Tyler Brooks
Growing your own crystal candle holders is a fun and simple project that can be done at home. Using a crystal-growing technique, you can create beautiful candle holders with a scientific twist. The process involves creating a supersaturated solution of borax and water, from which borax crystals will form as the water cools and the molecules get closer together. These crystals can be grown around a candle frame, which can be made using pipe cleaners and suspended in the solution with a string. Once the crystals have formed, you can gently remove the frame from the solution, let it dry, and add your candle. This project is a great way to learn about how water molecules work, how solutions are made, and how crystals are formed while also creating a decorative and unique candle holder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Borax, water, vase, string, candle frame, pipe cleaners, spoon/butter knife |
| Steps | 1. Pour out water gently. 2. Add borax to water and stir until almost all dissolved. 3. Suspend candle frame in solution with string. 4. Allow crystals to form overnight. 5. Pour out solution and dry frame. 6. Chip away excess crystal with spoon/butter knife. |
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What You'll Learn
Borax and water solution
To create a borax and water solution for your crystal candle holders, you will need to follow these steps:
Firstly, you need to decide on the vessel you will use to boil the water. A pot, a jar, or a bowl can be used, but it is recommended to use a glass container as you can better see when the solution is saturated and watch the crystals form. Run the glass under hot water before pouring in the boiling water to prevent it from cracking.
Next, boil 2 to 4 cups of water. The amount of water you use will determine how much borax you will need. For every cup of water, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of borax. You can also add food colouring or dye to your water at this stage if desired.
Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat source and wait for the water to stop boiling. Then, add the borax to the water, stirring as you do so. Keep adding borax until the solution becomes cloudy and no more borax will dissolve. This is a supersaturated solution, which holds more dissolved material than it normally would at a given temperature.
Now, you can add your pipe cleaner framework to the solution. This is where your crystal candle holder will begin to form. Ensure the pipe cleaner is fully submerged and does not touch the bottom or sides of the container. You can use a pencil or skewer to suspend the pipe cleaner in the solution.
Finally, leave the setup undisturbed for several hours or overnight. The crystals will begin to form within a few hours, but the longer you leave it, the larger the crystals will be. Once you are happy with the size of the crystals, carefully remove the pipe cleaner from the solution and leave it to drip dry.
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Stirring and dissolving
To make your own crystal candle holders, you will need to create a supersaturated solution by dissolving borax in water. Start by adding 1/2 cup of borax to your water, stirring continuously. Keep adding more borax and stirring until it no longer dissolves, and there is some borax floating at the bottom of your container.
It is important to keep stirring the mixture until you have added as much borax as the water can take. This process creates a supersaturated solution, which is crucial for growing crystals. If you simply dissolve borax in water, you will not create the conditions necessary for crystal formation. The borax molecules need to be pushed out of the solution and encouraged to grab onto each other and form crystals.
As you stir, you will notice that the borax starts to accumulate at the bottom of the container without dissolving. This is a sign that your solution is becoming supersaturated and that you are on the right track. Keep adding more borax and stirring until you can no longer dissolve the borax, and there is a noticeable amount remaining at the bottom.
Once you have achieved this state, stop adding borax and continue stirring for a little while longer. The water will start to cool down, and as it does, the molecules will move closer together, pushing the borax molecules out. These borax molecules will then attach to each other and start forming crystals. It is important not to disturb the container once you have finished stirring, as you want to give the crystals time to grow undisturbed.
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Nucleation sites
In the context of growing crystal candle holders, nucleation sites are the locations where the borax molecules begin to form crystals. As the water cools, the molecules get closer together, pushing the borax molecules out. These borax molecules then grab onto nucleation sites, which can include imperfections in the glass jar, bumps, cracks, or the extra particles of borax at the bottom of the vase.
To facilitate crystal growth and reduce the time to fully crystallize, a common practice is to add a foreign substance, such as a string or a rock, to the solution. This provides additional nucleation sites for the crystals to form on. Similarly, adding seed crystals to a crystal-growing project will provide nucleating sites for the solution.
The number of nucleation sites can be controlled by the smoothness of the container. If a brand-new piece of glassware or a plastic container is used, crystals may not form because the container surface is too smooth to allow heterogeneous nucleation. On the other hand, a badly scratched container will result in many lines of small crystals. Therefore, to achieve a moderate number of medium-sized crystals, a container with a few scratches is ideal.
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Seed crystals
To make crystal candle holders, start by creating a supersaturated solution of borax and water. Stir the solution until all or almost all of the borax dissolves. At this point, there should be some borax floating at the bottom of the container. Without disturbing the container, move it to a cool, dry location.
As the water cools, the seed crystals will begin to form, and the borax particles will attach to them, forming larger crystals. By the next day, the crystals should be fully formed. Pour out the remaining solution, and let the crystals drip dry. Once dry, cut off any strings used to suspend the candle frame, and add a candle.
It is important to note that borax can irritate the eyes and skin and creates a lot of dust, so it is recommended to be cautious when handling it. Additionally, you may need to chip away some of the crystals from the bottom of the candle holder to create a flat surface for the candle. This can be done gently with a butter knife or a spoon.
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Drying and chipping
Once your crystals have formed, you'll need to leave your frame hanging until it is completely dry. Alternatively, you can transfer it to some paper towels. If you used a bowl or vase, simply leave it to dry. You might need to chip away some of the crystals from the bottom of the bowl so that the candle sits flat. You can do this gently with a butter knife or a spoon. Just chip away what you don't need.
It's important to be careful when handling the crystals, as they can be delicate. Jostling or bumping them too much could cause some of the crystals to break off. It's also worth noting that borax, which is commonly used in this process, can irritate the eyes and skin and creates a lot of dust, so it's recommended to keep a safe distance when pouring it.
The drying process is important because it ensures that your crystal candle holder is stable and secure enough to hold a candle. The water needs to be completely evaporated so that the crystals are fully formed and bonded together. This usually takes around a day, but it can vary depending on the temperature and humidity of your environment.
After the crystal structure has dried, you can add your candle. It's best to use a tea light or a small candle that fits snugly into the holder. This ensures that the candle is secure and doesn't tip over. You can also use LED tea lights if you're concerned about the combination of borax and an open flame.
Overall, the drying and chipping process is a crucial step in creating crystal candle holders. It ensures the stability and aesthetics of your creation while also providing an opportunity to personalise and fine-tune the final product.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need borax, water, a glass jar, string, a candle frame, and a pencil.
First, add borax to water and stir until it no longer dissolves. Keep adding borax until there is some floating at the bottom of the jar.
As the water cools, crystals will begin to form. Do not disturb the jar during this process.
The crystals should be fully formed by the next day.
Pour out the remaining solution and let the candle frame dry. Then, add your candle and holder.
