Types of Candle Molds

Then ...In the early Egyptian and Roman times, candles were made from tallow, which was extracted from cattle, sheep, and other animals.

Now ...A wide variety of waxes, like paraffin, vegetable, beeswax, gel wax, etc., are available in the contemporary market of the candle-making industry.

A candle mold, in layman's terms, is a container with a wick placed at the center, used for forming a candle. The hot wax poured into the container will hold its shape while it cools down, and then it will stand independently when removed from the mold.

These molds come in various shapes and sizes and are made of several material, like metal, aluminum, plastic, rubber, glass, latex, etc. The best choice for the molds is metal or aluminum because of their durability and very little maintenance. However, other types of molds are also used widely to add a variety to the appearance of the candles.

Once you have decided on which mold to use, making candles out of them will be a piece of cake. Moreover, it will be fun to make candles of different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors and illuminate the desired place within no time.

It is the most commonly used mold due to its heat-resistant property and long shelf life. It is also very easy to clean. When compared with rubber mold, it is relatively cheaper and affordable.

An aluminum mold does not leave seams on the candles after it is removed from the mold. This saves the task of trimming the whole lot of candles and giving them a finishing touch.

The candles made from this mold are so well-made that they can be mistaken for the ones made by professionals. However, as every good thing has a flip side, the aluminum candle mold also has a downside. The choice for shapes and sizes is limited in this mold, and it requires a releasing agent to remove the candle out of it, which may be time-consuming.

If you are a beginner in the candle-making field and just want to try your hand at making a few of them, then plastic candle molds are for you. They are the cheapest to buy, easiest to clean, and safest to handle. Just an ordinary soap and lukewarm water is what you need to clean them.

However, it is important to dry it completely before reusing because the next set of your candles will have bubbles if there is water left in the mold. The shelf life of these molds depends upon their cost and is comparatively shorter than the other mold types. However, as a first timer, it is the best type of mold to invest in.

The next in demand is the metal candle mold because of its longevity.

It really is a product of long life with minimum maintenance. Furthermore, it is available in abundance in various shapes and sizes, like round, star, votive, and pillar molds. These molds also do not have seams on the sides; hence, you don't need to invest time in trimming the candle after removing it from the mold and giving it a proper finished look.

To keep your metal molds intact for several years, ensure that they are not being used for any other purposes, otherwise they will get damaged very easily.

There are three types of molds in this category, and they have been dealt with, in the following paragraphs:

This candle mold is a lot cheaper than other types of rubber molds; hence, it is a popular choice among candle makers.

However, the main concern lies in the fact that it transfers a strong and undesirable odor to the finished candle and requires a releasing agent to remove the candle smoothly from the mold because of its inability to stretch well to get the candle out completely.

A type of rubber candle mold, silicone mold possesses some really good characteristics, like a non-sticky surface, easy release of candles from the mold, and most importantly, a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Since this mold has a flexible surface, the finished candles can be removed easily from the mold without the need of a releasing agent.

However, there are certain downsides to this mold, and it should be used only when a specific shape is not available in other mold types. The cons of using this mold include scent retention of the silicone liquid on the finished candle, damage-prone surface, and mild instability.

These molds are also pretty expensive because of the qualities like they stretch more than polyurethane and enable easy release of the candle.

It is a unique mold, for it can be useful to make various complex shapes, like animals, fruits, flowers, and certain intricate designs like the one shown in the picture above. These rubber molds are highly flexible that produce seamless designs with intricate patterns.

A latex rubber mold does not require a release agent and comes with a self-sealing wick hole. The wick hole is not there in the mold, but it can be easily made with a pin or needle.

There was a time when this mold was a popular choice of every candle maker due to its versatility and ease of use. However, with the emergence of other molds, latex mold lost its popularity. Nowadays, its use is confined to the hobbyists because candle making at home can be made easy with this type of mold.

Glass candle molds cool down very fast, which quickens the entire process, thus saving your time.

They do not require any releasing agent and slide down the finished candle easily and smoothly. The candles made from this mold have a smooth and seamless finish. Their availability is also not a major concern; you don't have to rush to the craft store to lay your hand on them.

You can find them at home very easily in the form of your glass jars, wine glasses, glass containers, etc. However, these molds are extremely delicate, highly susceptible to scratching, cracking, and even breakage if not taken care of properly. They cannot withstand extreme high heat and may explode if the temperature exceeds the limit.

If you have a creative mind and a good hand at utilizing household things for making some unique decorative pieces, then this section will enhance your creativity even more. Making candles in such a way will also save a lot of money and won't burn a hole in your pocket.

Making homemade candle molds requires nothing more than some of your household things, like mixing bowls, empty cartons, aluminum foil, etc.

With the homemade candle molds in place, your job of making candles at home only got easier!

Here are a few important pointers that will help you to get through the candle-making process in a safe and correct way.

• Firstly, ensure that the mold that you have chosen is not flammable and is obviously
heat-resistant. This is because, you will not remove the finished candle from the mold (in some cases) - meaning, the mold will also be the container of your candle.

• The mold should be able to hold hot, burning wax in place while it cools down completely. If it is not able to hold the wax, it will either leak out, destroying your entire work or it may explode.

• Ensure that the joined corners of the mold are intact to avoid little leaks that may distort the candle and ruin its shape.

So, decide for yourself which candle mold you want to pour your lovely candles in and begin with the fun. You never know, you might become a pro in this art, and your hobby might take a professional face. So learn, experiment, and enjoy! Happy Candle Making!