Candle Making Molds
There are three main types of candle making molds available: the aluminum or metal mold, the rubber based molds (the flexible molds), and the plastic candle molds.
Candle making molds come in many shapes, sizes, and material. The more unique the candle mold, the better the candle maker likes it. As time goes on and more people get involved in candle making, available molds are getting better and more varied.
What is a mold?
Simply put, a mold is a container in which you can pour your hot wax before it cools. Once the candle has cooled down, you can take the candle out of the mold, and the candle will retain the shape of the mold.
Different Types of Molds
As already mentioned, molds vary in size, shape, and material — depending on its use. We shall discuss three types of molds: the aluminum/metal mold, the flexible molds, and the plastic mold.
The Aluminum/Metal Molds:
The aluminum/metal molds have more advantages than disadvantages and are very popular with candle makers. These are especially popular choices for making votive or pillar candles.
Advantages:
- The aluminum/metal molds resist high heat and, with care, can be extremely durable.
- Because the inside of the mold is smooth and even, the finished candle will also be smooth and even just like the candles one might buy. The fact that the finished product shows no seams gives the finished candle a professionally made look.
- Compared to rubber molds, aluminum molds are a lot less expensive.
- Aluminum molds are easy to clean. Simply line a cookie sheet with aluminum paper, place the mold upside down over the aluminum paper, and place the cookie sheet into the oven at about 150 degrees. The wax will simply melt and drain out of the mold onto the aluminum paper.
Disadvantages:
- The first disadvantage is that this type of mold is not flexible; therefore, one cannot change the shape or the texture of the candle. (What you see is what you get!)
- The second disadvantage is that one has to use a releasing agent to get the candle to slide out of the mold.
Rubber Based Molds(flexible molds):
The polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are rubber molds which are very flexible but to varying degrees.
Polyurethane molds, although flexible, do not stretch as well as the silicone mold; therefore, they are usually less expensive than the silicone mold.
It has two disadvantage: 1) it has a strong odor that can be easily passed on to the candle.2) it also needs a releasing agent to allow the candle to slide out of the mold.
Polyurethane molds are extensively used by makers of pillar and taper candles.
The silicone molds, another type of rubber mold, have outstanding qualities so are, therefore, the most expensive of these rubber molds.
Silicone molds are very popular because they are not only flexible but also stretchable to a point: this little bit of extra stretching ability makes it easier to slide the candle out without using a releasing agent.
Another popular feature is that, like the aluminum mold, the silicone mold does not leave any lines on the candle.
The latex mold used to be extremely popular at one time, but with the advances made in other types of rubber mold, its popularity is diminishing.
Its original popularity was due to the fact that latex molds can be made at home by taking a structure of some kind and painting it with multiple coats of latex.
Although this type of mold is work, its advantage is that one is only limited by imagination.
Plastic Molds:
Cheapest is not necessarily the best! Although plastic molds are cheaper, they don’t always hold out well under the hot wax.
Also, being more brittle than the other types of molds, they don’t last that long.
In addition, one must make sure the mold is dry after it has been cleaned; otherwise, you will end up with water bubbles in your candles.
Besides being cheaper, its other advantage is that it can easily be cleaned with a little soap and warm water. I suppose if you are a beginner, this type of mold might do for the moment.
However, if you were to take candle making to the next level and make it a serious hobby, it would wise to invest in different and better types of molds.
For a visual, watch this video, a free instructional video clip by candle making expert Matt Freedman for ExpertVillage.com. Matt, owner of BlueCreekCandle.com discusses various types of molds mentioned above.
Source: YouTube:How To Make Candles – Using Molds In Candle Making
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