The first question I am always ask is, “How many candles can I get from this block of wax?”.

The answer seems straight forward enough, but it isn’t……..

How big are your candles going to be? You need to use a little math. If your block of wax weighs 5 lbs, you could get five 16 oz candles from one block or ten 8 oz candles, so on and so on.

The second question I am always ask is, “What do I use to melt the wax in?”.

The answer is a double boiler

I, personally use a Hamilton Beach Roaster to melt wax in. These roasters can be used as a double boiler. The inner pan comes out and you can pour water into the bottom of the roaster.

The roasters last for a couple years of regular use, they have a built in temperature control, and they will hold up to 20 lbs of wax easily. I say up to 20 pounds of wax, because there are times that I only need to melt down, lets say, one pound of wax.

Hamilton Beach does not build these roasters to melt wax in and they do not recommend that you do this. I want to make it clear that this company doesn’t endorse the use of their roasters for melting wax.

I use these roasters because of the price and I like how they work. This roaster averages about 29.95 to 50 dollars for each one, depending on where you purchase it. I get mine at Walmart.

The average equipment made for melting wax cost about a 1,000.00! It seems outrageous to spend that kind of money on a hobby or a part time job. Heck, you aren’t even sure at this point if you can make any money back on this or not!

You can even find a smaller roaster at Walmart, Kmart, or similar store that run about 19.95 and hold up to 5 pounds of wax. They also have a temperature control knob on the front and an inner pan that lifts out for adding water.

If you don’t want to spend much money at all, you can make your own double boiler from putting a smaller pan inside a larger pan. Just add water to the bottom pan.
Just keep adding water, as water will boil away in steam. I know that seems elementary, but some people don’t cook. Be careful not to let the double boiler run dry. It can get too hot very quickly.

For those of you who want an industrial wax melter you will have to look elsewhere. These are huge machines that melt down waxes for people that make a very large amount of candles! For the macho wax builder in you! lol Just thought you might like to see what they look like.

I, personally, wouldn’t pay this kind of money for these machines, when I can get a Hamilton Beach roaster for 29.95, but to each his or her own.

You will need a candy or candle thermometer, if you go this route, for heat control. About a ten dollar investment for a candle thermometer. Normally water boils at a standard 212°F, unless you are 5,000 feet above sea level. (You will have to do your own research if you live that far above sea level on when water boils)

Never have the wax in direct contact with the heat source. Wax is like grease, as it has a flash point. In general, wax has a flash point of 390 degrees. A flash point is the point where the wax is so hot that it burst into flames all by itself. So I say “IN GENERAL” the flash point of wax is 390 degrees. I tell everyone – if wax is smoking, it is too hot. The vapors produced are extremely flammable for any heat source like a stove. Use the double boiler. Don’t melt it in a microwave. Our wax isn’t made for this. I like my wax at 200 degrees for a variety of reasons.