Making Chunk Candles

Step by Step Instruction for making Chunk Candles

Things you would require in addition to the conventional supplies

• Cookie Sheet with about a half-inch lip.
• Silicon Spray
• A utility knife or a small paring knife.

Step 1: Melt Wax and add dye or fragrance oil as desired.

Using a double boiler and a thermometer, melt your wax and bring it to a temperature of about 190 degrees F. Add any additives, dye and fragrance oil that you have chosen and mix well.

 

 

If you add additives, it will increase the opacity of the wax. For this candle, I didn’t use any of the additives so that I could achieve a finished candle that would glow nicely from within and allow the colours to show through the wax to some degree.

Work with colours that are complimentary, generally those that occur together in nature. To find out what those are, look at the photos of any nature calender. Also, keep in mind that you can dye the over pour wax if desired. There are an infinite number of options at your disposal.

Step 2: Put Silicon Spray on a cookie sheet

To prevent the chunks from sticking to the cookie sheet, apply a thin film of non-stick cooking spray such as Pam, or a silicone spray lubricant. Either one will work. Wipe out the excess with a paper towel and leave only a very thin film.

 

 

 

Step 3: Pour the melted wax into the cookie sheet.

With your wax at about 190 degrees F, pour it into the cookie sheet. Try not to spill or splatter. Pour the wax back and forth to distribute the heat throughout the cookie sheet. Pour to a depth that you would like your chunks to be. If you want small chunks, pour shallow. For large chunks, pour deeper.

 

 

Step 4: Slice off the wax into small chunks.

Allow the wax to cool to the point that it is firm but still pliable. It will be about the consistency of cookie dough. Then slice the wax into chunks. A criss-cross pattern works well.

 

 

 

Step 5: Remove the chunks from the cookie sheet.

Allow the wax to completely cool. For this step, the more brittle it is, the better. You may even want to chill the cookie sheet in the refrigerator, or outside if it is cool enough. Then flip it over and wrap it onto a sheet of newspaper.

Most of the chunks should come apart. If some are still sticking together, they can be separated by hand. At this point, you might want to make more chunks having different colours possibly.

 

Step 6: Fill up the mold with chunks.

 Wick your mold first. Then fill the prepared mold with chunks. You can arrange those nice-n-neat, or just in a random fashion.

You can get creative by layering different colours. Also, you can use the chunks to pin embeds against the sidewalls of the mold (looks very attractive).

 

Step 7: Fill the mold with melterd wax.

Heat your over-pour wax up to about 190 degrees F. Pour the wax into the mold to just cover the chunks.

Optionally, you may adjust the temperature of the melted wax. By increasing the temperature, you can get the chunks to bleed a bit. By lowering it, you can introduce bubbles and surface texture.

Another option is to fill the mold only to the base of the chunks on the surface. The finished candle would then have chunks protruding through the top (candle would be in a top-up orientation versus the typical top-down).

Step 8: Remove the chunk candle from the mold.

Allow the candle to completely cool in the mold. This may take a few hours (3-4 hours generally) depending on the size of the mold.

Chunk candles typically do not form much of a sink hole. Therefore, multiple pours are not necessary. Once it has cooled, remove your finished candle from the mold.

 

 

While cutting the wax chunks you can be a bit innovative and could create few new designs like Cookie Man, Stars etc.