Candles changed their appearance and composition at all times. A primitive torch was used as a light source, and kerosene lamp. But in the age of electric lighting, candles remained just as in demand and popular. I wonder if they will become more perfect a millennium later? And what will wax, aromatic, stearin candles look like then?
The history of the origin of candles
About 5,000 years ago, the candle was first mentioned in Egypt and has been used as lighting ever since. The Romans were the first to gain worldwide fame in the production of such light sources. They impregnated the papyrus with flammable agents with the addition of fat, rolled up a paper wick and set it on fire.
The Chinese formed candles from high-density paper, the Japanese - from the wax of walnut trees, and the Indians were engaged in boiling the fruits of the cinnamon tree. Less expensive methods developed, and rare ones ceased to exist.
In the 12th century, tallow candles were burned in Russia, for the manufacture of which the wick was repeatedly immersed in melted fat. And thus they increased the required diameter.
In the 13th century in Europe, candles became the main way to illuminate rooms. They were realized in any locality, city and village, there were many masters. A smoky tallow candle is depicted as a prototype of poverty and hopelessness.
In the 15th century, a conical shape was invented, and the fat was replaced with beeswax. Such candles gave off a minimum of smoke and smell.
In the 18th century, spermaceti, a substance from the body of a whale that does not melt at high temperatures, became the main candle remedy.
Stearic acid in candles began to be used in the 19th century. It is this substance that will be discussed in the article.
How did stearic acid come about?
In 1820, in France, a method was invented for extracting animal fats, as a result of which a formula of stearin wax appeared, which is quite hard and cleanly burning. And in 1825, the chemist Michel Eugene Chevrel, in collaboration with Joseph Gay-Lussac, created a stearin candle. 
When did stearin candle appear? The development of its production in Russia began in 1837. And in 1851, it was established in the United States, thanks to the immigrant Antonio Meucci. Until now, stearin candles are still in demand in Europe.
In the 20th century, paraffin and stearin became the primary components in the production of products in this direction. Since the 1980s, other types of candles have begun to fill the market: scented, transparent, made from mineral oil and polymer additives, palm, soy wax.
Differences in the main components
How to distinguish from stearic? Both substances are different in chemical and physical characteristics. Paraffin is a composition of refined petroleum substances, and stearin is a combination of processed fats and stearic acid with the addition of glycerin.
- Stearin candles are only 4% paraffin and, in addition to it, contain Palm oil, and paraffin include about 3-15% stearin to give strength to the product.
- To melt paraffin, a temperature of + 36-55 degrees is needed, and for stearin - 55-72.
- The temperature of the flame of a stearin candle reaches 1500 degrees, and of a paraffin candle - 1400 degrees.
- Stearin in reaction with an alkaline substance forms a soap foam, and paraffin does not interact with it in any way.
- Stearin candles burn longer than paraffin candles and do not deform, unlike them.
Is stearin harmful?
Poor quality paraffin candle smoke is toxic, which is important to remember when you are indoors. The atmosphere gets: toluene, which provokes dizziness, as well as benzene. The second substance has a carcinogenic property, it is dangerous mutagenic, teratogenic, gonadotoxic, allergic, embryotoxic effects. With allergies, the products of combustion of a paraffin product can provoke a spasm in respiratory tract, and if a metal thread is visible in the composition of the wick, then this is lead, which is harmful to the heart.
If stearin suppositories are harmful, then it is completely insignificant compared to their counterparts. Unfortunately, they are not very common in Russia. And the most environmentally safe are relatively expensive candles made from natural wax: soy, bees. When they are burned, no harmful components are released. An inexpensive candle is the first reason to think about its chemical composition.
aroma candles
Aroma candles cause severe harm to health if burned daily and for a long time indoors. Prolonged exposure to artificial odor vapors is sometimes tantamount to nicotine poisoning. This should be taken into account by people who prefer meditation by candlelight and use them as a fragrance.
If diethyl phthalate is used for the odor fixer, its influence is fraught with a mass of adverse reactions of the body, up to nausea. Even essential oil when heated, it loses its original structure, so its pleasant aroma is distorted.
Stearic acid in cosmetics
Some fats and oils contain stearic acid. It is used in the manufacture of:
- candles;
- soaps;
- toothpaste;
- creams;
- hair dyes;
- rubber compounds.
In pharmaceuticals, analytical chemistry, this white crystalline substance is used. Stearin is an odorless ingredient and is therefore highly valued in the cosmetic field.
