Melting Your Candle Wax

Wax Preparation and Melting Instructions

Things you will need:

- Double Boiler to Melt Wax

This can be achieved by placing your melting pot inside of another larger pot containing water. This is a great method to heat your wax, because it keeps the wax off of direct heat, making the melting process safer. If you use a double boiler, the wax will not get too hot, and will not burn as it may on a direct heat source. In addition, the boiling water will melt the wax by evenly and efficiently distributing the heat. **Do not melt your wax on a direct heat source (i.e. directly on the stove burner). This is very dangerous.**

-Thermometer

-Scale

A digital scale is best for weighing your waxes and additives, because it can measure small weights down to ounces or grams with accuracy.

-Your choice of candle wax

-Fire extinguisher within reach

Safety and General Information:

Most waxes have a flashpoint greater than 350*F. Although it has such a high flashpoint, your wax should never be heated to more than 250*F, and in most cases it should not exceed 200*F. Each wax is different, and should be handled and melted differently, so you should contact the company where you purchase your wax to determine correct heating and pouring temperatures for that particular wax. When hot wax begins to reach it's flash point, it releases vapors into the air that are extremely flammable.

Always keep a fire extinguisher handy when dealing with hot wax. NEVER attempt to put out a wax fire with water. Candle wax is an oil, and throwing water on burning wax only splatters the oil and makes the fire grow much larger.

Never leave melting wax unattended. Temperatures can rise swiftly, and you must always monitor the temperature to ensure safety. Whether burning a candle or melting wax to make candles, you are dealing with flammable materials, and you must take care and use safe practices.

Instructions:

1.) Fill your large pot with a couple of inches of water. Make sure that there will be enough room inside the pot for your smaller pouring pot, so that the water will not flow over the edge and has enough room to boil.

2.) Turn on heat and bring the water to a boil.

3.) Place your pouring pot with your wax inside into the boiling water, and reduce the heat to simmer. It is not necessary to keep the water at a hard boil.

4.) Make sure you keep track of the temperature of the wax with your thermometer until it reaches the temperature needed for the particular wax that you are working with