BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Candlemaking Re-Melting Existing Candles

My house has gotten overrun with candles somehow and I am trying to get the number down to a more reasonable number. I have a lot of candle-bits at this point, of different types.

What do you guys regularly do with these bits? I gather them up and at some point make new candles out of all the bits. Am I being a bit TOO frugal? Are there other ideas?

I'm trying again to re-melt existing candles and am sort of stuck. I used to have a cheap saucepan I would use as a double boiler, but I can't find it any more. I'm trying using a "mini-warmer" that is meant to keep sauces warm, and putting a tin can into it (with water around the can) but the candles aren't melting in that. My only other option seems to be to use my "tart melter" and hand melt the candles one by one but that will take eons.

I looked on Amazon for a wax melter but couldn't find any. I imagine they exist?

Lisa, what if you used a crockpot?

Then once all the candles were melted and you had them poured up, just pour boiling water into the pot to get the remainder off the sides. Then put it back through the dishwasher and it should be ready for food again.

They do have tart burners where u use a tealite under it, it heat it up and melt them down or you can try a electric burner canlde melter.. you can find this in your walmartcandle section or arts and craft section for like $5.00 it will hold the big jar candles and u can use little candle jars too to put the extra candle pieces in....

I was in fact talking with my boyfriend about this yesterday and he said he hates our current crockpot and wants a new one. So this seems perfect! I'll take our existing crockpot and use it for candle wax burning, as a "double boiler" setup. I'll put a big can into it in a water bath - that appears to be critical for the wax not to catch on fire for some reason. That way I can use a big can, and the water can heat up to boiling, and I'm not using the stove. The main issue here is he doesn't want me doing my wax-playing on the stove and getting wax all over it

Hi Lisa,

I am not a candle expert, but I do know how to make a double boiler for candy making. I am assuming it would work the same way. I take a pan (kettle) and put some water into it, then add a tin can or glass jar, put the candy into it and let it melt slowly. (no turning on high heat, *smile* , and no walking to far away from the pot as it needs to be monitored, and for safety reasons)

Just another idea (I am new to bella - and have to post sometime, right?)

Yup that sounds just right! I just need to find a BIG tin can to put the wax in, or maybe a cheap pot?

With all of the pumpkin pie stuff that is going to be on sale the next two weeks, you ought to be able to find HUGE cans.

Maybe you can play around with some low-carb pumpkin recipes for the holidays and hit 2 birds with one stone.

Lisa,

I use juice cans . . .doesn't take long to drink up a can of juice, and the cans work really good.

No such thing as too frugal. I like using them to make ice candles or sand candles with my kids.