In cosmetic products, it acts as a thickener and stabilizer, which restrains the separation of unstable ingredients into separate substances. Thanks to stearin, the cream looks homogeneous and opaque.
Benefits of Stearin
Stearin candles are not produced in their pure form. Only a small proportion of the substance is added to the base material of candles, and manufacturers value it for the following advantages:
- economical combustion;
- brighter candle flame;
- products with stearin come out of the molds without coercion;
- stearin does not form soot (paraffin candles require soaking the wick in sodium nitrate);
- stearin protects products from distortion when heated.
Market
In Europe, 90% of candles are made from paraffin. Consider the magnitude of the constituent components of the industrial line. About 4% of production is stearin household candles, 0.5% of production is made from beeswax, the rest of the market share is products from soybean and palm plant wax. In Sweden, Norway, stearin as a raw material for candles is much more widespread. Sometimes up to a quarter of stearin is present in paraffin products. Composite candles are also common, consisting of stearin, spermaceti, hard fats with bismuth and the addition of arsenic for strength. 
You can buy multi-colored stearin candles in the market or in an online store. Their cost is higher than that of paraffin analogues, but the quality, service life and impressions from them are worth it.
Homemade
To create a candle, ordinary wax (including cinders), paraffin, available in stores, or stearin are suitable. The latter is easy to obtain by melting crushed soap, which is dissolved on fire in a container of water, and then vinegar is added to it. The substance that floats to the surface is collected with a spoon. This is stearin, which is rinsed and dried with a cloth.
A thick cotton thread is used as a wick. Artificial is not suitable, as it will quickly burn out and release bad smell. You can use floss or remove the wick from a regular wax candle.
To give the desired shape to the product, you need to use the appropriate container in the form of a ball, can, plaster, wood, metal. The opening should be wide enough to fill the container with molten stearin.
In order for the candle to have color, food coloring or crushed wax crayons must be added to the composition of the filler. The exception is water-based and alcohol-based dyes - they are not suitable. You can also add flavor - any essential oil you like.
Procedure:
- dissolve laundry soap over low heat;
- collect stearin from the surface;
- melt the stearin in a water bath;
- soak the wick with melted substance;
- add flavor and color to the mass;
- weight the end of the wick with a weight;
- hold the wick exactly in the center of the form;
- pour the mass into the mold, wait for solidification;
- remove the finished candle from the mold.
To make a stearin candle a surprise, delight and create a festive atmosphere, decorate it with accessories: beads, shells, coffee beans, which can be fused into the hardening material. And the end of the ornamental image will be an original candlestick or an unusual chandelier.
- The saying "the game is not worth the candle" came from gamblers who used this phrase, comparing winnings with the cost of a burnt candle when playing.
- Some churches have introduced virtual services. Cathedral the city of Santiago de Compostel pleases parishioners with the inclusion of electronic candles for 1.4 euros.
- V pacific ocean inhabited by fish with a high proportion of fat in the body. Locals burn it like a candle, stretching a wick through it.
- As distributors confirm, 96% of candles are purchased by women.
- The largest candle in the world was lit in honor of national holiday in the kingdom of Bahrain, it weighed three tons, reached 73 m in height and had 14 thousand wicks.
Many people involved in spiritual development and yoga often use candles. For example, lighting them while doing some practice and creating a special atmosphere in the room. In yoga, there is such a shatkarma (cleansing practice) as looking at a candle flame, called trataka. Also trataka is.
A candle is a symbol of connection with the Cosmos, the Higher Mind. Her fire is the light of our soul, our bright thoughts. Like a small sun, the fire of a candle helps to transform a person and move towards a righteous life. The softness and suppleness of wax expresses a person's readiness for obedience, his humility, and a short burning - an unfaithful life that is easy to extinguish, its transience. When a person prays, lighting a candle at the same time, he makes a sacrifice to God (instead of animals), thereby showing his respect and humility.
It is believed that if you look at the fire, it cleanses the human aura and the space around.
The history of candles goes back hundreds of thousands of years. The first candles were made from animal fat and oily fish, in contrast to modern wax and paraffin candles. Initially, they resembled a small torch. The Romans invented the wick, the Chinese and Japanese continued their work. Some used rice paper as a wick, others rolled the papyrus into a tube and immersed it in a container where the fat was. Candles were also made from resin and plant fibers. The American Indians obtained wax by burning the bark of the wax tree or resin tree. Candles were also made from pine resin. Much later, cotton and hemp fibers began to be used for wicks.
