Candle making Wax…Main Characteristics

Looking for some fun? Whatever you do, Don't Click Here!

Candle making has grown tremendously in the past few decades and this exponential growth has led to the further improvement in quality, availability and sheer diversity of wax, which as we all know, is one of the main ingredients of candle making. From the dawn of time, candles have been made from a variety of waxy materials and today, wax is derived from two major sources – natural sources like vegetable, insects and animals, and artificially manufactured materials like paraffin and gel.

Paraffin wax is one of the most abundant wax used to make candles today. It is manufactured or refined from petroluem. Most candles are now made from paraffin wax which is readily available everywhere and is cheap to buy. Vegetable or plant materials are extensively used also to make wax in various parts of the world today. Naturally produced wax are refined from such plant materials like soy beans and palm. United States is noted for massive production of soybeans from which natural soy wax is extracted. Soy wax is rapidly growing in popularity as it is a renewable resource, readily available, inexpensive and also eco-friendly.

Another natural wax used in making candles which is also rapidly growing in popularity among candle lovers is Palm wax. Palm wax is a renewable wax produced from palm trees which grows naturally in the continents of Africa and Asia. Acres of virgin forests in many countries around the world are now regularly being cleared to make way for palm tree plantations just because of the ever growing popularity of palm oil and palm wax in the world market.

This wanton destruction of rain forests has contributed significantly to the global warming phenomenon affecting our planet today. This destruction of many endangered animal species’ natural habitats has also displaced large numbers of animals like lions, elephants, tigers, rhinos, gorrillas and orangutans living in these forests. Try and keep in mind this negative effect on our planet when you are buying palm wax, and make your own little contribution towards the sustainance of our ecosystem by buying wax that is eco-friendly.

Candles have been fashioned from animal products for many centuries. The Egyptians have been known to make candles from beeswax as early as 3000 BC, while the Chinese made theirs from the fat of whales between 221 and 206 BC during the Qin Dynasty. Candles made from natural beeswax is available in different colors and it is quite popular among candle makers. Although it is more expensive than paraffin wax or palm wax, candle makers are drawn to this wax by its natural fragrance and its burning characteristics.

Candles are also commonly made from gel wax. Gel candles are clear and have a rubbery texture but it burns much the same way as candles made from any other kind of wax. Gel wax comes in three different flavors – low, medium and high densities. What dictates the gel density you need to use is the type of candle you are planning to make and the amount of fragrance you want to add. Low density gel works best for candles that contain 0-3% of fragrance, and it is poured at low temperatures. Medium density gel is probably the most popular of the three and it is best with candles that contain 3-5% of fragrance. High density gel wax works best for candles that holds a higher amount of fragrance and it is usually poured at much higher temperatures than the low and medium density wax.

Candle makers today are spoilt for choice with the wide varieties of wax available on the market for the candle making enthusiast. You can pick and choose the type of wax that works best for you and the type of candle you are planning to make. A full understanding of the characteristics and quality of each type of wax will allow every candle maker to use each one to its fullest potential in crafting the candle of their dreams.

Brian Omoafro has been making candles for over twenty five years. His excellent FREE mini course on Candle Making Crafts is available, for a limited period on his Candle Making Ideas homepage.

Article kindly provided by UberArticles.com

Topics: Crafts | No Comments »

Article Citation
MLA Style Citation:
Omoafro, Brian "Candle making Wax…Main Characteristics." Candle making Wax…Main Characteristics. 30 Dec. 2009. uberarticles.com. 9 Feb 2012 <http://uberarticles.com/hobbies/crafts/candle-making-waxmain-characteristics/>.

APA Style Citation:
Omoafro, B (2009, December 30). Candle making Wax…Main Characteristics. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from http://uberarticles.com/hobbies/crafts/candle-making-waxmain-characteristics/

Chicago Style Citation:
Omoafro, Brian "Candle making Wax…Main Characteristics" uberarticles.com. http://uberarticles.com/hobbies/crafts/candle-making-waxmain-characteristics/

Recent Articles in 'Crafts'

Quit Smoking Permanently

By Chris James

Quitting smoking is not an easy thing to do. Anyone who has tried, even if they were successful, will likely say it was extremely difficult. There are a variety of ways to try and quit smoking. If one way is unsuccessful try another. Quitting smoking as soon as possible is imperative to your health and the health of those around you. Before beginning any non-smoking program be sure to discuss it with your doctor.

The First Three Days After You Stop Smoking

By Darren Warmuth

Regardless of which option you choose that you feel will assist you to stop smoking, the first three days are the hardest. This is when the physical symptoms of nicotine leaving your body is felt the most. Common symptoms such as irritability, feeling sleepy or fatigued, and that slight headache that never seems to go away, are all common symptoms of withdrawal.

Dealing with the Other Difficult Parent

By Dr. Noel Swanson

Q. I have a stepdaughter who is four years old. Her real mother whom she visits on weekends is in and out of jail; she has 86 felonies. Each visit leaves the child distraught; she gets depressed and sinks into her shell.

Some Facts about the Magic Stop Smoking Pill

By Darren Warmuth

You may be one of millions who get trapped by catchy ads of 'magic pills' that can cure you of your smoking habit without any effort. It is all tall talk. There is no such wonder drug. So, don't wait for miracles to happen, and start making an effort to get rid of your smoking habit.

ADHD - What It Is & How To Recognize It From Your Child's Behavior

By Dr. Noel Swanson

ADD and ADHD are two abbreviated terms that refer to children affected by particular behavioural problems. ADD means Attention Deficit Disorder while ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Children are diagnosed with these conditions when they exhibit unusually difficult behaviour at home and at school. ADD/ADHD is believed to affect up to 5% of school aged children and is more prevalent in boys than in girls.

Make Money Using Article Submission Service

By Brad Selers_

Article Submission services are programs that submits articles to as many directories as possible and in the least amount of time. The system by which article submissions are made at lightning speeds is called spidering. A spider is a program whose primary function is to search for similar directories over the web and causing an article to appear in them.

How To Write A Great Article In 6 Steps

By Brad Selers_

Anyone who regularly reads newspapers, papers and goes online will have read several articles. These can be used in many different ways. Some articles are written purely for information purposes were others are used to market websites and goods. Understanding how to write a great article can be difficult even if you are a seasoned pro. So why not take a look at the 6 stages which will enable you to learn how to write a great article.

Uber Articles {Über (ger) adj. above, beyond }