FAQs

Beeswax 60/40, beeswax 100% pure, beeswax 100% pure bleached, paraffin pure and paraffin/stearin 80/20

Beeswax (Art. 11100, 11200 and 11300):

Beeswax 60/40 is the cheapest grade of beeswax and the normal grade used for public candle dipping events. The candle surface is somewhat smoother than for 100% pure beeswax. The most expensive wax is 100% pure beeswax. In its bleached version, it looks particularly elegant on account of its ivory colour.

Coloured waxes (Art. 12100 and 12200):

For dipping coloured candles, it is best to use the paraffin/stearin 80/20 mixture or pure paraffin wax. The mixture is the normal grade used for coloured candles at public candle dipping events. The stearin in the mixture increases stability and, with the high white component, leads to clearer coloured layers. Pure paraffin tends to be more transparent. Its depth effect means it is more suited to single-coloured candles than multi-coloured candles (since darker coloured layers superimpose themselves on lighter ones in optical terms). Both wax types can be coloured with our standard wax dyes for paraffin and paraffin/stearin. For tips on colouring wax, see under FAQs "General questions", "Wax dyes".

Transparent finishing dipping-wax (Art. 12200):

To protect decorations, it is recommended that coloured candles be dipped in pure paraffin wax at approx. 90°C as the final step (the hotter the wax, the thinner and more transparent the coating).

Pure paraffin, the paraffin/stearin 80/20 wax mixture and rapeseed wax are the easiest to mould and remove from the mould.

Pure paraffin (Art. 12200) tends to be more transparent the hotter it is when it is moulded. That is why the colours can range from matt to very bright, depending on the temperature of the wax.

The paraffin/stearin 80/20 wax mixture (Art. 12100) has a high white component on account of the stearin, which is why the colours look clearer. The stearin also gives the finished candle greater stability.

Rapeseed wax (Art. 12350) has a sophisticated and porcelain-like appearance, together with particularly good mould release. By its very nature, its inherent colour varies from batch to batch. The moulded candle forms a white, crystalline coating over time, which is why uncoloured rapeseed candles look best.

Beeswax (Art. 11100, 11200 and 11300) is only of limited suitability for moulding candles on account of its naturally differing consistency (hardness, stickiness) and the difficulties at times encountered in removing the candles from the mould. The most suitable moulds for beeswax are thus highly conical moulds (e.g. cones, pyramids, etc.) and two-part moulds (sphere, egg, etc.) or moulds made of flexible silicone. It can nonetheless help to put the mould in the fridge (not the freezer!) before removing the candle from it so that the beeswax contracts further.

Pure stearin wax (Art. 12300) – for candles that are also designated crystal candles on account of the crystal structure of the wax – is fundamentally more difficult to remove from the mould. Once the candle has cooled right down, immerse it together with the mould, in hot water at approx. 70°C for a couple of seconds with the opening pointing upwards. The outside layer of wax will melt slightly and, by pulling on the end of the wick, you can immediately feel when the candle has come off the mould. With all other waxes, this would cause the surface of the candle to smear, but not so with hard, pure stearin.

Craquelle-effect wax (Art. 12650) is a paraffin-based wax and can be readily moulded and removed from the mould. The so-called craquelle effect is achieved by taking candles moulded in this wax, dipping them in craquelle-effect or pure paraffin wax at 95 – 100 °C and then immediately quenching them in ice-cold water.

Carving wax (Art. 12800 and 12810) is a high-grade special wax. Candles moulded in this wax can be readily carved if they are previously warmed up again either in water at 45-50 °C or by dipping them into carving wax several times.

Modelling candle wax, carving wax, modelling wax and wax sheets

Modelling candle wax (Art. 13100, 13110, 13120, 13130 and 13140) can be cut into small pieces and shaped at room temperature to form figurative candles, such as a snowman, house or tree. The wick is threaded through the wick hole that should be made with a knitting needle. This wax is available in the basic colours of yellow, red, blue and white. The colours can be mixed with each other.

Carving wax (12800 and 12810) is a high-grade special wax which, despite its high dimensional stability, can be pulled and shaped at will in hot water at around 45 °C. Ideal for demanding applications. In the molten state, the carving wax can be coloured with standard wax dyes or pigments.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Modelling wax comes either in packs of assorted colours with small tiles of wax or in 500g blocks for crafting or for making decorations.

Our big range of wax sheets can be used to cut out motifs with biscuit cutters or model filigree decorative motifs. This wax material is designed so that it can be applied to a candle at room temperature by simply pressing it on. The sheets are available as assorted sheets, single-sort sheets and big-format sheets.