In the Middle Ages, they began to make candles from bee wax. This made it possible to avoid the shortcomings of oil candles, since the wax does not produce any soot or an unpleasant odor, it burns brightly and evenly. But the fat large quantities easier to get than wax, so wax candles were expensive, however, as now.
Invented in 1850 paraffin from which most modern candles are made. Paraffin is obtained from oil and shale. The mass production of paraffin made it possible to make cheap candles, since it cost much less than wax and similar substances. The material for paraffin candles is, of course, paraffin, but mixed with stearin (stearin 1 gives the candle softness, makes it less fragile). Dyes are used fatty: they are perfectly soluble in paraffin and give even saturated tones. At the end of the 20th century, a “candle renaissance” began all over the world. Decorative fragrant candles have become an indispensable attribute of the holidays, original gift, interior decoration. In addition to traditional elongated candles, you can now find figurine candles, gel candles in glasses, floating tablets, tea candles (in an aluminum case), candles in glassware or coconuts.
Fruit scientific and technological progress, unfortunately, are not always favorable for people. The use of most modern candles can be very harmful to human health! This is what I want to talk about below. So, why are candles harmful ...
Firstly, during combustion, paraffin releases benzene and toluene into the air, carcinogens that are very harmful to a living organism. Along with carcinogenic, benzene has mutagenic, gonadotoxic, embryotoxic, teratogenic and allergic effects. Toluene is a general toxic poison that causes acute and chronic poisoning. Its irritant effect is more pronounced than that of benzene. It causes endocrine disorders and reduces performance, prolonged contact with small doses of toluene can affect the blood. Due to its high solubility in lipids and fats, toluene accumulates mainly in the cells of the central nervous system.
Secondly, many manufacturers use a complex compound as a fixative for the durability of the aroma - diethyl phthalate, which chemists refer to the medium toxic category. It can cause allergic reactions and eczema, dizziness, headache, irregular breathing, watery eyes, nausea and vomiting. It has a teratogenic and mutagenic effect, which is very dangerous for pregnant women. With regular exposure, it can affect the nervous and respiratory systems, internal organs and blood cells, contribute to the formation of malignant tumors. By the way, very often this fixative is used in perfumery.
Thirdly, almost all chemical (helium, stearin 1 and paraffin) candles contain up to 70% of various additives, dyes, fragrances and other ingredients. In the production of scented candles, artificial additives are very often used. It is good if these flavors have a neutral effect on human health. There is a high probability that the fragrance in the candle will be cheap synthetic, and therefore harmful, the dye will also be used in such a way as to reduce the cost of the product.
Even if the candle is scented with natural essential oils, the fragrance burns out in the process and its effect can be harmful. The oil is very hot, its chemical structure changes and the aroma is distorted. Therefore, I do not advise abusing even natural scented candles ...
Rare use of paraffin candles will not bring any severe harm, but systematic use will have an effect on your body. If a paraffin candle burns in a ventilated room 2-3 times a week, for about half an hour, nothing bad will happen.
Often candles are lit in poorly ventilated rooms and in the evening. Because of this, lovers of various aromas sleep in a smoky room with a high content of toxic substances in the air. Be sure to ventilate the room! Scientists state the fact that inhaling the vapors of an aromatic candle throughout the evening is equivalent to several hours of passive smoking.
In small spaces a large number of lit candles are especially dangerous. Enough 1-2.
Do not light candles for several hours in a row and use them as an air freshener.
Buy safe aroma candles from natural wax - bees or soy. candles from beeswax you don’t even need to flavor them - they smell like honey and propolis when they burn, but suitable essential oils are often added to them. Soy wax is obtained from soybeans - they learned how to make candles from it not so long ago, but they were immediately appreciated by experts. There are candles that use palm and coconut wax. To determine a paraffin or wax candle, remove the shavings from it with a knife. The paraffin will crumble.
Safe, natural-scented candles are sold only in specialized stores. The smallest candle made of beeswax or soy wax can be more expensive than a whole pack of paraffin candles.
If you set a goal, then, surfing the Internet, you can find the most diverse and original eco-friendly wax candles. Now many craftsmen offer their author's works. Personally, I have found interesting option for myself - herbal wax candles.
And my last parting word, dear reader: carefully examine the wick of the candle. If you notice a metal rod in the weaving of the wick, then this is a lead thread. Well, the harmful effects of lead on the cardiovascular and nervous system We have known for a long time...
