Dip, pour, delight: make dipped and molded candles from old stubs
Do you toss the last stubs of burned-down candles and those wax drips? Save the leftovers—turning them into new candles is easy and fun. With our tutorial, you can pour fresh molded candles and make color-dipped tapers, too.
Candles from old candle stubs—supplies:
- plenty of old candle stubs and scraps, plus dripped wax
- an old pot with a lid
- stiff candle wicks
- stearin taper candles
- clean glass jars (tall, narrow olive jars work well)
- scissors
- a small, sharp knife
- a cutting board
- a jar to hold the taper candles upright
- disposable sticks (e.g., chopsticks, grill skewers) or a spoon
- tape
- a candle mold
- crayons or candle dyes
- poster putty (or modeling clay)
- parchment paper or other protective paper
- a stove
How to make candles from old candle stubs:
1. Gather all your supplies. Cleaning the pot and tools after candle making is a chore, so choose an inexpensive thrifted pot or an old one you no longer cook with. When working with hot wax, it’s smart to have an oven mitt or pot holder, the pot lid, and a fire blanket within reach. Protect the area around the stove with parchment paper.
2. Sort old candle leftovers by color. Clean the candles: trim off the charred wick ends and use a knife to scrape away any sooty or dirty spots. Chop large pillar candles into smaller pieces. Fill glass jars with candle stubs and old wax drips, keeping each color in its own jar. Even tiny crumbs are useful!
3. Fill the pot about one-third full with water and bring it to a boil. Set the jars filled with candle pieces into the water bath. Make sure no water gets into the jars. Let the water bubble gently and stir the wax now and then to speed up melting. Allow the wax to melt until completely liquid.
4. If you used white candles, you can color the melted wax. Chop a crayon into small bits and add about a teaspoon to the melted wax. Stir and let the crayon melt thoroughly. The wax should be noticeably deeper in color than you want in the final result. Instead of a crayon, you can use candle dye—a small dab is enough.
Making dipped candles:
1. Dip one end of a taper candle into the colored, melted wax. If the color is too light, dip it once or twice more. Stand the candle upright to cool and set. Once set, dip the other end into a different color of wax. Let it set.
Making molded candles:
1. Close the mold with the rubber bands it came with. Insert a stiff wick into the mold. Seal the wick hole and the bottom seam with poster putty or modeling clay.
2. Straighten the wick and secure its top between two sticks. Tape the sticks together and bend the wick over them so the sticks rest on the edges of the mold.
3. Fill the mold to the top with melted wax. Check that the mold isn’t leaking. You can make striped candles by pouring in different colors. Let the wax cool before adding the next color.
4. Let the wax cool in the mold. A small mold cools in a couple of hours; a larger one overnight. The wax will sink as it sets.
5. Fill the resulting well with melted wax and let it cool again. A large candle may need a couple of top-ups. Once the candle has set, open the mold and remove the candle. Trim the wick to the desired length.
Remember fire safety
Always burn candles on a nonflammable surface, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
