Pillar candles come in many varieties, of heights and shapes. Short and round, tall and square, tall and round, short and square. These are all varieties of pillar candles; some of the pillar candles that are made are even large enough to require multiple wicks.
Pillar Candles Background
Pillar candles have grown most in their popularity over the course of the last few years. They are now being used by many as decorations around the home. Each pillar candle is called by its combination of diameter and height, so it would sound something like a photo; three by six or five by three (that would be a shorter and wider candle).
Like many other candles, we make pillar candles with the use of a mold to put the hot wax into. Once the wax has cooled and hardened, the mold is then removed. Molds can be purchased from a craft store or can be any container that is lying around your house. Feel brave enough to try a multiple wick candle, use an old butter dish.
If you are looking for something a bit smaller, try a yogurt container. The store bought molds do come with options like having the wick pin assembly build in, but that is not a necessity. You can create your own wick pin assembly. Often times when making pillar candles, the use of wax additives like searin is required. What searin does is to help the wax more easily release from the mold after your pillar candle has cooled and hardened.
Pillar Candle Equipment
As previously stated, we make pillar candles with the use of a mold. One of the keys to getting the candle to mold properly is the use of a mold release spray before pouring the wax into the mold. If you desire to buy mold release spray, it can be purchased at the craft store. If you are looking for a slightly more budget friendly option or just don’t want to have to travel out of our way you can use vegetable oil cooking spray, it works as well as a mold release would.
Once your wax has reached the preferred temperature for pouring, then pour it into your mold just make sure not to hit your wick pin assembly. Once your wax is into he mold be sure to tap the sides of the mold gently, this will remove any air bubbles that may be in the wax. Also make sure that you do not use all of your wax. You will need some of it for the re-pour, that is unless you have a heat gun that you plan to use.
Pillar Candle Tips
One of the problems that people may encounter in the process of making pillar candles is the candle collapsing on one side. To prevent this, make sure that you have poked the necessary relief holes around the wick, do this as the candle cools. In the process of cooling the wax will contract, as do most other materials when they cool. This will cause the wax to try and pull away from the outside walls making your pillar candles collapse on one side. The relief holes make the wax pull not only away from the walls, but away from the wick as well creating sturdier pillar candles.
Another common problem is that after the candle is made and you light it, you find that the wax pool excessively around the wick and the candle will not stay lit. This is most likely due to using a wick that is too small for the pillar candle that you have made.
Next time you make this kind of candle see if using a larger wick helps the problem. If you know for a fact that the wick size is not the problem, then it could be a simple case of using the wrong dye. Some pigmented dyes will clog the wick making it impossible for the candle to stay lit. Make sure that dyes are only used when over-dripping to help avoid this problem.
Just by following these few simple steps you should be making pillar candles like a pro in no time. This is a fun hobby that will help you to keep your lone looking finely decorated at all times. Enjoy the ambiance that you are now able to create within the rooms of our house by making and using pillar candles.