I hope the one who reads this article will become more attentive to the choice of candles.
Take care of yourself and be healthy! OM.
1. Stearin(French stearine, from Greek stear - fat) - an organic product derived from fats. Consists of stearic acid with an admixture of palmitic, oleic and other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Now you can find vegetable stearin, it is obtained by pressing chilled coconut or palm oil.
They used both a primitive torch and a kerosene lamp. But in the age of electric lighting, candles remained just as in demand and popular. I wonder if they will become more perfect a millennium later? And what will wax, aromatic, stearin candles look like then?
The history of the origin of candles
About 5,000 years ago, the candle was first mentioned in Egypt and has been used as lighting ever since. The Romans were the first to gain worldwide fame in the production of such light sources. They impregnated the papyrus with flammable agents with the addition of fat, rolled up a paper wick and set it on fire.
The Chinese formed candles from high-density paper, the Japanese - from the wax of walnut trees, and the Indians were engaged in boiling the fruits of the cinnamon tree. Less expensive methods developed, and rare ones ceased to exist.
In the 12th century, tallow candles were burned in Russia, for the manufacture of which the wick was repeatedly immersed in melted fat. And thus they increased the required diameter.
In the 13th century in Europe, candles became the main way to illuminate rooms. They were realized in any locality, city and village, there were many masters. A smoky tallow candle is depicted as a prototype of poverty and hopelessness.
In the 15th century, a conical shape was invented, and the fat was replaced with beeswax. Such candles gave off a minimum of smoke and smell.
In the 18th century, spermaceti, a substance from the body of a whale that does not melt at high temperatures, became the main candle remedy.
Stearic acid in candles began to be used in the 19th century. It is this substance that will be discussed in the article.
How did stearic acid come about?
In 1820, in France, a method was invented for extracting stearic acid from animal fats, as a result of which the formula of stearin wax appeared, which is quite hard and cleanly burning. And in 1825, the chemist Michel Eugene Chevrel, in collaboration with Joseph Gay-Lussac, created a stearin candle.
When did stearin candle appear? The development of its production in Russia began in 1837. And in 1851, it was established in the United States, thanks to the immigrant Antonio Meucci. Until now, stearin candles are still in demand in Europe.
In the 20th century, paraffin and stearin became the primary components in the production of products in this direction. Since the 1980s, other types of candles have begun to fill the market: scented, transparent, made from mineral oil and polymer additives, palm, soy wax.
Differences in the main components
How to distinguish a paraffin candle from a stearic one? Both substances are different in chemical and physical characteristics. Paraffin is a composition of refined petroleum substances, and stearin is a combination of processed fats and stearic acid with the addition of glycerin.
- Stearin candles are only 4% paraffin and, in addition to it, contain palm oil, and paraffin candles include about 3-15% stearin to give strength to the product.
- To melt paraffin, a temperature of + 36-55 degrees is needed, and for stearin - 55-72.
- The temperature of the flame of a stearin candle reaches 1500 degrees, and of a paraffin candle - 1400 degrees.
- Stearin in reaction with an alkaline substance forms a soap foam, and paraffin does not interact with it in any way.
- Stearin candles burn longer than paraffin candles and do not deform, unlike them.
Is stearin harmful?
Poor quality paraffin candle smoke is toxic, which is important to remember when you are indoors. The atmosphere gets: toluene, which provokes dizziness, as well as benzene. The second substance has a carcinogenic property, it is dangerous mutagenic, teratogenic, gonadotoxic, allergic, embryotoxic effects. With allergies, the combustion products of a paraffin product can provoke a spasm in the airways, and if a metal thread is visible in the wick, then this is lead, which is harmful to the heart.
If stearin suppositories are harmful, then it is completely insignificant compared to their counterparts. Unfortunately, they are not very common in Russia. And the most environmentally safe are relatively expensive candles made from natural wax: soy, bees. When they are burned, no harmful components are released. An inexpensive candle is the first reason to think about its chemical composition.
aroma candles
Aroma candles cause severe harm to health if burned daily and for a long time indoors. Prolonged exposure to artificial odor vapors is sometimes tantamount to nicotine poisoning. This should be taken into account by people who prefer meditation by candlelight and use them as a fragrance.
If diethyl phthalate is used for the odor fixer, its influence is fraught with a mass of adverse reactions of the body, up to nausea. Even essential oil loses its original structure when heated, so its pleasant aroma is distorted.
