How To Make Soap At Home

Most candle makers find using molds the most straight forward and versatile way to make candles. Candles can be shaped into just about any imaginable using the appropriate mold. 

Although many different forms can be used for molds, not every hollow form is suitable. Candle makers need to consider two factors when evaluating a potential mold. These characteristics are draft and undercut.

Draft is the easier concept to grasp. Draft refers to the degree of taper a mold has. Without the taper, it would be difficult or impossible to remove the candle from a solid mold.

Molds with parallel sides also work because wax shrinks enough as it cools to allow it to slide out of the mold.

Undercutting is another term you should be familiar with. An undercut is a protrusion or an irregularity in the side of a candle that would keep it from sliding out. This becomes a factor when using molds to make candles with irregular walls or shapes.

If the form you want to make has undercuts, you can’t use a one-piece solid mold. Fortunately, there are a couple of options. One is to use a mold with multiple parts that can be separated after the candle has hardened. Another answer is to use a very flexible mold that can be stretched to allow removal of the finished candle.

Symmetrical objects are usually casted for candle making using a two-part mold.  You could also use a flexible mold, but it isn’t required for this type of shape and rigid multi-part molds are more durable. In use, the candle maker clamps the pieces of a multi-part mold together, seals the seams to prevent leakage and then uses it as if it were a solid mold.

The other way to deal with the problem of undercutting is to use a mold made out of a very flexible substance that can be stretched off the candle much the way you might stretch a latex glove to remove it from your hand. Silicone is probably the premium material for making flexible molds, but other materials work almost as well and the less expensive.

You can get more details at: Candle Making Molds

While you’re there, definitely sign up for your free candle making mini-course. You may also want to check out:

Candle Making Wax

You’ll definitely be surprised when you see how many choices you have concerning this most basic material!

May be the best advice I can give you that will help you save time and money and avoid frustration is to check out Home Candle Making Made Easy

That book will help you almost completely eliminate the learning curve and have you producing flawless candles from your first attempts.