Candle making

Candle making

Wise people all around the world say; “don’t curse darkness; light a candle”; that is the majesty of humble candle- sticks. They are the simplest things that can eliminate darkness; need no power or liquid fuels that are difficult to be carried or stored. Candles can be easily made and easily used; they are the right choice when on a journey or at home when power fails. Candles are in-expensive, safe, easy to store and child-friendly. Candle making is done for a living or as a hobby.

Candle Making Tools

A simple two-piece metallic frame jointed by hinges (lap top shape) each part can hold half piece of the six candle moulds (semi-hollow cylinders that open and close with the frame) is the main tool. The bottom pieces of the hollow tubular moulds have slots at the center to hold the thread in position. Two large vessels; one for boiling water and another for cooling the mould, a snouted metallic jug with handle for melting and pouring wax in to the moulds; that is all as utensils for the project.

Raw materials for making candle

Raw materials are bars or pellets of solid paraffin (called wax –a petroleum product), coloring pigments packaging materials, cotton thread to be used as wicks, perfumes that can be added to molten wax, some vegetable oil (used to oil the inside of moulds). All these are readily available in stores; but for the frames with moulds specific stores are to be approached.

Process of making candles

Hold the metallic mould sets open apply some vegetable oil at the inner portions of the moulds; tie one end of the thread at the frame and pass it through the slots provided at the end pieces from top to bottom on one and from bottom to top of the next in a zigzag manner and tie the end firmly to the frame. Close the frame and place it with open top ends of the moulds upwards. Boil some water in the large vessel and place the metallic mug filled with wax pellets in to the vessel.

Take care to see the mouth of the mug stays above the water level. At some time the wax melt in to liquid that can be poured in to the mould-sets. When all the moulds are filled with molten wax; let it get cooled for two minutes and place the mould as such in the vessel with coldwater.

Take it out after five minutes; open the frame and take out the candles as connected with the thread. Cut the thread leaving half a centimeter at the top end as wicks. Your candles are ready to be packed and marketed; generally six candles (half a dozen) are enclosed in pack.

Decorative candles

Candles are perhaps more used for decorative purpose than for getting light; it is here the use of coloring pigments arise; here wax is melted in different jars and pigments added to each jar as per the design of the candles. Adding of suitable perfumes is also a must for fancy and decorative candles. Moulds are also of different shapes based on the occasion like making ‘diyas’ (candles for floating on rivers at celebrations), birthday parties, weddings etc. Egg-shells, shells of seeds, carved moulds are all used based on the occasions. Beautiful home-made candles make excellent gift items.

Marketing

Four ‘P’s are must for any industry to prosper; they are’ p’roduct, ‘p’rice ‘p’ackaging and ‘p’romotion. Small scale manufacturers may find it hard to market the products they must take care that all the above Ps are important and should be strictly observed to prosper in the trade.

Product can be improved by better designs, coloring and application of perfumes; price by offering competitive discounts to the dealers. Packaging is the most important part in candle marketing; use beautiful screen printed wrappers; Spraying the wrapper with lasting perfume also is a trick over and above adding perfume in molten wax .

If the first three Ps are OK promotion becomes easy; village fares, churches, celebrations are all occasions for the marketing of candles. Once get established enhancing capacity alone may be the problem as candles are always in demand. Happy candle making to all of you; laugh all your way to the bank!