Stearic acid in cosmetics
Some fats and oils contain stearic acid. It is used in the manufacture of:
- candles;
- soaps;
- toothpaste;
- creams;
- hair dyes;
- rubber compounds.
In pharmaceuticals, analytical chemistry, this white crystalline substance is used. Stearin is an odorless ingredient and is therefore highly valued in the cosmetic field.
In cosmetic products, it acts as a thickener and stabilizer, which restrains the separation of unstable ingredients into separate substances. Thanks to stearin, the cream looks homogeneous and opaque.
Benefits of Stearin
Stearin candles are not produced in their pure form. Only a small proportion of the substance is added to the base material of candles, and manufacturers value it for the following advantages:
- economical combustion;
- brighter candle flame;
- products with stearin come out of the molds without coercion;
- stearin does not form soot (paraffin candles require soaking the wick in sodium nitrate);
- stearin protects products from distortion when heated.
Market
In Europe, 90% of candles are made from paraffin. Consider the magnitude of the constituent components of the industrial line. About 4% of production is stearin household candles, 0.5% of production is made from beeswax, the rest of the market share is products from soybean and palm plant wax. In Sweden, Norway, stearin as a raw material for candles is much more widespread. Sometimes up to a quarter of stearin is present in paraffin products. Composite candles are also common, consisting of stearin, spermaceti, hard fats with bismuth and the addition of arsenic for strength.
You can buy multi-colored stearin candles in the market or in an online store. Their cost is higher than that of paraffin analogues, but the quality, service life and impressions from them are worth it.
Homemade
To create a candle, ordinary wax (including cinders), paraffin, available in stores, or stearin are suitable. The latter is easy to obtain by melting crushed soap, which is dissolved on fire in a container of water, and then vinegar is added to it. The substance that floats to the surface is collected with a spoon. This is stearin, which is rinsed and dried with a cloth.
A thick cotton thread is used as a wick. Artificial is not suitable, as it will quickly burn out and give off an unpleasant odor. You can use floss or remove the wick from a regular wax candle.
To give the desired shape to the product, you need to use the appropriate container in the form of a ball, can, plaster, wood, metal. The opening should be wide enough to fill the container with molten stearin.
In order for the candle to have color, food coloring or crushed wax crayons must be added to the composition of the filler. The exception is water-based and alcohol-based dyes - they are not suitable. You can also add flavor - any essential oil you like.
Procedure:
- dissolve laundry soap over low heat;
- collect stearin from the surface;
- melt the stearin in a water bath;
- soak the wick with melted substance;
- add flavor and color to the mass;
- weight the end of the wick with a weight;
- hold the wick exactly in the center of the form;
- pour the mass into the mold, wait for solidification;
- remove the finished candle from the mold.
To make a stearin candle a surprise, delight and create a festive atmosphere, decorate it with accessories: beads, shells, coffee beans, which can be fused into the hardening material. And the end of the ornamental image will be an original candlestick or an unusual chandelier.
- The saying "the game is not worth the candle" came from gamblers who used this phrase, comparing winnings with the cost of a burnt candle when playing.
- Some churches have introduced virtual services. The Cathedral of the city of Santiago de Compostel delights parishioners with the inclusion of electronic candles for 1.4 euros.
- The Pacific Ocean is home to fish with a high proportion of body fat. Locals burn it like a candle, stretching a wick through it.
- As distributors confirm, 96% of candles are purchased by women.
- The largest candle in the world was lit in honor of the national holiday in the Kingdom of Bahrain, it weighed three tons, reached 73 meters in height and had 14 thousand wicks.
I already in the description of paraffin that stearin (stearic acid) is also used to make candles.
It is a natural substance obtained from vegetable and animal fats. By the way, stearin was discovered in lard back in 1816 by the French chemist Chevrel.
Stearin (stearic acid) is produced in this form - a free-flowing substance consisting of small white balls:
Stearin is used in the manufacture of various cosmetics(they are also used in creams self made). It is also indispensable in soap making, is a thickener for various rubber masses, and, of course, in candle making!
When melted, stearin becomes absolutely transparent, like water.
The melting point of stearin is higher than that of paraffin (69.6 ° C, and the boiling point is 376.1 ° C), and it is precisely because of this that its properties stearin candles are more resistant to high room temperatures than paraffin candles.
For paraffin brand P-2, the melting point is 50-54 ° C, for technical grades - from 42 ° C.
The higher the melting point, the longer and more evenly the candle burns.
Some even make pure stearin candles. They burn a little longer than paraffin.
