Begin Your Own Bee’s Wax Candle Making Tradition

February 5, 2010 · Filed Under Craft · Comment 

Can you craft candles as a family? The answer is absolutely yes!   Producing bee’s wax candles is simple and fun for the whole family, because of the undemanding process involved.  Before we get to the how, let’s talk about what bee’s wax candles are. These candles can be seen in church altars and ceremonial dining tables.  This sort of candle typically comes in candle containers, but the really stylish ones are molded.  You can buy bee’s wax in sheets and in lumpy blocks.

Sheets can be rolled into candles whilst beeswax blocks need to be liquefied before they can be transformed into pretty candles.  You will require a double boiler, a heat source and a number of holders or containers for crafting candles out of beeswax lumps.  This is the normal way of making beeswax candles, which is similar to the process used for creating paraffin type candles.  In this method, you are going to make use of heat, which means you will need safety goggles, a heat resistant apron and safety mittens.  Fortunately, there is an unconventional way of creating candles out of beeswax.

The unorthodox technique will require the use of bee’s wax sheets.  In this system, you do not need to use heat or a double boiler.  This means you do not have to make use of heat because you won’t be thawing wax.  The only part of the process that isn’t child-friendly is the cutting of the bee’s wax sheets.

In some cases, you do not even have to cut the bee’s wax sheets for the reason that some suppliers offer pre-cut ones.  Just keep in mind, the shape and style of your beeswax candles will depend on how the sheets were cut prior to rolling.  Use a really sharp pair of cutters to slice the wax.

You may also choose to utilize a craft knife or an average kitchen knife.  Your finished product’s height will depend on the length of your wax sheet.  If you want to make pointed candles, you will want to slice your bee’s wax sheets in triangles.  You will have to prime the wicks and position them on the sheets of bee’s wax prior to letting the younger family members handle the sheets.

Wick priming involves dipping the wick in melted bee’s wax and letting it cool.  Crease the edge of your sheet securely until the primed wick is fully covered.

Then … the enjoyable part!

Each family member must have at least one sheet of wax to roll.  The whole procedure is similar to rolling dough prior to baking.  Little children may need some help rolling the wax.  The correct way of rolling the wax is to use a steady but moderate force to roll the wax.  The bee’s wax sheets are lightweight enough to be molded into a tube by hand.  You don’t have to worry about adding dye to your rolled bee’s wax candles for the reason that some shops color the bee’s wax sheets.  Select pastel colors to persuade your younger members to join in your new family custom.

Here is more information on How to Make Beeswax Candles. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Candle Making.