can i melt down my old candles to re-use the wax? How?

Question

I have an old candle with tons of wax left, but the wick is too short to burn... what can I do with it? I love the smell of this candle.

Answer 1

If the wick is to short to burn, then that candle is done. But, I have been saving old candle wax so that when I have enough I can make new candles with it. You can go to a craft store and get a candle mold. The scents in wax blocks are not any good, but the ones in liquids are. Crayons are the best and cheapest way to add color. Be sure to get the goop to put around the base of the candle where the screw is holding the wick before adding your hot wax because the wax can seep out around the screw. Lastly, get the cotton wick and not the wick that has the thin wire running through the middle. Oh! one more thing -- pore the wax slowly to not create air bubbles. AND< save a little of your wax because once the candle is completely cool there will be a sink hole. You want to pore your extra wax before the candle is complete cool.
Those are the candle making tips that I can give you without writing a book. The rest you have to figure them out for yourself. Good luck in your candle making.

ONe last thought -- instead of using your crockpots and double boilers, use your old aluminum pie pans and containers. An old coffee can works really well also.

Answer 2

Yes, you can! What you need to do is to get a can large enough to hold the wax (you could also use an old pan, but nothing that you'll cook food in again) and put it into a pot with a couple of inches of water in the bottom. Heat it on medium-low until it melts, and then pour into prepared candle molds. Whatever you do, DO NOT LET THE WAX BOIL!!! Candle wax can catch fire, and the splatters cling and burn like napalm!

To prepare:
You can either use commercial candle molds or a small can or jar for the molds, but if you want to remove them from the molds, you'll need to oil them or the wax will stick. I'd suggest using commercial candle wicks, rather than string, for the wicks - they burn better that way. You can get the wicks at most craft stores. If you have a commercial mold, it will have someplace to attach the wick, if not you can use a pencil or other something similar. Just tie it on so that it dangles almost to the base of the mold, and pour the wax in carefully. Allow it to cool for at least an hour (longer if they're fairly large) and remove if desired when it's cool to the touch and fully solidified.

Answer 3

I use an old crock pot to melt down old candle wax. Goto Hobby Lobby and buy some new wick. Put the old candles in the crock pot and melt.

Pour a very small amount of wax in the bottom the jar your using for the new candle stick the new wick in the wax and let cool, this is so your wick won't move around. Then pour the wax into the candle holders.

Answer 4

I do...... clean candle with cloth before melting you don't want black pieces floating in wax.... just take a coffee can place it in water...In a pan on stove slowly heat, don't let your wax get too hot it ...will ignite. Use a old knife to grab wick out of wax

Answer 5

you can put it in and old coffee pot which you are going to put in boiling water. It's a quite safe way to melt a candle. then you take a thick glass you place a new wick and then you pure in the wax.

Answer 6

While melting wax may seem relatively straight-forward, it is perhaps one of the most dangerous aspects of candle making. By observing a few safety precautions, we can avoid many of the hazards that exist in candle-making.

Answer 7

Simple:

Old metal coffee can in an old pot 1/4 to 1/2 full of water. Wax in coffee can, can in pot, melt at med to med hi heat. Add scented oil or wax. Impurities will fall to bottom of coffee can.

Wick = any cotton twine

Pouring containers = old shampoo bottles (clean and dry)

Dip cotton twine end in melted wax, form into a point by rolling it between your fingers.

Small hole in bottom of shampoo bottle through which you thread the twine. Duct tape over hole and wick on bottom.

Pour. old chop stick, pencil, twig, laid across top of bottle to lightly tie wick to. Stir wax in mold several times while it is cooling, it will settle as it cools, add additional wax as needed.

Easy. Fun. Oh, put bottles on many layers of newspaper for less mess. Enjoy!

Answer 8

use a double boiler to avoid direct heat to the wax. once it melts you can put it into a mold with a new wick. careful. hot wax is dangerous.

Answer 9

Buy new wick at hobby lobby- and use dbl boiler to melt wax- enjoy that scent! D

Answer 10

put into a double boiler, melt and pour into a mold