Special-effect waxes and craquelle-effect wax

Special-effect waxes (Art. 12600 and 12610) are paraffin-based, and can be used at a temperature of 68-72 °C for overpouring or overdipping cold candles.

An ice-crystal or velvet effect will be achieved in the coating depending on the special-effect wax selected.

Craquelle-effect wax is similarly paraffin-based wax and can be correspondingly easily moulded and released from the mould. The so-called craquelle effect is achieved by taking candles moulded in this wax and then dipping them in craquelle-effect or pure paraffin wax at 95 – 100 °C and immediately quenching them in ice-cold water.

There is no transparent wax for free-standing candles.

There is only fully transparent gel wax (Art. 12500 and 12510) on the basis of white oil, which is poured into glasses. In this way, non-combustible items, such as glass miniatures can be cast as decorations in a corresponding glass candle light.

Pure paraffin tends to be the wax with the greatest transparency. This is why it is also used for wax lanterns or wax lights cast in plates that are backlit with a candle. It is similarly used to protect decorated candles; in this case it is heated to 90°C and then has the candle dipped in it once, forming a correspondingly thin and hence transparent coating or protective seal.

For moulding candles:

For moulding candles, you need 1:1 of the quantity of wax that is to be moulded into candles! You will find a list with the filling weights of our candle moulds as a PDF file under FAQs about "Moulds" "Where do I find the filling weight for a candle mould?".

For dipping candles:

This requires a basic quantity of wax for filling the wax melting pot or pots (tubular inserts), plus the quantity of wax to be consumed for making candles. The basic quantity plus the quantity to be consumed equals the quantity required.  Details of how to work out the filling quantity for wax melting pots can be found under the first point below in "For a public candle dipping event".

For a public candle dipping event:

1. The basic quantity of wax is equivalent to the volume of the melting pots (tubular inserts).

The basic quantity is needed in order to fill the melting pots and enable the wick to be dipped into liquid wax.

The filling quantities of our wax melting pots are as follows:

Melting pot size 1           0.9 kg
Melting pot size 1a         1.0 kg    
Melting pot size 2           2.8 kg
Melting pot size 4           8.0 kg
Melting pot size 5           10.0 kg
Melting pot size 5a         22.0 kg
Wax melter type 80        30.0 kg

If you use vessels of different dimensions, you can calculate the basic quantity by filling them with water. The number of litres of water that the vessel will hold corresponds more or less to the number of kilograms of wax required to fill it.

2. The expected number of visitors times the average candle weight will give the probable quantity to be consumed.

The quantity to be consumed is the quantity of wax that will leave the candle dipping event in the form of finished candles. It is thus necessary to make assumptions regarding the visitors that can be expected and/or the number of pupils in the case of school classes. The following weights can be given as an example, depending on the diameter and height of a candle.

1 candle with a diameter of 2 cm, height 25 cm = approx. 50 g
1 candle with a diameter of 4 cm, height 30 cm = approx. 190 g

Since some visitors will make more than one candle, we recommend taking an average weight of 200 g per visitor. Assuming 100 visitors, this would give a quantity of 20 kg to be consumed.

3. The basic quantity plus the quantity to be consumed equals the quantity required.

Since it is difficult to estimate in advance how many visitors will be attending a public candle dipping event, we are ready to take back sealed and undamaged 25-kg bags of wax within 4 weeks of purchase without making any deductions.

It is, however, a fact that even after wax has been stored for many years, it does not suffer any quality deterioration. Deterioration is only possible if dirt can penetrate the sealed bag of wax (through holes or water, etc.).

Dipping candles:

Dipping candles with beeswax 60/40: 70-73 °C
Dipping candles with 100% pure beeswax: approx. 75°C
Dipping candles with pure paraffin and a paraffin/stearin wax mixture: 70-73 °C
Final dipping of decorated, coloured candles in pure paraffin: approx. 90°C
If a candle dipping event is held outdoors in the winter, the above temperatures must be increased by up to 5°C

Moulding candles:

The heat resistance of the mould being used must always be borne in mind. If a mould is only temperature resistant up to 80°C, then the wax should be poured in at 80°C. Otherwise the ideal moulding temperature is 90°C. With silicone moulds, by contrast, we recommend that the wax be poured in at 80°C, despite the considerably higher temperature resistance of thesemoulds.

Temperature measurement:

The effective temperature of the wax can be measured with a glass thermometer with a measuring range of around 20°C to 110°C. To do this, the thermometer is held in the liquid wax until such time as the temperature reading no longer increases. Immediately the thermometer is taken out of the wax, the wax can be easily wiped off it using household paper.