Note - if a paraffin or stearin candle is placed in the freezer for a while, it will burn even more evenly and longer until it warms up.
Stearin (stearic acid) in candle making
In order to paraffin candles had an even color, more uniform texture and became more resistant to high temperatures stearin (stearic acid) is added to them
For example, look at this photo:
On the right probe of the candle, strictly paraffin and dye are used, and on the left, stearin is also added to them. I think this picture answered many questions.
Candle masters use different proportions in the manufacture of candles, from 10 grams of stearin to 90 grams of paraffin, up to a ratio of 20/80. Most often they use 15/85, but personally I settled on the most suitable quality for me - 20/80.
Stearin costs more than paraffin, and yet quality matters!
Stearin, paraffin
Obtaining stearin from soap for making candles.
Cut with a knife laundry soap and place in a clean metal bowl. Pour with excess water, put the mixture in a water bath. Stir the soap and water mixture from time to time with a wooden stick so that the soap dissolves quickly in the water. After the soap has dissolved, remove our container and pour vinegar into the solution. Under the action of acid, a thick white mass will stand out from the solution and float to the surface - stearin- a translucent mixture of several substances, mainly stearic C 17 H 35 COOH and palmitic C 15 H 31 COOH acids. The exact composition depends on the substances that were used to make the soap.
Candles can be made from stearin, as they did before. Currently, the industry manufactures paraffin candles, because. petroleum-derived paraffin is cheaper.
When the container is cool, scoop up the candle stearin from the surface with a spoon and transfer it to a clean dish. Rinse the stearin two to three times with water and wrap in a clean white cloth or filter paper to absorb. excess moisture. When the stearin dries, we will start making the candle.
First way: dip a thick twisted thread repeatedly into the slightly heated melted stearin, each time allowing the stearin to harden on the wick. Repeat this operation until a candle of sufficient thickness grows on the wick. This good way albeit somewhat tedious.
Making candles according to the second method easier than the first: immediately coat the wick with stearin heated to soften (you can even just cooked, not yet cooled down). But in this case, the wick will be worse saturated with fusible mass and the candle will turn out not very good, although it will burn.
Stearin and paraffin candles. Stearin candles are prepared from a mixture of 88 g of stearin, 10-20 g of paraffin and 2-6 g of wax, and paraffin candles - from 85-97 g of paraffin, 3-15 g of stearin or ceresin. A mixture of these components is melted with stirring and the melt is poured into a well-polished metal cylinder or mold with a wick stretched along the axis. When the melt hardens, the finished candle can be pushed out of the metal mold with a round wooden rod.
Paraffin - a product of the distillation of petroleum - is the most popular material for candles and is included in most candles in one form or another. In the 19th century, stearin was significantly replaced as a candle material.
Cast paraffin candles are the most popular. Melted to 70 degrees in a water bath, paraffin is poured into a pre-prepared form with a fixed wick. Depending on the thickness, the candle hardens from 3 to 6 hours. Ready-made paraffin candles often bend during storage; to eliminate this drawback and increase the melting point, 3 to 15% stearin is often added to paraffin. Forms can be very diverse.
Voshchina
To make the candles look beautiful, you need to take a light yellow foundation. When selecting wax sheets, make sure that there are no impurities on them, otherwise the candle will crack or burn unevenly.
From a wax sheet, you can twist a candle 26 cm high and 2.5-3 cm in diameter. If raw material very thin, then when burning, the candle quickly warps and loses its shape. If the foundation is too thick, then it is difficult to twist it.
The best place to work is in the kitchen. For safety reasons, wax must be melted in a water bath. This will require two containers: one - for wax (it is very practical to use a jug with a spout for this), the other (large saucepan) - for a water bath. For wax, the dishes must be enamelled so that when heated, it does not turn gray. In addition, you will need scissors or sharp knife, as well as a board for cooling and drying wicks.
Twisting wax candles now requires some kind of device. It is enough to have a clean worktop near the stove or stove, a knife with a straight blade, a long drawing ruler and a cutting pad.
When casting candles from wax, the table should be covered with cardboard or an old tablecloth, or aluminum foil, prepare lubricant, brush, stick for attaching wicks and various forms for casting.
When working with melted wax, follow simple safety rules: liquid wax ignites at a temperature of 180 ° C, so the container with it cannot be placed directly on the stove; make sure that drops of wax do not fall on it; wax should be melted only in a water bath, since the water temperature will never exceed 100 ° C; take care of your eyes; do not extinguish burning wax with water, but use damp rags for this; workplace ventilate from time to time, as prolonged inhalation of wax vapors can cause a headache; Keep children away from hot wax.
