Candles are a great way to add atmosphere, style, and beauty to any space. Making your own candles at home is a fun and rewarding project that can be done with minimal effort. One of the most popular methods for making candles is using silicone rubber molds. In this article we will discuss the steps involved in making your own candle with a silicone RTV rubber mold.

Creating Your Mold

You can make your own silicone molds using ArtiSil Silicone making kits. By making your own, you can replicate any shape you want and you have more control on the final look of the candle. A good quality silicone mold can replicate hundreds of candles or other items.

Gathering Your Supplies

Once you have the silicone mold made, you can gather all the necessary supplies. For this project you will need:

Silicone Mold

Measuring Cups and Mixing spoons/sticks

Wax

Wicks

Essential oils or fragrances (optional)

Dye (optional)

Melting pot

Thermometer

Utility knife (if needed)

Modeling clay, glue gun

Holder for mold- wood, plastic or other

Pen, stick or other

Oven mitt

Once you have all your supplies, it’s time to get started!

Placing Wick

Do your research to figure out the right size wick for the candle you are making. There are different widths and choosing the correct size will help prevent dripping, smoking and other issues such as the candle staying lit. Also, cut the wick to the correct length leaving enough to secure it to a pen or stick outside of the silicone mold. You can use a needle threaded with the wick to place it in the silicone mold. If there is no hole in the mold, one can be made with the needle. Use some molding clay or some other sealant around the wick hole to avoid any of the wax leaking out. If you have a wick with a metal bottom, a hole may not be needed in the silicone mold. A pen, toothpick, bamboo etc. should be used to hold the wick in place.

Silicone Mold Holder

The silicone mold can be placed in a container that will keep it stable. This can be a glass container or a plastic or wooden box. Rubber bands can be used around the silicone mold to keep it shut. This is assuming the silicone mold you are using has a slit down the side of it. The wick can be secured in place with tape if necessary.

Heating the Wax

To begin, place the amount of wax needed into a melting pot on low heat or in a double broiler until completely melted. Once melted, use a thermometer to make sure that the temperature of the wax does not exceed 200°F (93°C). If it is too hot when poured into the mold it could cause it to deform or crack. Wax should be transparent once completely melted. If you want to add color and scent to your candle you can add liquid dye and essential oils or fragrances once the wax has been melted but before pouring into the mold.  

Pouring Into the Mold                                                                                            Once your wax has reached an appropriate temperature (no higher than 200°F) it’s time to pour! Make sure the wick is secured in the center of the mold. Then slowly pour the melted wax into each individual cavity within the mold until full. Be careful not to bump the pen, stick or whatever is securing the wick in place. By pouring slowly, you also avoid excessive air bubbles in the wax. Be sure not to overfill as this could cause issues when removing from the mold later. Allow for some cooling time before attempting removal from the molds– 30-60 minutes should do it!

Finishing Touches & Removal From Mold

Once cooled completely you can then remove the candle from its silicone RTV rubber mold by gently flexing each side of the mold away from itself until the candle pops out easily. If the mold does not have a slit down the side of it, one may need to be carefully made using a razor blade or Exacto knife. Once candle is removed, it can be finished off. To finish off your candles you may want to trim off any excess wick sticking out of either end of your candle with scissors or tweezers if necessary. Give it 24 hours and then your candle should be ready for display! The silicone mold can be held together with a rubber band or other elastic until the next time it is needed.

Conclusion

Making beautiful candles using a silicone RTV rubber mold is an easy and enjoyable process that anyone can do at home! All you need is some wax, wicks, essential oils or fragrances (optional), dye (optional), melting pot, thermometer and a silicone rubber mold – plus just a few simple steps – for great results every time! With these tips in hand, now anyone can be an expert at creating their own one-of-a-kind candles quickly and easily right from home!