Taper candles will most certainly add a touch of elegance to any dining table. They top off the perfect romantic evening at home. Learning how to make taper candles is easy with little experience in candle making. The steps to make basic taper candles includes hand dipping rather than using jars or molds. Hand dipping takes a small amount of practice to get the hang of it, but it is quickly mastered. The advantages of taper candles is while you are practicing, you can always melt that wax down again and again until you have learned the correct way to form your taper candles. It is advised that during practice, don’t start with any color either to keep your costs minimal.
First you will want to obtain a dipping can from a craft store or online to make taper candles the correct way. A double boiler is not needed and much too narrow for making these long candles. Some other supplies needed include a thermometer, wax, dye for color, wicks, and fragrances to add odor if you wish. Make sure you only buy wicks specially designed for the taper candles. If you use common pillar wicks, you will find your taper candles will not burn properly. For the best quality of taper candles you will need to use paraffin wax. Beeswax can bend easier, and could cause your candles to droop on warm days.
To ensure your wax melts properly, use a large pot with a just a few inches of water for your dipping can to sit in. Never under any circumstance place the dipping can directly on the stove top as this is a safety issue. Also you don’t want to fill your home with dangerous fumes. When the wax is melting, start trimming your wicks. It is imperative that you buy the best wick for taper candles that are specially manufactured for taper candles. If you use any other types of wicks, your taper candles will not burn properly. Trim your wicks at least four inches longer than you want your candles to be. How to make candles suggests if you will be creating sets of taper candles, make sure each wick is cut to the exact same length. An easy way to do this is by cutting one, then folding all of the other pieces over and making a few more cuts.
After your wax has melted and is at a temperature of between 150 and 165 degrees, you can start the dipping procedure. If you will be adding color or aromas you will want to do that now. Relocate your dipping can to a dry, flat surface. If using a counter top, put a baking sheet or towel under the dipping can. Get a wick and dip it into the hot wax, the goal is to get the wick covered the first several dips.
The steps of dipping taper candles is not difficult, but it is time consuming. When learning how to make basic taper candles the best looking taper candles are achieved by trying not to rush the process. Each dip should be a quick in and out motion. Don’t allow the candles to sit in the wax hoping it will absorb more. Rather, it will cause your candles to have a bumpy texture rather than a smooth shiny finish. When the wax starts to cool off take the time to pause the dipping and heat it back up again. Some candle makers dip while they have another dipping can of wax melting on the stove. This way, once the wax they are working with cools they can switch to the other can. This keeps the process smoother.
The quantity of times you will dip each candle depends on how thick you want them. If you are making pairs, keep track of the number of dips so they will match. As the wax begins to cool after each dip, you can dip it again. As the candle gets wider you will need to allow it to cool longer and longer after each dip. You can also try dipping two at the same time allowing one to cool while you dip the other in the set. Once the candle has achieved the desired size and it cools completely, cut the wick to about 1 inch from the top of the candle.
Learning how to make taper candles is a great project. The steps are not difficult once you get the dipping part down. These candles make beautiful center pieces and are often seen at weddings. You can make them any color you like matching the occasion. There are many beautiful taper candle holders on the market to add an even more elegant appeal to the wonderful candles you have created.
