As Seen On:
MAKING A CANDLE MOLD AND A BEESWAX CANDLE WITH TOM
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APRIL 3, 2000
PROJECT: MAKING A CANDLE MOLD AND A BEESWAX CANDLE WITH TOM
 
With the advent of mass-produced candles in the nineteenth century, not to mention electric lights, candlemaking disappeared from the list of household chores. But machine-made candles aren’t nearly as gratifying as the wonderful shapes that result from homemade molds. Associate style editor Tom Tamborello created a rubber candle mold from a finial. You can use any interestingly shaped three-dimensional object from around the house, but keep the shape fairly simple for the best results.
TECHNIQUE
MAKING A CANDLE MOLD
Cordless drill
Square of wood
Wooden post top finial
Shellac
Smooth-On Universal Mold Release Spray
Smooth-On mold rubber compound
3 plastic containers
Rubber spatula
Measuring container
Utility knife
1. Drill a hole in the center of a square of wood, and secure finial to wood base.

2. Seal the exterior of the finial with a few coats of shellac. (You can skip this step if you are using a glass, metal, wrought-iron object, or an already painted object.)

3. Cover finial with Universal Mold Release from Smooth-On. Let dry for about 10 minutes. This will make it easier to remove the object from the rubber.

4. To determine the amount of rubber mold compound you’ll need, fill a plastic container with water. Place the finial, top down, in the water (some of the water will be displaced). Pour the remaining water into a measuring cup. This is the total amount of the compound that you will need.

5. Mix rubber mold compound according to instructions. (Martha and Tom use Smooth-On’s PMC 744. This particular compound is good for casting wax, plasters, concrete, and resins.) Mix the compound thoroughly with a spatula. Pour compound into plastic container.

6. Place finial in rubber compound. Make sure that it is centered and not touching the sides. Let the mold set for 16 hours.

7. To remove the mold from the container, poke a hole in the bottom of the container. Pull mold from plastic container.

8. Using a utility knife, make incisions on both sides of the mold from top to bottom. Pull rubber away, and remove finial.


MAKING BEESWAX CANDLES
Beeswax
Double boiler
Candy thermometer
Candle wick
Awl
Thin wire
Plastic container
Coffee stirrers
Clothespin
1. Melt beeswax in a double boiler on high heat. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer; it should remain below 200°. Because heated wax can ignite, never leave it unattended, and lower the heat immediately if you smell the wax burning or if it starts to smoke. Two to three pounds of wax may require an hour or more to melt.

2. Prepare the wick: Cut a length of wicking appropriate to your candle size (instructions usually come with the wicking). Dip wick into melted wax to prime it.

3. Using an awl, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the mold (the top of the candle). Hook the wick through a bent piece of wire. Push the wire and wick through the hole in the mold. Leave at least 1/2 inch of wick at the bottom of the mold.

4. Place mold in plastic container so the sides stay together. Pour melted wax into mold. Center the wick in the wax, and put two coffee stirrers on either side of the wick resting on the rim of the mold; clip stirrers together with a clothespin. Let wax cool and harden completely, about a couple of hours depending on the size of the candle.

5. Remove the rubber mold from the plastic container. If you’re having trouble, gently roll the container on its side, pressing lightly to help release the mold. Remove the candle from the mold. Trim wick, and smooth bottom with an iron or a hot metal spatula.

SPECIAL THANKS
Tom Tamborello
Associate Style Editor
Martha Stewart Living Television

SOURCES
Finials
$12.25 each
Brown Wood Products Company
800-328-5858
 
Candle wick
Made by Walnut Hill Company
$1.60 for one package, which contains six feet of wick
 
Beeswax
$8 per block
 
Smooth-On Universal Mold Release Spray
$11.70
Techno-Industrial Products
(262) 524-0440 or 800-255-9847
Smooth-On
800-762-0744
 
Mold rubber compound
$25 for sample size (PMC-744, parts A&B)

Techno-Industrial Products
(262) 524-0440 or 800-255-9847

Smooth-On
800-762-0744