The Oracle

Well I'm not exactly the most practical guy out there for such crafts but I do have a good go at it. I tend to use normal synthetic wax as its far easier for me to work with. All I do is melt the wax in a saucepan, find a suitable mold and bang, instant candle.

But to explain it better I'll put it down in bullet points lol.

Wax (I tend to use recycled ends from candles)
String (cut to the correct length for your mould)
A mould (beer cans work well)
A Pencil or similar (not a plastic pen)

Heat the wax slowly on a stove until it melts, then take the wax and poor it into the mold. Then take a pencil, tie the string to it and slowly lower the string into the melted wax mould (now this is tricky due to the string being rather slack, you can solve this by either tying foil around the bottom to wait it or soak it in some wax before starting). As the wax hardens make sure you have a little bit of melted way on standby, as it dips in the middle. You can top it up and have a good looking candle.

When the wax hardens you may find it hard to remove the outer mould. This is why I suggested a beer can as its easy to cut off if needed. Another option is before you even begin pierce the bottom of the can with a hole large enough to poke a pencil through. Then use a putty of some sort fo seal it up. You can just take the putty off and push the candle out with your pencil.

Well that's my method, whats yours?

Usually they are just candles I've burnt (not a big fan of candle magick myself). But my views on it are that you are reforging the candle into something new as you said. By turning into something new (transformation through intent ) I can reuse it for any purpose.

Making sense?

Thanks Cadno. I've been wondering for a while how I could recycle the wax from the bottom of tea lights since there always seems to be so much left when I recyc the tin holders.

Do you think yogurt pots would work (I'm not too big on beer these days) or is the wax going to be too hot? and if it is are there any alternatives?

Also, is it just ordinary string or does it have to be waxed as well? OOOh and could I melt the wax ends in the microwave or not?

Thanks again

Not sure on the microwave front, may get exploding wax lol

I tend wax up my string, when I'm melting the wax into the saucepan I dip the string in when its all melted. Then I just lay is out on the side and wait until I'm ready.

As for yogurt pots, well as long as you make sure the wax isn't overly hot, I can't see why it wouldn't work. But to be on the safe side, test it with a little amount of hot wax first. I'll have a go at this myself because if it works I can make some smaller candles lol.

Usually they are just candles I've burnt (not a big fan of candle magick myself). But my views on it are that you are reforging the candle into something new as you said. By turning into something new (transformation through intent ) I can reuse it for any purpose.

Making sense?

Perfectly. In retrospect and some reading on crystals, I'd guess you can clear the wax in the same manner making it ready for use in whatever your intentions may be down the road. And then as you said, creating something new from the old is probably a clearing in and of itself.

You did, however, forget to tell us what to do with the pencil you lowered into the candle for the wick. I'm a bit unclear as to how that works.

Blessings,
Wolfie

I don't think you lower the pencil into the candle wax. I think you're supposed to tie the wick end around the pencil then place it across the top of the wax recepticle. Actually if you do this before you pour the wax into it then you don't have to worry about the string not being straight into the wax as it's melting, if that makes sense?! Otherwise you'd just have a ruddy big hole in your candle wouldn't you?

Hope that's right, is that right Cadno?

X

Yep, thats right

*runs back into his corner quickly for not making that clearer lol*

Yoghurt pots work well, partic the little fromage frais ones. I've done these with the kids in school. Make a hole in the bottom and thread wick through, sealing with blob of blue tac.Wind wick around cocktail stick/pencil and balance across rim, and pour in slightly cooled wax. We have often used essential oils to scent, and old wax crayons to colour. Green worked weel, as did blue, but others a bit murky! Pot easy to peel/break off afterwards too. We made double coloured layers by letting first layer harden. All decorative of course, rather than ritualistic, but I guess you could charge your wax as you melt/pour it or something.
x

I have used everthing from chinese containers to washed out dog food tins (not one I would recommend unless you have a very sharp saw and a lot of time lol). Try different things and see what works best for you.

I bought my eldest son a couple of caramel desserts that come in glass pots. I'm going to use them and also give the little yoghurt pots a try.

Loving the wax crayon ends for colour if they were melted seperately then they could be marbled together in the pot before setting. That would look really pretty. Problem is my eldest is too old for crayons and my youngest is, well, too young. *sighs* Life is just so taxing.

Not tried the marblin... bet it would look lovely though. We melted a;; ours in old tin cans placed in saucepan of boiling water. Semetimes you need to put pan back on heat... but this way you don't wax up any cooking utensil, and can melt all your bits separately (in school now tho' we've got posh insulated electric wax melters to use with the children... but there are no electric sockets in the art area, Lol) The glass pots would look lovely, and if you fragrance and colour them, and tie with pretty ribbons, they make lovely gifts for the children to give to grannies and people... although if they're a little too old for wax crayons, they'll probably think its a pants idea anyway... granny won't tho!)x

That's a great Idea welsh witch. I shall have to start eating puddings in glass pots immediately! Hehe. Yay!

Yeah, bit of a problem eating all those deserts..... and WHY do they always seem to be that horrid icky stuff... chocolate is it called? Ah, the things we have to do for our children.......

YYooorfffthoo wwriiighht.

Oh oops sorry had my mouth full of pudding.

What I meant was you're so right.