melting the beeswax

[lizzie]

Hi ,

I am new to all this and really want to have a go at making my own candles.....

First of all please can someone tell me how to melt the honeycomb and also is it possible to use one of those wax heaters they use in a beauty therapists.....or an electric water bath thingy.... I do not want to do it over the cooker with a thermometer and boiling water as I have a handicap that may make this method difficult.....

please correct me were I have used the incorrect terms or info.....

All advice is welcome, thanks
Lizzie.

[Kathyp]

change your location in your profile.  then we can answer your questions with info for your area.

look on here and google 'solar wax melter'.  the are pretty simple to build and might be an answer for you.  i use the stove top method by using a double boiler and cheese cloth. 

[lizzie]

Thanks for that info.... great, I have changed my profile to show my location. Which is Brittany, France.

I also have googled that info on the solar wax melter... Fantastic, thanks

one more question please, once I have cleaned and filtered the wax into a container with water in it, how do i then get it into a pouring consistency to pour into a mould for the candle ?? i am guessing i use the same process with no water in the container to start with or maybe not...??!!!

any more usefull tips would be great, thanks
Lizzie.

[iddee]

To melt it for pouring, use a double boiler, which is a pot in a pot. The bottom pot contains water, the top pot contains the wax. DO NOT heat wax only directly on the source of heat. Heat it over water, but not IN water.

[tlynn]

The solar wax melter works really great.  I learned from this site - http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2008/05/working-yard-with-linda-ts-bees.html

Linda posts regularly here.  She has done some really nice how-to videos on her blog.

[pdmattox]

here is something That I've shared many times. http://www.candletech.com/general-information/do-it-yourself-wax-melter/