Candle Making Equipment

Essential Gear for Safe Candle Making

The first requirement is a pot(s) in which to melt your wax. The double boiler method is probably the most popular…and also the safest. But it is also the slowest. There are several approaches to melt wax for making candles, and we’ll go through them all so you can determine which way is best for you.

Under no circumstances should you melt wax on your stove without the use of a double boiler. Don’t melt wax with a heating mechanism does not have some form of temperature control . Wax does have a flash point and will ignite when it gets to that point…so you must have a means to control the wax temperature and, in so doing, avoid fires. Make sense? Flash points will vary between 290 – 380 degrees so never allow your wax get within that range. Safety must come first when you are making candles.

You don’t need an expensive wax melter to make great candles . I suggest you buy a Presto “Kitchen Kettle” from your local hardware or Walmart . They are available for about $20. Make certain you are getting the “Kitchen Kettle” because there are many variations on the market. The “Kitchen Kettle” comes with a numeric temperature control. Never melt wax in anything that doesn’t have a numerical temperature gauge. Even a simple candy thermometer will suffice…just don’t ever use a melt pot with only high, medium and low settings.

Next up is a good thermometer. You’ll use this with your kitchen kettle to ensure a proper candle wax temperature. You can buy a thermometer for about $5 while you’re buying your kitchen kettle. Even a candy making type thermometer works fine when you are learning how to make candles…and, really, its all that you will ever need.

You’ll need a “pour pot” to pour your melted candle wax into your molds. Quality aluminum pour pots are available from most craft shops, but a $5 one-quart Pyrex measuring cup works just as well. You may even start out using an empty coffee can to pour your candles.

Next, you will need an accurate scale for weighing the wax to put in your melter. A scale that works up to 10 lbs will be enough. Once again, have a look at Walmart…or any office supply store like Staples or Office Max. I try to buy my wax in pellets, but if you wish to buy wax in block form, you will need a hammer to bust it up into chunks small enough to fit onto your scales and into your melt pot.

The Presto “Kitchen Kettle” we discussed previously will accomodate 7-8 lbs of wax. You can melt any amount up to that, but I suggest that you start off with no more than 5-6 lbs at one time while you’re learning how to make candles…because while stirring you might slosh drops of wax out from the pot and create a big mess.

So, to summarize, you will require the following items to begin your candle making experience:

1. Melting Pot
2. Thermometer
3. Pouring Pot
4. Weighing Machine
5. Hammer to break up wax

All of that should cost no more than $50…and probably less because most folks will already have some of the bits.

I’ve tried to keep everything as simple as possible and I recommend you do the same. It’s most essential to remember, keep it safe and, of course, have fun.

For homepage=> Candle Making Instructions

…or you may want to learn about Gel Candle Making.