Tyler Brooks
Chunk candles are a fun and easy way to recycle old wax and create unique candles. You can use leftover wax chunks and melt them down to make colourful candles with a variety of shapes and sizes. The process is simple: cut up your coloured wax into chunks, weigh them, and arrange them in a mould with a wick. Melted wax is then poured into the mould, filling the gaps between the chunks. You can use different types of moulds and waxes to create endless designs and looks. With chunk candles, you have the freedom to choose your colours and even make your own at stores that offer this experience.
How to Make Chunk Candles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wax | Paraffin wax or leftover wax |
| Mould | Pringles tin, cookie sheet, baking sheet, jar, floating moulds, candy moulds |
| Wick | Pre-waxed wick |
| Weight | 140g of coloured chunks, 270g of wax |
| Technique | Layering, compacting, pouring pillar wax at a higher temperature |
| Cooling | Immerse mould in a bowl of water or leave outside in cold weather |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare your mould
Preparing your mould is a crucial step in making chunk candles. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Firstly, decide on the type of mould you want to use. You can use a Pringles tin, a cookie or baking sheet, or even get creative with octagon, square, or jar-shaped moulds. If you're feeling adventurous, try using floating candy moulds to create unique shapes for your chunks. The type of mould you choose will determine the shape and size of your candle, so it's an important decision to make.
Once you've selected your mould, it's time to prepare it. If you're using a Pringles tin, cut it down to about 4" high using a knife. Make a couple of notches on opposite sides of the top edge. This will help you secure the wick later. If you're using a different type of mould, you might not need to make any adjustments, but it's always a good idea to ensure it's clean and dry before proceeding.
Now, you need to estimate the capacity of your mould to determine how much wax you'll need. Here's a handy trick: place a sandwich bag inside your mould and put it on a scale. Fill the bag with water until it reaches about 1/2" below the top of the mould. The weight of the water in grams will give you an estimate of the volume in millilitres. Since wax is less dense than water, you can reduce this estimate by about 10% to get the weight of wax needed. For example, if your mould holds 300g of water, you'll need around 270g of wax.
Before placing the wax, it's a good idea to apply oil to the inside of your mould. This will help the candle release more easily once it's set. Assemble the mould with its base and get ready to fill it with colourful wax chunks.
Weigh your coloured wax chunks and place them in the mould to check the fill level. Ideally, the chunks should reach just below the target fill line, as you'll be adding melted wax later. If you're using a Pringles tin mould, aim for about 140g of wax chunks. Remember, the size and shape of the chunks will affect the melting process, so try to vary the sizes to create an interesting design.
By following these steps, you'll have a well-prepared mould that's ready for the next stages of chunk candle making. Remember to take your time and enjoy the process of creating something unique and personalised!
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Cut wax into chunks
To make chunk candles, you'll need to cut your wax into chunks. You can do this by melting wax and pouring it into a cookie or baking sheet to set. Then, cut the sheet of wax into even cubes, ideally a bit bigger than half an inch. You can use a knife to cut the wax. Try to make the chunks uniform in size and shape, but don't worry if they're a bit rough—smaller pieces will melt faster.
If you're using old candles, avoid including the 'melt pool' as this will be dirty wax with bits of burnt wick. Cut up your coloured candles into chunks, and weigh them to ensure you have enough to fill your mould. You can also make chunks out of white wax candles; it doesn't matter what size or shape these pieces are.
Once you have your coloured wax chunks, you can assemble them in your mould around the wick. Make sure you don't close off any pockets, as this will prevent the melted wax from filling all the gaps. When you're happy with your arrangement, you can start pouring your melted wax into the mould.
If you want to create a unique look, try pouring your pillar wax at a higher temperature, which will cause the chunks to streak. You can also experiment with different types of moulds, such as octagons, squares, and other unusual shapes.
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Weigh and arrange chunks
Now that you have your coloured wax chunks, it's time to weigh and arrange them in the mould. Weigh your coloured wax chunks and put them in the mould to see how high they reach. Ideally, the chunks should fill the mould to your target level. If you're using a combination of coloured and white wax chunks, weigh the coloured chunks first (they should weigh about 140g) and arrange them in the mould, then fill the remaining space with the white wax chunks.
