To melt candles for making new ones, the safest and most common method is the Double Boil Method.
This technique uses indirect heat to gently melt the wax, reducing the risk of overheating, burning the wax, or starting a fire, which can happen when wax is heated directly over a flame or high heat.
The Double Boil Method Explained
The Double Boil Method creates a makeshift double boiler using common kitchen items.
Steps for Melting Candles Using the Double Boil Method:
- Gather Your Setup: You will need two pans – a larger one and a smaller one that fits inside the larger one without touching the bottom directly.
- Prepare the Water Bath: Fill the larger pan with a few inches of water. Place it on a stovetop and bring the water to a gentle simmer.
- Add the Candles: Place the used candle pieces or remnants into the smaller pan.
- Position the Pans: Set the small pan containing the candle wax into the larger pan filled with simmering water. Ensure the water level is high enough to heat the small pan effectively but doesn't overflow into the wax.
- Melt the Wax: As the water simmers, the heat will transfer to the smaller pan, gradually melting the wax. This process takes time, so be patient.
- Remove Old Wicks: Once the wax has melted into a liquid state, use tongs or a similar tool to carefully remove any old wicks, wick tabs, or debris from the melted wax. Discard these remnants safely.
- Pour the Wax: With the wax fully melted and clarified (by removing debris), you can now carefully pour the hot liquid wax into your prepared new candle vessels.
This method, as described in the reference, ensures that the wax melts evenly and safely, preparing it for reuse in new candle-making projects.