If drops of wax fall on the fabric, they can be removed with a heated iron, placing under it clear sheet white paper. If they get on the table or floor, they are removed with a cloth dipped in hot water.
The central element of a candle is a wick, it is woven from thin cotton threads. Wicks are round and flat section. Round wicks have the best hygroscopicity, so I prefer them. The thickness of the wick is chosen depending on the diameter of the candle, however precise recommendations No, and I can only give approximate correspondences of these indicators.
For thin Christmas tree candles, you need to use the thinnest wick. Wax-wrapped candles generally require a thinner wick than cast candles.
In the manufacture of wax candles, the following ratios of candle and wick diameters can be proposed: candles with a diameter of up to 30 mm must have a wick with a diameter of 2 mm; up to 45 - 4 mm; over 45 - 6-8 mm; over 60 - 10 mm.
The tip of the wick of a burning candle should be as short as possible - this prolongs its burning. Therefore, at a lit candle, it is constantly cut off.
Wax
Before pouring the wax, the molds must be heated, and their cooling must be slow, for this they are wrapped with a towel.
It makes sense to make wax candles at home if you have large stock wax. Such candles are made by the “twisting” method: the wick is stretched horizontally and evenly covered with wax softened in warm water. When the workpiece reaches desired thickness, they begin to roll it on a smooth board with a flat board to give the future candle a cylindrical shape. Then the candle is cut from the bottom and its top is pulled out.
Before installing the wick in the form, do not forget to lubricate its inner surface with a substance that will ensure the separation of the wax from the walls. For example, dishwashing liquid. In a mixture of this liquid with warm water and load the form. Having taken out, make sure that there is no soap bubbles on its surface and wipe it with a damp cloth, but not to dryness. I do not recommend changing vegetable oil, because it leaves a greasy layer that is difficult to remove on the surface. However, if the form is wooden, then it can be oiled. In this case, it is not necessary to impregnate the wick with wax; its upper end can be processed after casting.
It is important that the wick is located exactly in the middle of the form and is taut. If the shape has a bottom (for example, tin), then it is necessary to make a hole in it and pass the wick through it, tying it with a knot on the outside. Place, for example, a pencil on the upper edge of the mold and tie the other end of the wick to it with tension. If a hole cannot be made in the bottom of the mold, then the wick is glued to the bottom. If the form does not have a bottom, then it is glued with wax to a plastic surface (for example, to cutting board) so that there are no gaps at the bottom. At the same time, I forget to grease the bottom of the form. The wick is also glued to the bottom, and fixed on top.
Wax melts at 64°C. It is best to pour it into molds at a temperature of 80 ° C in one step to avoid the formation of seams. The scoop is used only when working with small forms. After pouring, the wax cools in the direction from the outer surface to the center. At this time, a hole is formed around the wick, which must be filled with wax until it hardens. When casting thick candles, as the wax cools, it must be pierced several times with a knitting needle along the length of the wick to avoid the formation of air bubbles. The wax must cool slowly, otherwise the candle may crack.
Thin candles can be carefully removed from the collapsible mold when the wax is half hardened. With the help of a heated knife, the growths formed at the junction of the mold are cut off from the surface of the product. Then the candle is placed on the table for further cooling. At the same time, sharp fluctuations in air temperature and shaking should be avoided. The form is cleaned of wax and washed with dishwashing liquid. If a non-collapsible form is used, then you should wait until the wax has completely cooled and hardened, which sometimes takes a whole day.
Since the wax shrinks a little, the cooled finished candle is pulled by the wick, not forgetting to untie the knot from below. If the candle does not come out, you can gently tap the mold on the table. If this does not help, then she is briefly dipped in hot water. It is easier to remove a candle from a mold without a bottom; for this, they use a knife or squeeze it out with some object.
There is also a way to make wax candles by repeatedly dipping the wick in wax and gradually building up the candle. This method is the oldest. In this case, the dishes for melting should be taken high and narrow, which will allow you to get long candles. But the container should not be filled with wax to the very brim, and the water in the second pan should not boil. The work requires patience. The wick is tied to a stick and repeatedly dipped in melted wax. The dipping should be short to avoid melting the previous build-up. Then the workpiece is kept in air until each new wax layer hardens. Thus, a gradual growth of the candle occurs.
