Making candle wicks is not difficult, and you will find it rewarding to add this skill to your craft. You may, of course, stick to basics. You may decide to give your beautiful creations ordinary hearts. Making candle wicks unique, however, takes your craft to an exciting, new level – and wax plays a key role in the process. If you are selling your products, a few extra touches during their production could turn your chandler booth into the craft market’s most popular.
Making candle wicks unique is not a process that requires unique materials. They must simply be materials that will give you a wick that stands straight and burns properly. Take a minute to look at what materials you will need and what you will do with those materials.
Pay attention, especially, to the role of wax!
The Cotton String
Choose thick, heavy cotton twine or cotton string when making candle wicks. Several possibilities are kite string, carpenter’s twine, and packaging string. A good cotton gardening twine will also work. For each luminary, you will need three lengths of string four inches or so longer than the length of your intended creation.
The Soak
A salt-and-boric-acid soak is vital when making candle wicks. You probably already have table salt in your home. You can find boric acid, an inexpensive insecticide, at most hardware stores. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of the salt and 8 tablespoons of the boric acid in 3 cups of warm water. Immerse each length of twine in the soak and leave it for 15 minutes. Be sure it remains completely covered by the soak.
The Clothesline
Making candle wicks right requires patience and time. One beginners’ mistake in making candle wicks is to shorten the drying time. You will want to hang up your well-soaked twine, and leave it for at least 5 days to be sure it dries thoroughly. Simply pin the soaked twine to a clothesline with clothespins.
The Braids
When your wicking twine is completely dry, braid three equal lengths of it together. This will create a sturdy wick with good burning potential. You may want to put a paper clip on each end to hold the braid while you continue.
The Wax
The role of wax in making candle wicks is pivotal. The success or failure of your work revolves on the wax you use, so you must choose wisely. If you are like most who practice this craft, you will practice, practice, practice, recording what gives you the best results.
Wax’s role in making candle wicks is often misunderstood. Contrary to much of the advice given, it is not always best to use the same wax you plan to use for your luminary. Wick wax should be chosen by its melt point.
Melt the wax. Then soak the prepared, braided twine in the melted wax until it is well saturated. Lay the dipped twine braids on a flat surface, tug gently to straighten them, and let them dry thoroughly.
Secrets of Distinctiveness
Making candle wicks unique is as easy as the following one, two, three:
1. Unique longevity! Increase the time your product will burn by using high burn rate paraffin. Even if the main wax you are using is beeswax, soy, gel, or another wax type, use high burn rate paraffin for the luminary’s core. You will build in unique longevity. Research to find the best-burning paraffin you can afford.
2. Unique color! Use colored string or twine. Treated properly, it will burn as well as plain white or off-white string. If colored twine is not available, stir a few drops of wax dye into the soak solution described above. Another way to get unique color is to dye the paraffin used to coat braided twine. You are making candle wicks unique with color that matches or contrasts with your finished creation.
3. Unique fragrance! Add scent when making candle wicks to get unique products. Simple stir a few drops of scent into the soak solution described above. You will have fragrant creations without scenting the wax itself. A variant on this process can give you unique color and fragrance together. Mix dye and scent until very well blended. Stir them into the soak solution and proceed as described above.
Conclusion
Making candle wicks unique is, as we said before, not a difficult skill. Perfect the skill, however, and you could push your Internet or local business to new heights.