An information site by IHDE-Candle factory

Candle moulds

Technical information about plastic moulds and dipping candles:

The crucial factors for a good result for dipping candles are the mixture of the wax as well as the temperature. For the use of plastic moulds you do best when you take pure paraffin 56C. A supplement of 20% of stearin makes the candle more opaque. It will be upgraded optically as it does not shine through as much as normally.

Be careful with a higher concentration of stearin! When stearin is cooling it creates a high expansion pressure due to its crystalline character. This can result in cracks in the moulds! Beeswax generally is gluey; please have some experiments to test the optimal pouring and removal temperature as well as the adequate size of the wick. Generally one takes round wicks for beeswax and stearin.

The pouring temperature of paraffin is about 80 to 90 degrees. The use of too cold wax results in a rustic surface (which might look well!). If you use too hot wax it will pass through all the gaps and might destroy the moulds (generally moulds can’t cope with more than 130 degrees).

Sometimes you have to insert rubber gaskets into plastic moulds before putting them together.

At the bottom of the mould you have to build a big knot at the wick. At the top, the annexed wick needle will be pushed through the wick so that it’s lightly tensed.

At the same time the knot blocks the lower wick hole.

Like this you kill two birds with one stone:
the moulds are fixed in the sand bed – and the wax can’t run through the wick hole.

If this doesn’t work properly you can also block the lower wick hole additionally with the annexed wick wax. The wick wax can be used a couple of times!

The pouring temperature of paraffin is about 80 degrees.

As soon as the candles are cooled completely you can generally remove them quite easily.
On the contrary, it is more difficult to remove beeswax or wax with more than 20% of stearin.
Sometimes it helps to put the candles into a freezer!
The release agent Cancol improves the surface and it makes it easier to remove the candles.

After the candles has been cooled a crater forms at the lower side which has to be refilled with hot wax afterwards. The red candle has been filled with too cold wax!

Cleaning of transparent moulds:
Put the moulds into a pot and souse them with boiling water. Leave the moulds under water while they cool off. The wax loosens, accumulates at the water surface and solidifies.