Essential Candle Making Equipment

Every decent craftsman has various necessary tools of the trade as they are known.  The professional carpenter has his hammer, for instance.   The master mason has his trowel.  Whether you realize it or not, you're going to enter the ranks of the master craftsperson.  And you, too, should have one or two fundamental tools of the "trade" or craft.
Okay, so maybe you want to downplay the "master" part of the phrase -- at least for now.  Give yourself some time, however.  Before you realize it, you'll be creating those wonderful candles.
Let's face it, the fundamentals of candle making are very straightforward to understand.  Take hard wax, melt it down, mold it, stick a candle wick in it and let it sit and re-harden.  Pretty easy.  (This can be even easier if you use beeswax, because that sort of wax does not even have to be melted down -- wait until you read about that!)
As crafts go, its simplicity ranks right up there along with . . . well, I actually do not think it gets simpler than this.  And also the final result surely doesn't get any more beautiful than this.
That means the "candle making equipment" involved in making these stylish pieces is kept to a minimum.  This is what you would need to make your first candles:
Heat Source

A heat source is nothing more than your kitchen range or a hot pot of some sort.  One word of warning here, don't use a microwave oven.  As tempted as you might be, the temperature variations of this electrical device are not suitable for the precision of melting wax.
Pouring Pan

You will need a container in which to melt the wax.  If at all possible, you will need to work with a double boiler or something that will substitute for a double boiler.  If you do not have a double boiler, you may want to position empty cans on th base of a big pot arranged so that a smaller pan can sit sturdily in there.
Or you could get two pots and simply sit the smaller pan within the larger one.
The pot that's directly touching the heat supply will be filled up with water that will heat up to ultimately, evenly and gradually melt the wax inside the smaller pot. You'll want to make sure the smaller pan, by the way, at at the very least a half inch over the bottom of the bigger pot.

There's just one exception to using a double boiler and that's gel candle making wax.  The temperature at which gel wax gets "syrupy" (since it never really melts in the usual sense) is between 200 and 220 degrees.  It's not possible to reach this high temperature with a double boiler.
So be aware, when you think you are ready to work with this sort of material that a double boiler isn't really appropriate.
Thermometer
Given that wax melts swiftly and has the very real potential to literally explode if it gets far too hot, you will discover that a thermometer is an absolute necessity.  If you don't use one specially manufactured for candles, you may use a candy thermometer or any one which indicates temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whatever you do, never attempt to "eyeball" the temperature of your wax.  If you have ever made candy, you might have found that you got clever at simply looking at the texture of the candy to determine its temperature.  Wax is well . . . a complete different ball of wax . . . in this department.
Candle Making Molds

Molded candles tend to be easy and simple for novice candle makers to create.  Make sure to have these ready to fill if your first candle making project is to be this type.  There are other choices of candle varieties you can make, just be sure whatever type you're planning on using, to get it ready to go before you commence your project.
Dipping Can
When you choose dipping taper candles, you'll want some kind of metal holder that is wide enough and high enough in which to dip your candles.

Needless to say, you may buy one especially made for this job,  but you could find something suitable you already have at home.  If that's the case, then go ahead and utilize it!
Actually, if your melting pot is at least 12 inches wide, you won't even need to worry about a different dipping can. You have it right there! (Yes, I said wide. Let me tell you one quick aspect of dipping. The initial one or two times you dip that wick into the wax, it might not sink. Infact it might float as it lacks sufficient weight, but don't be concerned after some time your candle and the burden of the wax will allow it to sink.)

That's all you need for the simplest of projects.  As you go on with with your newfound passtime you will want to add to your "necessary candle making equipment."
Kitchen Scale

Eventually, you will want to weigh your wax and wax additive to make sure you're using the correct amount for consistent results.  The best scale is a digital postal scale.  They are  more precise than a spring-type set of scales -- particularly when it comes to weighing  additives and candle fragrance.  But take into account the digital postal scale can be a bit costlier as well.
Baking Tray

This is very useful when it comes time to clean your candle making molds.  Merely line the backing pan with kitchen foil.  As you clean the molds, keep close watch on the temperature you use, if you heat them for too long, they might begin to melt!
Scissors, Razor Blade, Craft Knife


The decision is yours.  But you'll soon find out that you will need some type of cutting instrument.  Sharp tools help you to trim your wick, and cut the wax.

When you cut off the amount of wax you need from your block of wax, be certain you've got protection for your countertop. It's too easy for the sharp tool to accidently cut clear through the wax and right into your worktop.
Hammer and Screwdriver

Now and again, you may need to break your slabs of wax apart, depending on its size.  The easiest method to do that is to pretend you're a sculptor.  Get the screwdriver and place it in the wax, then you just hammer the end of the screwdriver to produce the crack in the wax.  Again, just as a safety measure, you may want to put something under this block of wax to protect your kitchen counter.
Mold Sealers

You might also hear these refered to as wick sealers, they are the same thing, they are used to close the opening where you threaded in the candle wick.  In this way the wax won't leak out!
Releasing Agent Or Candle Mold Releases

This is a special silicone spray specifically manufactured as a releasing agent.  Obtainable at almost all craft stores, this spray should be applied thinly to the inside of the candle making mold, much like vegetable oil is applied to a cake pan when baking.  It assists to make removal of the finished candle from the candle making mold much easier.  Actually, if you do not have a mold release, you might substitute vegetable oil -- it works nearly as well!  If you have got some vegetable oil spray . . . well, this is even better!
Wax Glue

This is used to apply designs, embellishments and other pieces of wax to the sides of your candles.
Wick Tabs
These are thin metallic bases which you fix to the bottom of your wick if the wick is untabbed.  An untabbed wick, by the way, is simply a candle wick that is missing that thin metal base which helps keep it in the candle and helps it to stand upright.

Usually used in votive and container candles, the tabs are also used in candle making molds that don't have a hole in the bottom.
Fire Extinguisher

Yes!  A fire extinguisher.  It's better to be safe than sorry.  Hopefully, you will never need to use it.  But for safetys sake please be cautious and have one close by.