How To Make A Candle From A Sand Mold

How to make candles without buying a mold-Follow my tips

Want to make a candle from using sand as your mold-Read how

Sand-cast candles are the most varied shapes of all candles, they can be almost any shape. Square, round, or free flowing, it all depends on your creative side.
Making a candle from a sand mold

To start with we need to get some sand-Either from a garden supplier or right from your local beach.

Next we need a container. Not plastic, more like a baking dish of metal or aluminum. Chose a container that will not rust.

I always dampen the sand before making the mold. Put enough water just to change the color. To much water will make it stick to your hands,we do not need this, just add some more sand.

Making the mold one can use a block of wood your hands or even a cup,then push the sand around your mold.

You have now produced a square mold say by using a piece of square wood.Heat wax to around 275f or 135c.Heating the wax is done in a double burner and use a thermometer as we do not need the wax to combust with overheating.Time to pour your wax,remember never leave heating wax by it self always watch the process.

There will be some spitting and smoke while heating the wax as all water gets evaporated from the wax.

A great piece of advice is to use the back of a spoon to directly pour the wax onto so the process slows the wax entering the mold and causing a problem at the base of the sand mold.You need the wax to just under the top.

As the wax enters the mold there will be a hissing sound and bubbles forming as the sand is damp-no problems.Wait until the wax cools.At this point you will get a thick surface on the top of the wax.The wax will shrink in size a fair bit as the sand will draw a fair amount of wax.

At this point the wax has cooled right down and you need to make a wick hole.This can be done using a drill or ice pick wire,or even a long nail-the hole should be made in the center of the candle

Place the wick in, making sure it extends above the surface of the sand.

We need to extract the candle before it gets to hard,easy to just dig it out and at the same time brushing gently excess sand from the candle-the candle will get darker as it dries.

One now needs the help of a propane torch to make some interesting alterations to your candle.

Run the flame from the top of the candle in a flowing brushing motion but always keep the flame fairly low.

As you move your torch the candle will change to a darker color,have fun melt some sand and wax together,play with the flame,be creative and enjoy changing your candle.

One thing I love is to dig a mold in the sand by hand and then use tin foil (Aluminum foil) to mold the shape into what you want. Pour in the wax around 195f or 91c, and put in the wick before you allow for some shrinkage, therefore you may need to pour more wax if required. Let the candle cool then peel off the foil. As you make candles with not much sand and bizarre shapes. Keep trying new things with your candle making.