Making gel candles
Take a stroll down the aisle of any shop that is selling candles these days and you will likely find gel candles among the range that are offered. Gel candles burn just as well as candles made from many other wax substances, but they are put together a bit differently.
A candle that is made of a wax component is technically made of oil. Gel candles are made of oil too, but in a compound that is made up of 5% polymer resin and 95% mineral oil. You will find mineral oil is the main ingredient in many cosmetic products that you use. The resin that is used to make gel candles actually begins as a powder. When you mix this powder with mineral oil the gel compound begins to form. The gel wax that is used to make gel candles comes in 3 different varieties, and these are defined by the density of the compound. A low density gel wax will not hold fragrance as well as a high density gel wax. A high density gel wax will be stronger and thicker than a low density variety – and this means you can often add decorations into the candle with the higher density gel.
When making a candle out of regular wax you will likely follow a number of steps. These steps are pretty much the same when you are making a candle out of gel wax. You will just need to use different types of equipment to mold the gel wax. Regular wax candles will usually be molded by using a double boiler to melt the wax initially. Gel wax does not melt so easily, and this method would be far too time consuming. Therefore, candle makers who are using gel wax will likely use a multi-cooker to melt the wax. Here’s how it works: You can assume that a multi cooker is much like a deep fryer – they are usually non-stick and made of metal. The multi cooker will have a separate heat element and temperature dial that will allow you to get conditions just right to melt the gel wax. The gel wax will be placed straight into the multi cooker to start melting. You will probably be best to use a thermometer to test that the gel is at the right temperature while molding too, and you will need to use a durable stirrer that is made of hard plastic or another similar substance. Gel wax is highly flammable and you should keep this in mind at all times when melting and molding candles. You should always take precautions to have a fire blanket and extinguisher on hand when making any type of candle.
Gel wax can be easily colored thanks to the use of dyes. You will usually have to use a liquid dye in order to color the gel wax because you will want the gel to remain translucent, rather than appear milky and opaque. Only a little dye is used to stain the gel wax for a candle – ensure you don’t use too much. Don’t ever be tempted to use inappropriate dyes such as food dye or crayons to color your gel wax. These will affect the ability of your gel candle to burn, and defeat the purpose of making a gel candle in the first place!
It is simple to make gel candles once you get the hang of a few easy preliminary steps. Gel wax is a great substance to consider when creating unique and modern candles of all shapes and sizes. The most common way to pretty-up gel candles is by setting decorations within the gel wax that float within the candle. This is a great way to personalize a gel candle gift for someone for a special occasion or season. Gel candles burn nice and slowly too, so that you can ensure the candle-owner will get the most of their gel candle experience.