Wax candles are made from bees, Japanese, Chinese, carnauba wax and other methods of dousing, twisting, pulling, dipping, rolling, molding (rarely) and pressing on special machines. When pouring, the wick is held above the cauldron, turning it around its axis and dousing with wax melted in a water bath, and the first pouring is the “hottest” so that the wick is saturated with wax, then portions of wax are taken from the edges of the cauldron.
Upon reaching the desired thickness, the candle is allowed to cool and rolled on a marble board with magel - a special board with a handle, cut and leveled. When twisting, the wick is evenly covered with wax melted in a water bath, rolled on the board with magel, giving the desired shape and diameter.
When drawn, the wick is passed through a bath of molten wax, thus making thin candles and wax threads. Dipping - the process when the wick is dipped into melted wax, the first time the wick is lowered for three minutes so that it is saturated with wax, roll the candle, then lower it a quarter of the length for 4 seconds into the wax - remove it for 2 minutes, then lower it halfway lengths - take out for 3 minutes, lower by three quarters of the length - take out for 3 minutes, then dip the candle in wax entirely - take out for 3 minutes, lower by a third - take out, two thirds - take out, and again entirely. The process continues until the desired thickness is reached. Rolled wax candles are made from wax, rolled into a cylinder with a wick inside.
The foundation must be warmed up before the process, for example, with a hairdryer, it is recommended to keep the finished rolled candles in the refrigerator before use. The shape and size of the candle depends on the initial size of the foundation sheet, for example, a cone-shaped candle will be obtained from a diagonally cut foundation sheet. rolled candles unusually beautiful and fragrant, they keep the warmth of the hands that made them. Paint wax candles by dipping candles in melted colored wax or already cold with a brush. Gilding is applied using special gilded sheets by stamping.
Salo (fat candles)
To make the tallow candles harder, it is recommended to dip the candles sequentially in the following three mixtures:
1) Melt 4 white resin, 88 good fat, 6 camphor, 20 stearic acid, 2 dammar resin.
2) Melt 48 fat, 6 camphor, 20 stearic acid, 4 white resin, 10 dammar resin.
3) Melt 20 stearic acid, 4 white wax, 10 lard, 6 camphor.
Fat (fat candles)
For the manufacture of fat candles, 450 g of alum, 450 g of saltpeter are taken, dissolved in 2 liters of water, 5400 g of fat (for example, beef) are added and simmered, not allowing the fat to darken.
1) Dissolve 450 g of alum and 450 g of saltpeter in 2 liters of water over low heat. Add 5400 g of fat, stirring constantly until all fat is dissolved. Do not leave too long on fire, as the fat may darken.
2) Cut 8 kg of fat into small pieces, put in a pot together with 250 g of alum and 250 g of saltpeter, previously dissolved in 0.5 water over low heat. until steam stops rising, then remove from heat.
Glycerol
Glycerin candles burn quietly, without spreading any odor. water colorless gelatin with 26 parts by weight of glycerol, add 2 parts by weight. tannin, diluted in 10 parts by weight of glycerine, per. Boil until the turbidity disappears, pour into a container with a wick.
Glycerin suppositories according to Laroche
Dissolve 5 of colorless gelatin in 20 of water, add 26 of glycerol and heat until a completely clear solution is formed. To this solution is added 2 tannins dissolved by heating in 10 glycerol. Turbidity appears, which disappears with further boiling. Boiling continues until all the water has evaporated. Candles prepared from such a composition are transparent, like water, and burn calmly, without spreading any smell.
Glycerin suppositories regular
They are made as follows: 5 g of gelatin, 25 ml of glycerin and 20 ml of water are mixed with heating until a clear solution is obtained, then 2 g of tannin, previously dissolved in 10 ml of glycerin during heating, are added. The resulting solution is heated to a boil; the turbidity that appeared at the beginning gradually disappears. The solution is boiled until all the water has evaporated. Then candles are cast from the resulting mass. Glycerin candles are transparent as glass, burn calmly and without smoke, without spreading any odor.
Gel (gel candles)
Making gel candles is available to anyone, even a child. Take a suitable container, play with decorative elements, fill in the gel, stick a wick. The gel does not tolerate overheating, after 120 degrees it becomes cloudy and does not acquire the desired consistency when it solidifies, also during manufacture, try not to let the wick reach the bottom so that the container you have chosen does not burst from the fire. Possibility of using various decorative elements and unusual shapes of containers make gel candles the most exotic among the entire range of candle products.