Making Your Own Pillar Candle From Partly Used Candles

GeorgiaBulldogsFan
by GeorgiaBulldogsFan
7 Materials
$1
3 Hours
Easy

Okay, who of us don’t have partly burned candles laying in a box in your house? Now be honest. I know I have plenty. I keep some of them handy when we have storm power outages. These particular candles were given to me by a good friend when I was helping her clean out her Mom’s house. She didn’t want them so I said I would take them. There were close to two dozen 14 inch white tapers. I had previously cleaned an empty hydrogen peroxide plastic container and cut off the top portion. I had originally thought I would use it for holding fresh flowers in a wooden vase. But my plan changed. I figured I would try and use it as my candle mold. In working on a new project, I needed a pillar candle to decorate for fall. So, instead of buying one, I decided to make one in my recycled peroxide container. I began cutting down the tapers and pulling out the wicks to use again. I used one piece long enough to stick out of the container. I knew I needed to weigh the wick down and this was my solution. I used two paper clips and made a right angle on the wick and put them on the wick. Well, this wasn’t heavy enough to stabilize the wick. So I went to my magnet stash and got one. Yes, I recycle magnets off shower curtain liners when they get old and start tearing. I also use the old shower curtain liner as my drop cloth when I am spray painting projects too. Lol. Anyway, the magnet had just the right weight to weigh it down. This is how it looked on the bottom of the wick.

Then I began melting the candles in my microwave. I used short time periods to check how far along the candles were melting. I had placed the wick into the container and used a set of chopsticks to hold it straight. This is how it looked poured into the container with the chopsticks holding the wick.

I let the candle thoroughly cool overnight. The next morning I began getting the candle out of the container. I began by cutting off the plastic bottom. I then used my box cutter to carefully go the full length of the container. It pulled out easily.

Having cut the bottom off the container, the candle was a little uneven. I took some sand paper and sanded it level. This is my finished candle. Now to finish my other project using my “new” candle.

I’m only counting the actual hours taken to get the candle into the plastic container. I chose to let the candle cool overnight. Well, I told you that I had plenty of partly burned candles. I decided since I was in candle making mode that I would make a red pillar candle today. This is where it is thus far. But in a empty alcohol bottle. I will say that I got this candle done much quicker than the first since I had already solved how to anchor the wick. Waiting for the wax to cool thoroughly. Now I’ll be ready for Christmas decorating too.

Let me know what you think. Would love for you Hometalkers to check out my other projects and see what I have done with more unusual items.

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