When cutting up your wax, try to cut it into even cubes a bit bigger than half an inch. Don't worry if the pieces are a bit rough or uneven. Sort the larger chunks to one side and weigh them, leaving the dust and small fragments aside. The smaller the chunks, the faster they'll melt.
Now, arrange the chunks in your mould. If you're using a wick, place the chunks around it, ensuring you don't close off any pockets that would prevent the melted wax from filling all the gaps. When you're happy with the arrangement, pour in your melted wax. Use pillar wax at a higher temperature to create a unique, streaky look. Try using different types of moulds, such as octagons, squares, or unusual shapes, and even make chunk candles in a jar.
If you're using a Pringles tin as your mould, cut it down to about 4" high and make a couple of notches in the top on opposite sides. To estimate the capacity of your mould, put a sandwich bag inside the tin, place it on a scale, and fill the bag with water to about 1/2" below the top. The weight in grams of water is a good estimate of the volume in mls. Since wax is less dense than water, you can reduce this estimate by about 10% to get the weight of wax needed.
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Melt wax and pour
To make chunk candles, melting wax and pouring it is a crucial step. The wax chunks can be created by melting wax and pouring it into a cookie or baking sheet. You can use a 140 Paraffin wax for the best results, and even add colours to the melted wax. If you're using old candles, avoid including the 'melt pool' as this will be dirty wax with burnt wick pieces. Cut the wax into even cubes, a bit bigger than half an inch. The smaller the pieces, the faster they'll melt.
Once you have your wax chunks, you can assemble them in your mould. Weigh your coloured chunks and put them in the mould to see how high they come. Ideally, this will be around the target 'fill' level. You can use different types of moulds, such as octagons, squares, or unusual shapes, and even try making chunk candles in a jar.
After arranging the wax chunks in the mould, you'll pour in the melted wax. Make sure to use pillar wax at a higher temperature, which will cause the chunks to streak and create a unique look. Before pouring, ensure your wick is in place. Pour about 90% of the melted wax into the mould, and keep the remaining 10% on low heat to keep it liquid. Keep an eye on the wax as it cools, as it will shrink and form a dip near the wick, which will affect the candle's burn.
To speed up the cooling process, place the mould inside a plastic bag and immerse it in a bowl of water. Weigh it down to keep it immersed. Alternatively, on a cold day, you can simply place the mould outside for half an hour.
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Insert wick
When inserting the wick, you will need to consider the size and construction of the wick in relation to the chemistry of the candle wax and the width of the melt pool. The melt pool width is usually closely related to the diameter of the candle. If you are using recycled waxes, the chemistry will involve a fair bit of guesswork.
The first step is to assemble your wax mold with its base and apply oil to the inside. Do not add the wick at this stage. Instead, take your chunks of coloured wax and fill the mold in layers. Compact each layer lightly with a dowel or wooden peg until you reach the top of the mold.
Now, arrange the chunks of coloured wax in the mold around the wick. Be careful not to close off any pockets, which would prevent the melted wax from filling all the gaps. Once you are happy with the arrangement, pour about 90% of the melted wax into the mold. Keep the remaining 10% over a low heat to keep it liquid. As the wax cools, it will shrink and form a dip or 'well' near the wick, which will affect the candle as it burns.
To insert the wick, take a pre-waxed wick and push it through the hole in the candle. It is difficult to insert a normal cotton wick, so if you only have a cotton wick, take the required length and dip it in melted wax before inserting it into the candle.
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Frequently asked questions
For the best results, use a 140 Paraffin wax for the chunks.
Melt your wax and add colouring, then pour the mixture into a cookie or baking sheet to set.
You can use a variety of moulds, such as octagons, squares, or other unusual shapes. You can even make a chunk candle in a jar.
Apply oil to the inside of your mould and assemble it with the base. Do not add the wick at this stage.
Once you have added your wax chunks to the mould, pour in your melted pillar wax. Insert a pre-waxed wick through the hole that forms in the wax.
