Candle making molds come in many shapes and imagines. There are the standard molds, which will create various sizes of circular or square candles, or small trays that make a set of small tea light candles or votives. There are many specialty molds that can be ordered online or found in craft stores in holiday shapes, birthday shapes, and shapes of animals, nature, and foods, among many others. Candle molds are use to give candles the shape. There are many different ways to use candle molds, from rigid glass, plastics ones to metal and latex molds.
Standard Types of Candle molds
Glass molds cool down quickly and offer a smooth finish and rarely stick, but are delicate and prone to scratching and cracking, which will lead to breakage.
Metal molds are known for their longevity. Because metal molds do tend to stick, however, it is recommended you lightly spray metal candle molds with a store-bought silicone mold release spray, designed for just this purpose. To prevent the metal molds from rusting and eventually leaking or cracking, spray a light coating of the same silicone on the inside and outside of the mold before storing.
Aluminum molds are extremely durable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What most candle maker’s love about aluminum candle molds is that they do not have seams like some other molds have, so you don’t have to worry about trimming your candles once they are cooled.Rubber candle molds are more flexible and offer you the added benefit of more intricate designs. As the candle cools it is advisable to keep a close eye on these types of molds. During this timeframe, candles may distort due to the flexibility of the mold. While rubber molds begin to break down over time, they create a nice matte finish on the candle and are sought after for both the different designs they offer and the ease in which the candle comes out of the mold.
Plastic mold is rigid, will not bend and is the least expensive of the candle molds available today. Intricate designs will not work well with this type of mold. However, since plastic molds can be reused many times without worry of damage or cracks, they are also the perfect mold for the beginning candle maker to use. Plastic molds offer a unique chance for the crafter to perfect his or her craft before moving on to the next type of mold or to a large candle.
Rigid molds can be made from glass, metal or plastic. Rigid molds are used to make unusual shapes such as bold geometrical shapes. Plastic molds are often used as they are the cheapest. However you cannot use rigid plastic molds with candle scents or fill them with wax heated to over 80 degrees Celsius (175 deg Fahrenheit) as this can cause damage to the mould.
Latex molds are very popular as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are quite versatile. Latex is very stretchable and is often used to create more complex shapes such as animals, fruits and flowers.
If you decide to create your own candle molds, here are 13 items you probably already have at home that can be used as molds:
Yogurt pots, Milk cartons, Drinking glasses, Cake tins, Bowls, Strong cardboard are fantastic as candle molds, Plastic cup, Pringles can, Chinese take-out containers, Frozen juice cans, Oatmeal boxes, Egg containers not the Styrofoam type and Larger tomato cans.
Regardless of what type of candle making molds you use just have fun making your candles.
