Black Friday

Black Friday sales are an abomination! All I want to do on the day after Thanksgiving is eat pie and whip cream, and think about Advent. I make most of my holiday gifts, and usually spend this free day at home, with my family, working on projects.

This year I offered a Black Friday candle-making class, so this afternoon I get to play with other people's kids, and make candles with them- what could be better?

Agenda:
1. Compile a family wish list:
It's a family tradition that we make a list on the day after Thanksgiving of what we want for Christmas. (Why is it so hard to get men to tell you what they want?)

2. Make candles:
We will make rolled candles and dipped candles. 

For rolled candles you need: Honeycomb sheets, knife, cutting surface (thick cardboard), metal straight edge, wick (flat braid, 15 ply), scissors, pot of water, paper towels

1- Cut the beeswax sheet length-wise or width-wise with a metal straight edge and knife.

2- Cut a piece of wick to just a little bit longer than the height of your wax.

3- Warm the piece of wax in front of a heater until it is flexible (but not melted), 











then crimp the end over the table edge, insert the wick, and roll.

4- Seal the top and bottom of the candle by pressing them onto the outside of a pot of hot water. Be sure to catch drips with a paper towel.

For dipped candles you need: 4 parts beeswax and 1 part paraffin, hammer and chisel, a large can or canister, large pot of water, hot plate, large pitcher of cold water, wick (square braid, #5/0), scissors, masking tape, towel, knife

1- Prepare the wax several hours before you plan to dip. First chop the block of wax into small chunks and fill the canister. My old olive oil container holds about 5 lbs. of wax (4 lbs. beeswax + 1 lb. paraffin). 

2- Put the canister into the oven on low for several hours so it can melt slowly. I put a smaller pot of wax in as well, to have ready for topping off the canister as the level drops.

3- Prepare the dipping area: I set up a hot plate with a large pot of water on a low chair, and a tub of cold water on another chair. When the canister of wax is completely melted, set it into the hot water pot and insert a thermometer; adjust the temperature of the water to keep the wax at 150-160ºF.

4- Cut a wick long enough for two candles, double it over and dip it smoothly but quickly in and out of the wax, then into the cold water. Lay the candles flat on a towel and roll them to dry and straighten. Repeat. Tips:

• The first couple of dips will crumple up the wick- just carefully straighten it and keep going.
• If wax doesn’t stick to the wick it may be too hot, or you may be holding the wick too long in the hot wax.
• If bumps form, the wax may be too hot or too cool.
• Don’t shake or move the candles too much or they will develop cracks.
• If you leave water on the wax it will spit when you burn the candle.
• The bottoms will eventually get long, so pinch or cut them flat once in awhile.

5-  When your candles are fat enough cut the bottoms flat one last time and store flat until they are completely cool.