HOW TO MAKE A CANDLE WICK

admin July 15, 2021 How to, Lifestyle 1 Comment 1,107 Views

How To Make A Candle Wick?

Before jumping to the topic how to make a candle wick directly, let us understand some basics of candlewick.

Perfectly attaining the wick of the candle is a very crucial aspect involved in the process of candle making, even though it’s a challenging process too. If the wick is not elected correctly, no matter how good the wax, fragrance, and dye of the candle is, the candle will not burn appropriately.

What Is a Candle Wick?

The primary focus of a candle wick is to deliver the fuel (wax) to the candle flame. Here the wick of the candle acts like the fuel pump, which draws the liquefied wax into the flame to burn. Because there are numerous sizes of candle wicks available, the amount of fuel drawn to the resin will depend upon the size of the wick. Because too much wax and flame can flare and soot while less fuel will sputter the flame out.

Different types of candle wick

Generally, the candle wicks can be divided into the following types

1. Flat Wicks

The flat candle wicks are made from three bundles of fibers. These wicks are very compatible in burning and curling flame for the self-trimming effect. Mainly these wicks are used for finding taper and pillar candles.

2. Square wicks

The square wicks can be curled in the flame but roundly and robustly compared with the flat wicks. Square wicks are preferred in beeswax dressings which helps in hindering the clogging wick.

3. Cored wicks

Cored wicks use a unique material for keeping the candlewick straight and upright during burning. These wicks have a round cross-section, and the use of unique materials gives it the stiffness effect. Paper, cotton, zinc, and tin are the core materials used in cored wicks.

4. Wooden Wicks

These wicks hold popularity recently from their visual aesthetic capability of creating soft crackling sound. Wooden wicks are available in multiple materials such as single-ply, multi-layered, curved and decorated shaped, etc. And all the wicks are made with 100% wood, semi wood, fibrous material, and wood combinations.

5. Speciality wicks

As itself, the name suggests, specialty wicks are being designed for meeting the burning characteristic of the candle applications like oil lamps, insect-repelling candles, etc.

Making your candle wick

Instead of purchasing or making your candle wick be made from other specialized personnel, it’s beneficial to make your own. Because it will provide you the flexibility to make the wick according to the size of your candle, below, the steps are mentioned for creating your candle wick; just follow that!

Items Needed For Making a Candle Wick

The items required for making candlewick are

1- Undyed cotton twine

2- Scissors

3- Tongs

4- Pliers

5- Wick sustainers

6- Salt

7- Boric acid powder

8- Warm water

9- Wax Melter with a pan

10- Candle wax

Step By Step Points For Making Candle Wick

1. Prepare Your Wick

A homemade candle wick needs to be decided for how thick and long it will be going. Because small candles only require single wicks, on the other hand, medium candles need wicks made from three strands of twine. For a small candle, a single wick is needed. So measure and cut the twine, which needs to be 3 inches longer than the candle height. For braiding the wick, cut the three equal lengths of twine, which will be 4 inches longer than the candle height.

2. Soak the twine in the solution

Take warm water and add the salt and boric acid powder. Keep stirring the solution until everything will get decomposed. Then soak the twine length in the dissolved solution for approximately 8 to 24 hours.

3. Drying The Wick

After taking out the twine from the solution, make it dry for at least 48 hours in a hanging or draping position. As it will start drying, the white crystals of wick can be seen from the naked eyes.

4- Melt The Wax

The wax chosen now needs to be melted with a double boiler or heating pot. Keep stirring the wax until it melts properly.

5. Tip The Treated Twine

Soak the twine into the wax for about a minute to coat the twine completely with wax.

6. Dry The Wicks

Now remove the wick, and let it dry itself.

7. Repeat

Follow the same procedure for attaining the wax coat 4 to 5 times.

8. Adding Wick Sustainers

This step is optional, but it can be done at your wish. Add the wick sustainer to the bottom of the wick. Tie the wick with thread with the hole and crimp with a pliers door securing the tab with the wick.

Congratulations! Your homemade candle wick is ready to use.

FaQ's

1. Can we use a toothpick as a candle wick

Of course, a toothpick can be used as a candlewick. The candle burned with a toothpick will raise its flame to 1 mm above the wax.

2. How to melt candle wax?

The methods of melting candle wax are given as 1- With a double boiler 2- With microwave

3. How to get candle wax out of the carpet?

For candle wax out of the carpet, dampen the white towel, fold it in halves, and put it onto the wax. Put the steamed iron over the towel for approximately 10 seconds. The heat accumulated will take the candle wax out of the carpet.

4. How to remove candle wax from clothing?

The candle wax can be removed from the cloth by rubbing the generous drops of vegetable oil on it. Wipe off the excess oil with the help of a paper towel and then wash it.

5. How to remove candle wax from the wall?

For candle wax from the wall, heat the wax with a hairdryer, and when it starts melting, wipe the wax with a cloth. Then mix vinegar and water, apply the solution to the wax, and keep tapping it until it's removed.

6. What is a votive candle?

Also called a prayer candle is generally a white or beeswax yellow candle that will be burnt as the votive offering in Christian prayers and in Anglican, Lutheran, and roman catholic Christian denominations.