AY Honors/Candle Making/Answer Key

1. Make at least five of the following:

b. Layered colored candle

A layered colored candle can be made by pouring multiple colors of hot wax (one color at a time) into a mold. You can color the wax yourself by using an uncolored wax and adding candle dye to it, or you can recycle old candles. If recycling, avoid mixing colors (if you mix several colors, the result is generally an unpleasant brownish-gray). Instead, separate out the colors, melt them individually, and use them as artistically as you can.

Start by melting at least two colors of wax in a double boiler. While it is melting, prepare the wick by cutting it to the desired length and attaching it to a sustainer base (or wick tab). The sustainer base will prevent the wick from floating in the liquid wax and anchor it to the bottom of the mold. Attaching the wick to the sustainer base is as easy as tying an overhand knot in the end of the wick and threading the other end through a hole in the base. Then pull the wick through until the knot stops the wick from pulling through the hole.

Attach the upper end of the wick to a wick bar. If you do not have a wick bar, you can use a pencil. The wick can be attached to the pencil using a clove hitch - this know will allow you to pull on the wick the lengthen it, or pull on the other end to shorten it. Make adjustments until the wick tab touch the bottom of the mold when the pencil is laid across the top of the mold.

Once the wax is melted and the wick is in place, pour some wax into the mold. Let it cool briefly to minimize mixing and then pour in the second color. Repeat for additional colors.

c. Candle made in a mold

===d. Ice candle ===Ice candles combine ice and hot wax to form a cool, lacy-looking candle.

CRAFT MATERIALS: 
Scissors  
Cylindrical cardboard container (salt or oatmeal)  
Paper towel  
Cooking oil  
Knife  
White tapered candle  
Large tin can  
1 pound of paraffin wax  
Large saucepan  
Wooden skewer  
Crayon pieces  
Large spoon  
Crushed ice  
Bowl  

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. Have your child prepare a mold by cutting off the top of the cardboard container. Use a paper towel to coat the inside with cooking oil. With a knife, trim the bottom from the taper so the taper is the same height as the mold. 
2. Meanwhile, fill the tin can with the wax. Then place it in a saucepan filled with 2 inches of water and set the pan over low heat. Use a wooden skewer to stir the melting wax. Mix in crayon pieces to get your desired candle color.

3. Pour 1/2 inch of wax into the prepared mold and immediately stick the taper into the center, wick end up. Hold the taper in place for a minute or two while the wax sets.

4. Spoon 2 inches of crushed ice around the taper, then cover the ice almost completely with melted wax. Add more ice, then more wax, alternating until the mold is filled. 
5. Set the mold in a bowl for about an hour (it will leak water), letting the wax harden completely, then peel off the cardboard.

2. Know the two kinds of wax used for candle making and their uses.

Paraffin

Nowadays, fuel is nearly always some form of wax, with paraffin wax being the most common. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum distillation, and as such is cheaply available in great quantities.

Beeswax

Beeswax candles burn cleanly, with little or no wax dripping down the sides and little visible smoke. A beeswax candle flame has a "warmer," more yellow color than that of paraffin, and the color of the flame may vary depending on the season in which the wax was harvested.

3. Know sizes of wicking and which one will burn properly in each particular candle.

While there is no exact formulation to figure what size wick to use there are some general guidelines that will help. The size of the wick depends upon a few factors. These factors are additives in the candle, size of the candle and the type of wick. The kinds and amounts of additives will vary widely from candlemaker to candlemaker, as will the size and wick type so this is what makes an exact formula for choosing a wick size next to impossible to create. The best method for choosing the correct wick size is through testing. Try different size wicks for different candle recipes and see what size wick works best. There are, however, some general guidelines that can help the candlemaker decide what size of wick to use.

There are some tips that have been handed down by veteran candlemakers that can help the novice in the quest to find the correct wick size. The following tips are just generalizations, but are still a good place to start.

1. Wick size should general match the candle size. For example, small candles use small diameter wicks.
2. Wicks that are too small for the candle will leave a lot of unburned wax around the outside of the candle or just drown in the pool of wax that gathers at its base.
3. Wicks that are too large for the candle will cause excessive smoke, burn too fast, or even cause the wax to overflow down the sides of the candle or container.

The best guideline to use when choosing a wick size is to first decide the type of wick to use. The different materials that wicks are made of also effect how it burns. The following list includes common wick types and the types of candles they work the best in.

Wick type	Wax type	Candle type
CD wicks	Some beeswax and gels, paraffin	solid color, no fragrance
CDN wicks	Paraffin	Solid color, free standing pillar, container
3-ply cotton wick	Paraffin	Pillar, taper
Square braided wick	Any	Any
Paper core wick	Petroleum	Votive, pillar, container
Cotton core wick	Any	Tealight, votive, container, pillar

4. When should a metal core wick be used?

A metal core wick should be used on any candle with a large diameter. The purpose of the metal core is to hold the wick upright, keeping it from falling over and drowning the flame in liquid wax.

5. Know the safety techniques of candle making.

• When heating wax, it should be tended at all times.
• Have a fire extinguisher handy when heating wax in case it flares up.
• In the event of a flare-up, you may be able to extinguish the flame by covering the pot with a lid, cutting off the oxygen. If this fails, you will need a fire extinguisher.
• Wax should be melted in a double boiler rather than with direct heat. A double boiler can be improvised by placing the wax in a large tin can and then placing the can in a pot of water. The water is then boiled and the heat is transferred to the wax, causing it to melt. An added advantage to using a tin can for this purpose is that it can be discarded when finished.