Brooke Martin
Tallow candles are a clean, cost-effective, and long-burning alternative to store-bought candles. They have been used for centuries and are made from rendered animal fat and beeswax. Tallow is solid at room temperature, making it perfect for homemade candles. While tallow candles can be made by pouring melted tallow into a jar with a wick, this article will focus on the traditional method of dipping. The dipping process involves repeatedly dipping a wick into hot tallow and then into cold water, allowing the tallow to build up and form a candle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Tallow, beeswax, jars, wicks |
| Wick Material | Cotton string, dried rushes, twine |
| Tallow Sources | Beef, sheep, game |
| Tallow Temperature | 150°F |
| Beeswax Temperature | 180°F |
| Dipping Technique | Alternate tallow and water dips, repeat |
| Dipping Vat Size | 4" tall, 15" wide |
| Cooling Time | 4-6 hours or overnight |
| Candle Count | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the wick
Firstly, choose the type of wick you want to use. You can use cotton string, which is easily available on Amazon, or dried rushes, which have been used as wicks since ancient times and are considered superior to cotton wicks as they are self-consuming and don't require trimming.
If you opt for a cotton wick, cut off a piece of the wick, fold it in half to find the centre, and place both ends into the melted tallow. Allow the wick to sit for around 15 minutes so that the oils can soak in and enable a slower burn. Then, lay the wick on a piece of parchment paper and let it cool until it solidifies, which should take about 5-10 minutes.
If you're using dried rushes as wicks, tie the tops of four or six rushes together in a bundle and hold them apart by keeping your fingers in between them. Dip the rush bundle into the melted tallow, ensuring the temperature is high enough to prevent bulk solidification but low enough for the tallow to adhere to the rushes. You can dip the rushes about two to three times, allowing the tallow to turn white in between dips, and your candle will be ready!
For a plated candle, dip the wick in beeswax before dipping it into the tallow, as this will make the candle burn longer. You can also use bolt washers tied to the end of the wick to keep it straight during the initial dips.
To ensure the wick stays centred while the candle sets, use clothespins or wick holders, or punch a hole in the centre of a canning jar lid and feed the wick through it.
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Melting the tallow
To melt the tallow, you can use a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl over a pot of simmering water. Place the tallow in the top part of the double boiler or the heat-safe bowl and heat it over medium-low heat. If you don't have a double boiler, you can create a DIY double boiler by placing a heat-safe bowl over a pot of simmering water. You can also melt the tallow in a crockpot or a saucepan over medium heat.
Stir the tallow occasionally to ensure even melting. The time it takes for the tallow to melt will depend on the amount of tallow you are melting and the temperature you are heating it at. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 36 hours for the tallow to fully melt.
Once the tallow is melted, you can add other ingredients such as beeswax to enhance the candle's durability and increase the burn time. You can also add fragrance oils or crushed garlic to infuse the candles with a pleasant aroma. It is important to monitor the temperature closely when melting beeswax, as it fully melts at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before adding fragrance oil, and then let it cool a bit more before pouring it into molds to ensure the candles don't crack.
After melting the tallow and any additional ingredients, you can move on to the dipping process to create your handmade tallow candles.
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$11.9
Dipping the wick
To begin the dipping process, cut a piece of wick, fold it in half, and place both ends into the tallow jar. Allow the wick to sit for around 15 minutes so that the oils can soak in and the candle will burn slower. After this, lay the wick on a piece of parchment paper and let it cool until it solidifies.
For the dipping process, you will need hot oil and cold water. Fill a jar with ice-cold water and dip the wick into the tallow, then into the water. Repeat this process, alternating between tallow and water. The water jar will get dirty with tallow drops, so occasionally scoop the tallow out. After a few dips, the candle will start to grow. After about 20 minutes of dipping, you will have a short, lumpy candle.
To ensure the wick stays straight, you can use a bolt washer to hold it in place during the first few dips. You can also use a canning jar lid with a hole in the middle to feed the wick through.
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Cooling the candles
Preparing the Candles for Cooling
Before you begin the cooling process, it is important to set up your candles properly. First, ensure that your wicks are centred as you pour the melted tallow into your chosen containers or moulds. You can use clothespins or wick holders to keep the wicks upright and centred while the candles cool and harden. If you're using a jar, you can punch a hole in the lid of the jar with an ice pick and feed the wick through, allowing it to stick up through the top. This will help keep the wick centred as the candle cools.
Allow the candles to cool undisturbed for an extended period. The recommended cooling time varies, with some sources suggesting a minimum of 4 to 6 hours, while others recommend leaving the candles to cool and set overnight. If you're in a hurry, you can speed up the cooling process by dipping the candles into ice-cold water between dips in the hot tallow. This quick cooling technique helps the tallow solidify faster. However, be aware that the water jars may become coated with cooled tallow drops, so scoop out the tallow from time to time to maintain the effectiveness of this method.
Storage and Final Cooling
Once the candles have cooled and hardened, you can store them in a cool place. If the ambient temperature is too high, consider placing the candles in the refrigerator to ensure they remain solid. For moulded candles, you can release them from their moulds by running a hot knife around the edge or dipping the mould into hot water. After removing them from the moulds, place the candles back in the refrigerator until they are fully solid.
Troubleshooting
If your candles are not setting properly, you may need to adjust the temperature of your tallow. Tallow has a relatively low melting point, and if it is too hot, your candles will shrink during the dipping process. Aim for a temperature of around 150°F (65.5°C) for optimal results. Additionally, consider adding beeswax to your tallow to increase its melting point and enhance the durability of your candles.
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Removing the candles from their moulds
Once your candles have been dipped and are ready to be removed from their moulds, there are a few different methods you can use. One method is to use a hot knife to run around the edge of the mould. Alternatively, you can dip the mould into hot water to release the candle. If you have used a stick or skewer to hold the wick in place, you can remove this once the candle is solid, and trim the wick to around half an inch.
If you have used jars as your moulds, you can simply turn the jar upside down and the candle should slide out. You can also use a piece of parchment paper to help ease the candle out of the jar. Place the parchment paper on a flat surface, and lay the candle, jar-side down, on top of it. Gently tap the jar, and the candle should come loose and rest on the parchment.
If you have used a natural material such as rushes for your wick, you will need to dip the rush into the tallow around ten times, waiting for the tallow to turn white between dips. After two or three dippings, the candle should be complete.
If you have made garlic-infused tallow candles, you will need to refrigerate the candles until they are fully solid before removing them from their moulds.
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Frequently asked questions
Tallow candles are candles made from animal fat, typically beef tallow. They have been used for centuries and are a cost-effective, biodegradable alternative to store-bought candles.
You will need tallow or rendered animal fat, a heat source such as a stove or crockpot, containers like mason jars or a dipping vat, wicks (co:tton string or dried rushes), and optional ingredients like beeswax or fragrance oils.
Place the tallow in a heat-safe container over medium heat until it melts. You can add beeswax and fragrance oils at specific temperatures for a harder candle with a pleasant aroma.
First, prepare your wicks by dipping them in melted tallow and letting them cool. Then, alternate between dipping the wicks in hot tallow and cold water, allowing the tallow to build up. Repeat this process until you achieve the desired candle size.
The time varies depending on the number of dips and the temperature of the tallow. It can take around 20 minutes to half an hour for the tallow to build up and form a short, lumpy candle. For a smoother finish, you may need to repeat the process several times.
