Every candle type presents its own special challenges and molded candle making is no exception. Indeed, any worthy craft will have its own specific difficulties and if you have ever spent any amount of time pouring candles, you will find yourself troubleshooting eventually. Here we are some of the most common concerns and frustrations related to molded candle making.
While molded candles can be made with a variety of waxes, this article primarily addresses common issues that arise with the use of paraffin wax as natural waxes sometimes have their own troubleshooting issues to address.
One of the most common questions concerning molded candles is what to do if the candle will not come out of the mold. Typically, this is caused by one of the following reasons.
You may have overfilled the mold causing the wax to set over the lip of the mold. If this happens, gently break away some of the dried wax from the lip and try not to go over the lip of the mold when you pour in the future.
Another reason is that your mold may be dented. If this is the case, you will most likely need to purchase a new mold. When molds are not in use, make sure they are stored in a safe place, preferably in their original packaging to prevent dents.
Sometimes the wax may have not had time to cool completely and is still adhering to the mold. Simply allow it to cool completely and try again. Lastly, you may be using a wax that is too soft. Make sure you are using a wax specifically made for making molded candles.
Another common problem is the formation of white spots all over the surface of the candle.
If you experience this, you may have added too much fragrance oil. Consider reducing the amount of oil or consider adding vybar to the wax mixture to help the wax retain the oil. The candle cooling too slowly may also cause this problem. If this is the case, try using a water bath to cool the candle more quickly.
If the surface of your candle has frost marks, typically the wax was too cool when it was poured, or the mold was too cold when the wax was poured into it. Make sure that you pour the wax between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit (82 to 93 degrees Celsius), and make sure your molds are at room temperature before pouring into them.
If you experience your candles caving in or forming a well in the top, both of these issues are most likely a result of not poking relief holes in the wax after the first pour. Always make sure to poke relief holes in the wax after the first pour to make sure the tension is released while the candle is cooling. As the candle cools, do a second pour making sure that the wax is cooled enough to support additional wax, but not yet completely cooled.
Bear in mind that numerous issues may arise when pouring molded candles but they are not something that other candle makers have not experienced. There is usually a way to correct the issue if you seek help. Try checking online candle making message boards to see if the issue has been addressed there. You will most likely find a discussion about the problem, as well as solutions on how to fix it.