you create and send these to friends and family. Another way of sharing your beeswax candle sideline with friends is by giving kits instead of the candles. Like you, your friends would love to create candles but they don’t know where to begin. By giving them beeswax candle making kits, you’re conveying your appreciation of their imaginative talents and encouraging them to open up their candle making ability.

Each kit holds beeswax in sheets or blocks. Most suppliers put together these kits themselves so you can inquire what form of beeswax is included in each kit. Beeswax sheets can be rolled, while blocks must be melted and then subsequently molded. If you have more friends to share your hobby with, you should purchase your beeswax candle making kits in bulk. Just ensure that each kit contains all the materials your friends will need like wicks and dyes.

As a final point, here is a word of advice for you if you’re planning to buy in bulk. Craft merchandisers don’t hoard supplies for long because of the shelf life of each ingredient. This means you possibly will get your beeswax kits at a huge discount if you keep a close eye on the supply sale schedules in your region. In fact, many craft merchants run sales on candle making things before and right after the holidays. This can be a good time to stock up on your candles and other equipment.

-By: Tom Taft

Tom Taft is a Candle Making enthusiast. Here is more information on How to Make Beeswax Candles. There is even more information on Candle Making.

Soy Candle Making Kits

A good number of the candle fans you will encounter dream of creating their personal candles, but they get overwhelmed by the magnitude of the responsibilities involved in production. It’s the plethora of supplies they need to collect that’s daunting. Being a candle maker isn’t a stroll in the park however if you like the art enough and you realize you have it in you to design the most spectacular candles, you’re one step closer to making your dreams come true. Before you can begin your business, you must learn the ropes of candle production. New candle crafters need simple ingredients and equipment.

When you discover the fundamentals, the rest will be uncomplicated. If you are set on creating candles right at this time but you don’t know where to start, you can simply buy candle making kits. These kits can be bought from most craft shops and specialty stores. Even the candle suppliers have started selling kits because they realize that people want to make their own candles. Ask around a hobby store and you will discover a variety of special kinds of candle making kits available. These kits differ in terms of wax type, dye shade and the presence or the absence of fragrance oils (for scented handcrafted candle production).

Your first batch of candles is the hardest to make, because you’re still getting familiar with the tools and the ingredients of your craft. Usually, candle making kits contain the most basic requirements for creating candles. Soy candle making kits are recommended because soya is a safe material to start with. Soya candles are the least complex to create besides beeswax-type candles.

The foremost distinction between soy candles and bee’s wax is the price. Soy candle production is less costly than beeswax-type candle creation. You can also add fragrance oil to your soy homemade candles.

Soy candles are in style for the reason that they don’t give off too much soot like paraffin homemade candles. Soy wax is one of the residues from soyabean processing. When you have your soy candle making kit, check if it contains at least a couple of pounds of wax, candle colorant, at least half a dozen wicks and fragrance oil.

When you have a complete array of the ingredients you will need for creating candles, your next purchases will comprise equipment. A double boiler is necessary for turning a chunk of wax into liquid. If you’re on a budget, you can simply use two pots; one of which can fit loosely inside the other. The smaller pot will hold the softening wax, while the bigger pot will contain boiling water. Other materials you will want to have are jugs and wick accessories.

Molds are another necessity, but you can do away with these by using containers. Some of the accessories you will need include a heat resistant apron, protective goggles and baking mittens. In conclusion, do not forget to have a fire extinguisher near your work spot just in case.

-By: Tom Taft

Tom Taft is a Candle Making enthusiast. Here is more information on Soy Candle Making Supplies. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Candle Making.