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Mold Techniques
It
is no secret that the candle market is flooded with container and jar
candles. This is a logical progression because these types of candles
are easy to make, smell great, and are relatively easy to maintain multiple
brands using different labels. Every candle maker is faced with the challenge
of creating more revenue for various reasons whether it is at the crafting
level to fuel their hobby, or a manufacturer that needs to pay next week’s
payroll. One way to bring in new customers and increase sales is to offer
new and unique candles that are not offered by you competition. This can
easily be achieved by learning how to make freestanding or pillar candles
using a variety of mold techniques. According to the National
Candle Association, candle users say they most frequently burn candles
in the living room (42%), followed by the kitchen (18%) and the bedroom
(13%). One may assume that aesthetics are important in the living room
and creating beautifully unique pillars that burn cleanly could be a great
way to increase sales. The following tips and tricks should help you with
increasing your freestanding candle offering.
Aluminum
Molds
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Aluminum molds
are heat resistant, durable, and leave no ugly seams in the finished
candle. Finished candles are professional looking and have an extremely
smooth finish.
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Pillar
Pins are a great way to increase production while maintaining
perfectly straight wicks. Once mastered they are a necessity for making
pillars efficiently.
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If you are using
rubber
plugs to seal the wick hole, place molds on two parallel strips
of wood or other material that allows you to keep molds level.
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Adjust pouring
temperature to achieve different effects. If candles are not de-molding
easily, try raising pour temperature a bit.
Polyurethane
Molds
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Leave an extra
few feet of wick
coming from the bottom of the mold. This way fresh wick comes up through
the wick hole when you remove the finished candle, thus eliminating
the need to push wick through the tiny hole for the next candle.
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You can carefully
trim the mold down the sides or where needed with a sharp razor blade.
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Rub a very small
amount of petrolatum
on the seam to help smooth seams. While you are rubbing the petrolatum
on the seam, use the opportunity to verify you have the mold correctly
lined up.
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Use picture wire
or a D-string from a mandolin to help you wick the mold the same way
you would thread a needle.
Polycarbonate
Molds
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Be sure to use
the correct wax designed for
free standing candles. If you use the wrong wax or incorrect temperature,
it can be tricky getting the mold cleaned out.
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Do not pour wax
into the mold if it is over 200 degrees or damage to the mold may
occur.
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A mold rack (part
# DSM-100) can be used to hold the polycarbonate molds at different
angles to make unique stripes on the finished candle.
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