Candle Wax recipe

 By: james crouchet

Opus T. Penguin (rhkaloge@mtu.edu) wrote:

: Does anyone have a recipe for candle wax?  I remember that it is more

: than just melted parafin, but I can't remember what else.  Borox comes

: to mind, don't know why.  Any recipe will do - I want to figure out

: how to do it befor I try doing it in period.

Actually, I have a period recipe that is much easier.

Use the following:

Bees' wax

Wick

This will produce a good smelling, long, clean, bright burning candle

that stays reasonably firm without the need to add stiffener.

Remember that modern parafin is produced from oil (as in Texas Tea, black

gold, etc.).  It is too soft for candles so you must add stiffener like

poly-styrine or the like or they will wilt at temps over 80F and melt

around 100 (like in your car). Of course, between the parafin and the

plastic you get a flame that is much more orange (not as bright) and much

smokier -- especially if you get too much plastic in it. That's before

adding dye and/or scent...

There may be more additives, formulas, etc. to address some of these

problems (I'm no expert), but why not go with a period recipe when it is

so simple and has so many advantages?

If you were manufacturing candles by the ton you could probably find a

way to save a few pennies a candle by using the most modern methods, but

for our purposes bees' wax is quite cost effective.  This is helped by

the fact that each candle burns longer and brighter.  So how does the

cost per candlepower/hour compare?

When you want to get into something more complex you can find a beekeeper

and see if he/she will give you the empty combs.  You will then need to

melt them down and skim the junk off the top.  Pour off the wax but

don't get the junk that sank to the bottom.  You may need to repeat this

a few times to purify the bees' wax, or pour thru a screen to speed up

the process.

No matter what you use for wax, remember that hot wax is very dangerous

and can scald or (if hot enough) even explode if sparks of flame are

present.  I recomend reading a pamphlet on candlemaking (try your nearest

hobby-lobby type store) before trying it.

By: dennis r. sherman

Angus (rhkaloge@mtu.edu (Opus T. Penguin)) writes:

>Does anyone have a recipe for candle wax?  I remember that it is more

>than just melted parafin, but I can't remember what else.  Borox comes

>to mind, don't know why.  Any recipe will do - I want to figure out

>how to do it befor I try doing it in period.

Plain, simple paraffin will work just fine for modern candlemaking.  The

"borox" you're thinking of is probably the pickling solution of boric

acid often used on modern candle wicks -- but plain cotton string of an

appropriate diameter for the size candle you're making will work.  Or if

you're doing moden candles anyway, head down to a craft store and buy

braided candle wicking.

You might also be thinking of the chemical wax hardeners sometimes added

to candle wax to make them last longer.  Again, not necessary, but if you

want to use it, ask at the craft store.

When you're ready to try historical methods, you'll want to use beeswax

if you're making rich people's candles, tallow if not.  (Tallow is

purified animal fat -- best is from mutton, next is cow or ox.  *Don't*

use lard!)  And if you want to be entirely correct, use a wick of twisted

cotton.  Braided candle wicks weren't invented until 1827.

For more than you probably want to know about candles, candlesticks,

lamps, lanterns, and lighting in general, see the Compleat Anachronist

from July '93 (I don't recall the number, sorry) on exactly that topic.

If you're seriously interested in lighting, the bibliography alone is

worth it.  Disclaimer:  I'm prejudiced, I wrote it... :-)