The different types of candle making molds that are available to buy to make candles at home are almost as endless as the amount of different candles out there. Since candle making is a popular hobby and many people buy candles for their homes, a variety of candle making molds are available on the market.
The container in which wax is poured in while it cools is called the candle mold. The wax will hold the shape of the mold when it has cooled completely. There are various shapes and sizes of candle making molds available. They also offer a variety of different uses.
A very popular type of mold that candle makers use are aluminum molds. They are durable and heat resistant. Plus, they leave a smooth finish without leaving any seams in the finished candle. This provides the candles with the appearance of a professionally made product. These types of metal molds are widely used in making votive and pillar candles. There are also cheaper than rubber candle making molds.
A plus about aluminum molds is that they are easy to clean. All you have to do is put them on a baking sheet in the oven. By placing them upside down and heating them to about 150 degrees the leftover wax will melt and run out of the mold onto the cookie sheet. Just remember to line your cookie sheet. The downside to aluminum candle making molds is that they are not flexible so there are very little choices when it comes to varying the shapes or textures of the candles and that they require a releasing agent to get the candle out of the mold.
On the other hand, rubber candle making molds like polyurethane, silicone, or latex molds are very flexible. Polyurethane molds are flexible but they do not stretch well. Rubber molds are usually less expensive than silicone ones. The disadvantage of a rubber mold is that, they pass a strong odor to the candle and will also require a releasing agent to separate the candle from the mold. These molds are often used for making pillar and taper candles.
Silicone molds are another type of rubber mold. They are the most expensive candle making molds because of their outstanding qualities. They leave no parting lines; they are flexible but also stretchable to a point so getting the candles out of the molds is easier and requires no releasing agent.
Although latex molds used to be used very often, with the advances in other types of rubber molds they are losing their luster. However, making your candle making molds molds at home is easy, by using liquid latex and painting it onto a structure. This process requires a lot of coats of latex but, the options of different types of unique molds are endless.
The cheapest kind of candle molds is the plastic mold but it is not the best. They are brittle and hence, their lifespan is limited. The ease of cleaning plastic candle making molds is an advantage, though. All you need to use is some warm water and a little soap. Take note that the mold should be completely dry in order to avoid getting water bubbles in your candles. They are good molds for beginners but if you were to take your candle making hobby to the next level and turn it into a business you are probably going to have to invest in different types of molds.