We use candles every week so most of the drip we keep in an old coffee can. This year I am going to enter hand dipped candles. But we found some terrific old fashioned candle molds from 1899!

Does anyone else dip their own?

I would love to learn how to dip my own candles. I have no idea how to do it. I burn candles all the time too. I'd love to make my own.

I have no idea how this candle making is done. I would love to learn such things too but couldn't find the appropriate time for learning a lot of stuffs in my lists.

I have never done it and am not familiar with the process. Coincidentally enough we were just talking about trying this out. It would save so much money not to mention it is a great thing to know how to do.

I would definitely save a ton of money also. I think that Jimmy needs to give us advice on how to get started making our own candles.

I've done it, but not with success! The candles looked GREAT but I used a wick that was too thick for the type and ammount of wax I was using and so they burned down to nothing too fast. I learned there is a lot more to being a chandler than just dipping a piece of string into hot wax! I'm looking to get into candle making though, candles would make a good supplement to my natural soap and body products business.

I would like to make candles some time, that sounds like a lot of fun. Can anyone post a picture of their homemade candle for me here? Thanks.

It doesn't look that difficult, and is probably cheaper than purchasing candles at a store?

Its rather easy to make candles. My friend makes flower shaped candles and sell them on the market.

My wife burns a lot of candles. I keep all of the old wax until I get enough to make more. Sometimes she buys candles that are in jars, so I save some of the jars as well. If you don't have enough jars, you can cut the top off of a pop can and use the can as a mold.

You van buy regular candle wick at hobby supply stores. It seems expensive, but it does last a long time. Heres how I make them:

1) Cut your wicks to length. I ususally make them about 4 inches longer than the jar or container that I use as a mold.
2) To hold the wick in place, I tie one end to a pop can tab.
3) I have an old metal cream holder that I melt wax in for pouring. Just keep putting small pieces of wax in until it is melted. Do not overheat the wax. The hotter it gets, it becomes more flammable and could ignite if it gets too hot.
4) Pour a small amount in the bottom of the jar or mold. Put the can tab tied to your wick in the middle of what you poured in and hold it in place with a stiff wire (I use a piece from an old metal clothes hanger) until the wax begins to set up.
5) After the wax is set up, take a piece of wire or ols pen or pencil and wrap the wick around it starting at the end until you get down to the top of the jar or mold. Set it on top so that the wick is straight up the center.
6) Fill the jar or mold with wax until about 1/4 inch below the top. This is where the creamer comes in handy. It has a pour spout and the small capacity keeps you from filling the jar too fast, which could crack it.It is also interesting, with the small capacity, you can melt different colors at a time and make multi colored candles. It doesn't matter to me, but my wife likes them.
7) Let the candle cool overnight so the middle gets hard properly.
8) Uncoil the wick from the wire holding it, and trim to length.
9) The jar candles are finished. With the ones made in pop cans, take a pair of wire cutters and split the rim at the top. You can then peel the can off and this leaves you with a small pillar candle. You can also use soup cans or even the large food cans, but they are a lot harder to remove.

Enjoy your candles.

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