How to Make New Candles From Recycled Wax

Ever get frustrated when your new pillar candlemiddle of the kite string where your fingers were
drowns in its own wax and will no longer light?over your washing line or twine. Let it stay there
Don't get mad, get even - that is, get even morefor 24 hours and then simply use scissors to cut
candles out of it by making new candles fromof the adjoining candles so that they become
your own recycled wax. From saving the wax ofsingle dinner candles.
old candles, and with only a few tools, you canHow to fill glass jars with recycled wax
make your own tapered dinner candles or fill upStart by collecting wax of various similar color
glass jars to make new candles.families together. I even save the bottom bit of
If you're feeling brave go on and ask your friendscolored tealight candles - you'd be surprised at
and neighbors for their old candles as well. Beforehow much wax you can get from those! Even if
long, your collection will grow big enough to notyou have, for example, several shades of blue
need to purchase new candles for severalfrom dark to light, that is ok. The final color of
months. You'll feel empowered and self-reliantthe wax will be somewhere in the middle and will
recycling your otherwise unwanted goods, you'llbe your own. It's part of the fun to see what
be taking frugality to a whole other level andcolor you will end up with. I've used glass jars
keeping your carbon footprint down by not goingfrom the Yankee Candle company and other
out and buying new candles all of the time.glass tumblers that originally had a candle in it.
What you will need to make tapered dinnerSimply dig out any old wax left in the glass
candles:containers, cut out any remaining wick and place it
Ball of kite stringwith similar colors.
Preferably a galvanized steel vat to hold theWhat you will need to fill glass jars to make new
candle wax in when meltingcandles:
Large galvanized steel or hard aluminum jam potBall of kite string
to hold the vat inCleaned and empty glass containers
Washing line or twineThose silver wick holders for the bottom of the
Empty 2 liter plastic bottle with the top cut offcandles (optional)
A pair of scissorsSmall wrench or pliers (optional - for use with the
Old candle wax of a similar colorsilver wick holders)
How to make tapered dinner candles:Bamboo skewers or metal skewers
1. Fill your jam pot halfway with water and put itA pair of scissors
on the hob (stove top) to boilA double boiler or bain marie
2. Place your vat in the jam pot so that the jamMeasuring cup with spout
pot is acting like a double boiler or bain marieHow to make new candles:
3. Allow the wax to slowly melt adding bits of1. Fill your bottom pot of your double boiler
wax of the same basic color (i.e. all cream / ivoryhalfway with water and put it on the hob (stove
/ white) at a time and stir with either a talltop) to boil
wooden spoon or piece of bamboo cane2. Place your smaller pot inside the double boiler
4. While the wax is melting use your washing lineand allow the wax to slowly melt adding bits of
or twine to create a line about 2 meters (6 or 7wax of the same basic color (i.e. all shades of
feet) safely in the air between two strong postspink) at a time and stir with either a wooden
or similarspoon or piece of bamboo cane
5. When the wax has turned to liquid, take the3. While the wax is melting cut off a piece of
vat out of the jam pot and off of the heat andyour kite string so that it is approximately 2" taller
put the vat low down enough to dip into on athan the top of the glass container you wish to
surface covered with towelsuse
6. Fill your empty plastic bottle with cold water4. If you've bought the silver wick holders, then
7. Cut pieces of kite string approximately 24" longput the kite string through the holder leaving a
To start the process of making dinner candlestiny amount of string underneath it and pinch the
simply hold the piece of kite string in the middletop of the silver holder with pliers or a wrench so
and dip it in the wax so that the entire kite stringthat the string can no longer fall through it and
is covered except for a couple of inches in theplace the silver wick holder with wick attached
middle where your fingers are holding it.into the bottom of the glass jar with the wick
Quickly dunk the kite string in the plastic bottle ofstanding up (it doesn't matter at this point if it is
cold water. Shape the kite string so that yourleaning on the edge of the glass jar)
string is hanging down on either side of your5 If you do not have the wick holders, simply
fingers. You are in essence making 2 dinnerplace the wick into middle of the glass jar so that
candles at the same time which will be connectedthe string nearly touches the bottom of the glass
in the middle.6. In either scenario, you will now want to hold a
Continue the process of dunking the kite stringskewer horizontally over the glass container so
into the melted liquid wax and then straight intothat it is resting on the top rim and wrap the
the cold water until the candle becomes thickextra 2" you have of kite string around and
enough to look like a store bought dinner candle.around it so that it no longer moves
This process will take approximately 4 minutes.7. When the wax has turned to liquid, quickly pour
When you become more proficient, use eachit into your measuring cup with spout
hand to hold a piece of kite string alternately8. Fill your empty glass container with the wax
dunking wax and water so that you are making 4making sure not to hit the wick / skewer
dinner candles in the same 4 minutes.9.
When the candle is finished carefully hang the