Burning question about candles

[Pixieshouse]

What do you do with all of your candles that no longer burn well but still have a bunch of wax? Is there a way to re-use them somehow? I would love to melt them back into the current shape but I don't have a mold that big for them.

Thanks!

 

[~Kathie]

You can use one of those candle warmers. They melt the wax and you get the fragrance without lighting the candle.

I saw them at Michael's......think they were around $10. They also have candle making supplies at Michael's. You might find a mold there.

 

[tinytink]

Are you using a pillar candle? Because I went to a PartyLite Show and the consultant told me to fold/mold the unmelted candle down towards the wick to help it burn evenly. Hope this helps somebody.

 

[ntink]

For the candle warmers, you can only use them with a candle in a glass jar; not a pillar candle or you will have wax all over the place.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

thanks for the ips for the warmer, never knew about them!

 

[~Kathie]

For the candle warmers, you can only use them with a candle in a glass jar; not a pillar candle or you will have wax all over the place.

Good point. I should have mentioned that. The candle warmer I personally have is from Pfaltzgraff and it came with a glass insert.

There is a candle warmer sold at Michael's (and I'm sure elsewhere) that is just a base. It may or may not come with a jar and I will look at it the next time I go. The candle would have to be in some kind of a holder/glass/jar that is sturdy enough to hold the heat in order to use that particular candle warmer.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

do the candle warmers get so hot that the jar is hot to touch or is just a warmer--I have babies so just wondering

 

[DisneyDiva13]

great ideas...thanks.

 

[Maggimus]

I have a warmer from Walmart that works perfect. I think it was only about $4.00 or so.

The candles in glass jars do get warm-- but not HOT. I would keep them away from the babys anyway. If they were to get their hands in that wax they would get burned (if its warm enough to melt the wax its too warm to the touch).

The burners from walmart though are just as good as any others. They are very inexpensive too!! I love mine!!

 

[Pixieshouse]

The candles that I have are pillar candles where the wicks have gotten lost in the wax and that is it, no more burnin

I do have a candle warmer, but my problem is that it heats the candle a strange way and it actually "spits" hot wax all over my counter.

 

[GetGlowing]

(Disclosure statement -- I am a PartyLite candle lady )

Keep in mind that a candle warmer will not evaporate your wax like burning a candle will do. So while you may still get some scent from your candle remains, you will still have wax to contend with after the fragrance is gone.

As tinytink said, you can "hug" pillar candles when burning to help use up all the wax. But many pillars are made with waxes that won't melt all the way to the edge of the candle and/or with wicks that do not burn hot enough to melt the wax that way.

I suggest buying high quality candles in the future. Yes, you pay more for them, but you actually burn and use up the wax you've paid for rather than throw away an unsightly hunk later. PartyLite candles are excellent. But other brands like White Barn burn well also. Stay away from Wal-Mart, Pier One, etc if you plan to burn your candles. If they're strictly for decor, get what looks pretty. But don't use cost as the sole gauge for the quality of the candle. Plenty of the expensive candles burn poorly.

 

[jennifer293]

do the candle warmers get so hot that the jar is hot to touch or is just a warmer--I have babies so just wondering

the jars don't get too hot on the outside, but you would want to put it out of reach because the wax inside will turn to liquid and that would burn if it spilled on them.

My DH has some crazy candle wax fetish and everytime he sees mine on he goes over there and sticks his fingers in it, so it is either not that hot or he is just wierd..hahaha Either of those statements could be very true..

 

[Maybelle]

I would suggest that if you are going to use a warmer and are worried about your little ones, that you get one that hold the entire candle, like the ones you (used to be able to get) at Yankee Candle. I'm not sure if they still sell them, but I think you can still get them from Pfalzgraff and a few other companies. the only thing you might havew to worry about with those is the wax spilling if you try to move them while melted. They work great and provide a nice, subtle scent for a very long time.

 

[tcarr5]

as a candlemaker myself...i would personally melt them down (using a double boiler..you can use a coffee tin or something similar) and pour them in small molds and make tarts from them. hope that helps

 

[rockyroad]

The candle warmer I have melts the candle so you have a jar of liquid wax. Be sure to put it in a place where it will not be spilled.

Even if the spill doesn't hurt, it will ruin your carpet or whatever.

My mom had a wax spill and they had to cut that piece out of the carpet and replace it with a new piece. She had it sitting where the cat knocked it over.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Thanks for the replies, I would definately keep it up, just wondered if it go boiling hot, you know how toddlers are,just dont take any chances,is why I dont burn candles anymore and I miss them

 

[merekc]

I would just say be careful with whatever you choose to do. If I buy a cheap candle and the wax is left, I toss it, it is not worth the damage/chance for injury to get a few more hours out of it.

Things to consider.
1. My sister had a candle in a metal can that burned most of the way down, then got so hot it permanently scarred her marble-looking bathroom vanity.
2. We know someone who was trying to mess with her candles I believe to try to reheat the wax in some form, she ended up with massive burns and painful surgeries, skin-grafts, etc.
3. Most firefighters (that I know) will not allow candles in their own homes. They say they are a cause of a majority of home fires.
4. My grandma had a pillar candle burn down (she didn't hug them) to where it fell over and caught her wallpaper on fire.

OK, freak out over. I do buy candles, I prefer Yankee (which does use all the wax).

 

[thinkerbell]

Originally posted by Pixieshouse:

I do have a candle warmer, but my problem is that it heats the candle a strange way and it actually "spits" hot wax all over my counter.

We had one that did this too. It actually "spit" all the way to the ceiling, causing a small greasy spot even after we cleaned it off. Thank goodness the ceiling is smooth instead of the popcorn ceiling. We would have never gotten it off. It seems to do it more with the candles from Bath and Body Works.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

When we were kids, we used to buy wax, wicks, and make candles. You can make nice pillars with an empty orange juice carton. Youcan use - or at least you used to be able to use crayons for color.(Another cool party trick if your serving something like vodka is to freeze the bottle of vodka inside a empty oj carton - then remove the cardboard to serve. The bottle inside the ice looks really neat - and the vodka is super cold - so smooth.

Having said that, I wouldn't mess around with old wax. As others have said, some is treated to prevent proprer melting. CAndles just aren't that expensive.

 

[Muffin]

I use an ice pick to break up candles that don't burn all the way before the wick is gone, and then burn the small pieces in a votive holder on an electric candle warmer. I've got one of the $4 Wal-Mart ones. You don't need a whole lot of wax pieces to release a lot of fragrance, just use the equivalent of the size of a tart.