Using Candle Making Molds
The different types of candle making molds that are available to purchase to make candles at home are virtually as endless as the amount of different candles out there. It is practical to suppose that with such a popular hobby like candle making and the popularity of individuals purchasing candles for their homes, there would be a lot of unusual types of candle making molds available on the market.
A candle mold is a container that the wax is poured into while it cools off. The wax will hold the shape of the mold when it has cooled off entirely. Candle molds are made out of a variety of materials, sizes, shapes, and styles. They also provide an assortment of different uses. Aluminium molds are a very frequent type of mold candle makers use. They are durable and heat proof. Plus, they leave a smooth finish without leaving any crinkles in the completed candle.
This leaves the candles the appearance of being professionally made. These types of metal molds are widely utilized in making votive and pillar candles. They are also low-budget when compared to rubber molds. A addition about aluminum molds is that they are easy to clean.
All you need to do is to put them on a baking sheet in your oven. By setting them upper side down and heating them to about 150 degrees the remaining wax will melt and run out of the mold onto the cookie sheet. Just remember to line your cookie sheet. The down side to aluminium molds is that they are non flexible so there are very little alternatives when it comes to changing the shapes or textures of the candles and that they call for a releasing agent to get the candle out of the mold.
On the other hand, rubber molds like polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are very flexible. Polyurethane molds are flexible but they do not stretch well. They are usually a little bit cheaper then silicone molds. Unfortunately, they bear a profound scent that may be able to be passed along in your candle and they will want a releasing agent to get the candle out of it. Often times pillar and taper candles are made from these types of molds. Silicone molds are another type of rubber mold.
They are the most costly molds because of their essential qualities. They leave no parting crinkles, they are flexible but also stretchable to a point so drawing the candles out of the molds is easier and needs no releasing agent. Although latex molds used to be utilized very frequently, with the progress in other types of rubber molds they are loosing their luster. But, it is very easy to make your own molds at home by using liquid latex and painting it onto a structure at home. This action needs a lot of coats of latex but, the alternatives of different types of unique molds are inexhaustible.
Plastic candle molds are the cheapest but they are not always the best. They have a briefer lifetime then the rest because they are more fragile. On the plus side, plastic molds are simple to clean. All you need to use is some warm water and a little soap. Just make sure that the mold is completely dry before you use it again or you will get water bubbles in your candles. They are great molds for beginners but if you were to take your candle making hobby into the next level and turn it into a business you are probably going to have to invest in different types of molds.
Kor Rassad offers more great tips on candle making molds, at his website http://www.hotcandlemaking.com.
