Almost 100% of the time elegant table settings will contain taper candles. Taper candles are a must for a romantic evening with your partner. And learning how to make taper candles is an easy hobby to master. Most candles require jars or molds, but taper candles differ by needing to be dipped.
Dipping candles by hand has a small learning curve, but can be easily mastered in a short amount of time. The great thing about taper candles is that if you make a mistake or while your practicing, you can melt the wax back down again and again, until you get the hang of it. It is advised while practicing to not add any colors or scents, therefore keeping your costs down.
When learning how to make taper candles a dipping can is the first tool you will need to obtain, thee can be bought online or a craft store near you. Most candle making uses double boilers to melt your wax, but for taper candles this is too narrow. Some more supplies that you will need is a thermometer, wicks, wax fragrances, and dyes. It is important when making taper candles that you use only wicks made for these types of candles. If other types of wicks are used you will have problems with them burning correctly. Paraffin wax is the best kind for making taper candles.
Set up a pot with a few inches of water that you can place your dipping can into. Never ever place your dipping can directly onto your stove, this is a safety issue and could cause your house to fill with fumes that could be hazardous. While your wax is melting cut your wicks to the desired lengths, you will want your wicks 4 inches longer than your candles. If you are making more than one cut your first wick to length and then use it as a guide to cut fold and cut your others.
After your wax has melted and has reached a temp between 150 and 165 degrees, the dipping process can begin. If you choose to add any colors or fragrances this is the time to do it. Place your dipping can on a flat surface, preferably on a towel or cookie sheet that is specifically used for your candle making. Take one of your wicks and dip it in the hot wax, the goal is to just get your wick coated the first couple of times.
Hand dipping taper candles is easy but also time consuming. Going slowly and letting the candle cool between dips will result in great looking candles. The dipping task should be a quick in and out. Most importantly is to not let the candle linger in the wax too long hoping that it will absorb more wax. This will result in your candle being ugly and lumpy instead of smooth and shiny. If the wax in your can starts to cool down place it back in your bowl and bring it back to temperature. Having 2 dipping cans will make the hand dipping faster, with no waiting.
The number of times you dip your candle will determine the size. If you are making sets, a good idea is to keep track of the number of times you dipped, keeping them all the same size with the same number of dips. The thicker your candle gets the longer it will take to cool down between dipping. Try making more than one at a time, then you can dip one and let it cool while you dip the other and alternating. After your candles get the size you want let them completely cool and then trim there wicks within one inch from the top.
Learning how to make taper candles is a great project. The process is not difficult once you get the process of the dipping down. Taper candles make great centerpieces and are used often at weddings. You can personalize them with many different colors and scents. Beautiful taper candle holders and candelabras can be found to showcase your beautiful creations.
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