Using jelly wax (also known as gel wax) for candles involves preparing the wick, melting the wax carefully, and often pre-treating objects to ensure a clear, bubble-free finish.
Here's a breakdown based on common practices and insights from the provided reference:
Essential Steps for Crafting Gel Candles
Creating beautiful gel candles requires attention to detail, especially when dealing with bubbles and object placement. The reference highlights key initial steps in this process:
- Prepare the Wick: Begin by preparing your candle wick. According to the reference, you need to "Thread tab onto wick and crimp to secure." This creates a stable base for the wick to sit at the bottom of your candle container.
- Melt the Gel Wax: Next, the gel wax needs to be melted. The reference advises, "Fill a medium sauce pan with gel wax and melt over medium heat." Melting should be done slowly and carefully to avoid overheating or introducing too many bubbles at this stage.
- Pre-dip Objects (Including Wicks!): A crucial step for preventing air bubbles around embedded items and the wick is pre-dipping. The reference explicitly states, "To prevent bubbles from forming in your finished candle, it's important to pre-dip the wicks and other porous decorative objects in gel." This saturates the porous material with melted wax before it's fully embedded.
- Pre-dip Decorative Items: As an example, the reference mentions preparing decorative elements like metal shapes. "Bend copper tubes for an abstract, artsy look, then pre-dip in melted gel." This step confirms that any object you place inside the candle, especially if it's porous or has crevices, should be coated in melted gel first to displace air.
By following these foundational steps – securing the wick, melting the gel wax correctly, and pre-dipping porous elements and the wick – you lay the groundwork for a successful and visually appealing gel candle with minimized bubbles.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Wick Preparation | Thread tab onto wick and crimp to secure | Create a stable base |
| Wax Melting | Fill sauce pan with gel wax and melt over medium heat | Prepare wax for pouring and object dipping |
| Object Pre-dipping | Pre-dip wicks and porous decorative objects (e.g., copper tubes) in gel | Prevent bubbles from forming in finished candle |
Note: The provided reference focuses on the initial preparation steps. A complete process would also include centering the wick in the container, pouring the melted gel, adding scents/colors if desired, and allowing the candle to cool and harden.
