Soy Candles

With the weather beginning to turn cold and wet, you find yourself indoors more.  Some of you may turn to doing fun things that you normally would not do, now that there is more time on your hands.  A fun project with your children might be to make soy candles.  What a neat idea for Christmas gifts!  Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when making your soy candles.

1. Be sure and never let the art of candle making become routine.  Don’t become careless just because you think you are an expert now.
2. Don’t handle hot pots or cans with your bare hands.  Use a hot pad or some pliers.
3. Don’t leave hot wax unattended, even in a double boiler.
4. Keep wax away from open flames.
5. Be sure and not overheat wax.  It will spontaneously com-bust when reaching flash point which is 375 degrees F for paraffin wax.  Don’t heat wax over 212 degrees F.
6. Overheated wax may cause severe illness from the fumes.  Remove yourself from the area and be sure to well ventilate it before returning.
7. Use a thermometer.  Always know and be aware of the wax temperature.  This way you will have good results as well as being safe.
8. Use a double boiler or wax melter.  The double boiler will help to control the heat.  An old pot filled with water and a coffee can set down inside the pot to melt the wax in will also work.  The typical melting temperatures can reach 200 degrees F.
9. If you have a wax fire, don’t put water on it.  Always keep a pot lid, baking soda, and a dry chemical fire extinguisher close when heating wax.  If the fire is in the melting container put the lid on it.  Use the baking soda to smother small fires outside the pot.  For a major wax fire use the fire extinguisher.  Remember don’t leave the melting wax unattended.
10. Never pour wax down your drain.  It will harden and clog the drain.  Instead pour any waste wax into a can or milk carton and discard in the trash after it has cooled.

These tips will make your soy candle making safer and more enjoyable.  Enjoy the days spent inside this winter and try a new hobby with your kids, the art of soy candle making.