Traditionally, candles are lit to create a special mood and surroundings.It is an indispensable attribute of the family or a romantic evening, and the atmosphere in which there is a flame of fire, always cozy and romantic.
addition to the direct appointment, candles are used as interior decoration.They give it a special personality, and if chosen with taste and refinement that.
History candles
Historians believe that the first candles were in ancient Egypt, they were made of papyrus, which had previously been dipped in fat.
Much later, in China, Japan and India, in the manufacture of candles began to use wax.However, it was extracted from insects and plants.But the most common material for a long time remained exactly the fat that mercilessly smoked and smelled unpleasant.
In the XVIII century as a raw material used for candles viscous substance that is extracted from the head of the whale, and only in the XIX century opened paraffin.
Gel candles
Recently acquired a well-deserved popularity of gel candles.The shape of the gel does not hold, and fills in, so this is different from the classic paraffin candle analogue primarily candlestick.As it can be used in small vases, wine glasses and wine glasses.Gel candles economical burn much longer without smoke and smoking.
And besides, they are stunningly beautiful!Depending on the size of the container, it can be created within the entire decorative compositions, whether the seabed or outlandish garden.
vessel, which is filled with a gel, decorated with all sorts of ways:
- artificial flowers, statues or figurines;
- elements of marine decoration, as that may make multi-colored sand, shells, stones, starfish;
- dried pieces of fruit, such as orange or lemon, cinnamon sticks and spices, coffee beans;
- all kinds of beads, beads, glass stones;
- sequins.
gel candles can be scented.
His hands
master the manufacturing process itself can help the master class.Gel candles , decorated according to the occasion, serve as a wonderful gift.It will be the exclusive, because the product is made in a single copy.
For lovers of handicrafts manufacturing gel candles will be another hobby into a piggy bank or a nice occasion and to spend time with children.And if you take this seriously, you will have the opportunity to exhibit their crafts for sale.
candle on the basis of the finished gel
To start analyze how to make gel candles with their hands from purchased material - a transparent jelly-like cleaner gel from natural ingredients.You can purchase it in specialized shops for creativity.
Manufacturing technology is reduced to heat the gel to a liquid state and filling the prepared form.
notes, the necessary materials and tools
gel is very important not to overheat, otherwise it becomes cloudy.The melting temperature is about 60-80 degrees.Heat must be simmered, you can in a water bath - so less likely that the gel will burn.
as containers for candles best suited Glassware - it must be clear, clean and dry wiped.On the walls of the small picture can be present.It is not necessary to use a container with a narrow neck: firstly, there is difficult to pour the gel, and secondly, the walls should not be heated by the flame, so as not to burst, so the diameter of the neck must be at least 5 cm. Before pouring gel dishes recommendwarm up a bit - so it does not burst from the temperature difference.
wick is easier to buy a ready-made, reinforced and better, which keeps its shape, and you can remove it from the usual candles, carefully cut the paraffin.But if you decide to make gel candles with their hands, try to make yourself and the wick.
Even as materials need tweezers, heat-resistant glassware for heating the gel.
dyes are added, if you want to master the production of gel candles of different colors.You can use a special food coloring gel or saturated colors, which diluted basis during the heating.
decor must be chosen heat-resistant - they must withstand the temperature of the molten gel.
How to wick to wick
suitable natural fiber such as cotton or linen.Originally it looks colored, for example, sewing.Check whether it is natural, easy, if you set fire to the tip of the thread.If the lights - the material is suitable and if melted, then no.
Next you need to twist the thread, and it is important to calculate the thickness.Too thick a wick forms a large flame that melts the gel around if a small candle.A thin, respectively, will be giving a small fire that will fade.
To make gel candles with their hands, require thin threads and tight weave.Alternatively, you can braid plait or tie a chain hook.But there is no exact recipe.The wick should be impregnated with a solution of 2 tablespoons of salt and 4 tablespoons of borax dissolved in hot water capacity of 1.5 liters.Filaments are soaked for 15 minutes and thoroughly dried.Then, it is necessary to immerse the wick once a molten wax or paraffin and then dried.
Step One
Fill the prepared container, which will serve as candle holders, decorative elements.Of course, it all depends on the imagination of the author, but it is necessary to consider a few things:
- have "treasures" at the bottom of the better closer to the walls of the vessel, so they can best be seen;
- decorative elements can be glued, then they will not emerge;
- distance from the wick to the decorative elements should be at least one centimeter.
Step Two
If the gel is melted in a water bath, then in a large container with a flat bottom should pour water and put on a plate.Already in its place a small container in which the gel is heated.It is very oily to the touch, so we shift it with a spoon, once again not to get dirty.It is necessary to ensure that the container is not exposed to water, otherwise the gel will deteriorate, and all the work will be in vain.
Direct manufacturing gel candles are starting to heat the substrate.Stir with a spoon until it dissolve all lumps, making sure not to boil.After the gel has become liquid, gently trickle fill the bottom of the form as long as the decorations are not be covered completely.Give gel grips.
now necessary to fix the wick, for that it can be tied to the end of a pencil or a squeeze between disposable wooden chopsticks for sushi, before they broke in half.This construction should be placed on the upper rim of the container is strictly middle.
third step
gel cools very quickly, so it must be heated again.It is possible to add aromatic oil except roses.
Do you want to learn how to make gel candle color?It's time to add the dye, but do not put it too much, so that the color does not get dark.Fill a second layer of gel.And if he touched up, you get a two-color candle.Using several colors, it is possible to make multi-colored.
adding color gel is not yet frozen first layer can create interesting effects: injecting gel using a medical syringe as balls or move inside it, creating a spiral.The form in which the gel candle, made with his own hands, has not yet frozen, you can rotate and turn.This technique allows one to move in a different color.
fourth step
How to make gel candles with their hands, in which the decorative elements will "float"?When the second layer has non-liquid, but not frozen, it's time to sink into the plastic beads or figurines to simulate a fish aquarium.
Gel hot, and not to burn yourself, decorative items should be placed or moved with tweezers.If a reinforced wick, it should also be installed in virtually frozen gel.After a few hours, cut the tip of the wick.Candle ready!
gel Make yourself
So, we told how to make gel candles with their hands.Recipes craftsmen and contain information about how to cook a basis for candles.
This requires gelatin, glycerin and tannin.The last two ingredients you can buy at the pharmacy.For
colorless gel should add 10 g of gelatin to 40 ml of water and left to swell, there is added 50 grams of glycerol.This mixture should be heated over low heat until dissolved ingredients, but do not boil.
While the first composition cools, prepare the second.To 20 g of this mix of hot glycerol and 4 g of tannin.If the solution is turbid, you can restore the transparency of boiling.Then add the mixture into one another and get a gel that can be used for pouring candles.
with air bubbles and no
During heating the gel formed air bubbles.They can keep and even increase their number, if you actively whisk to stir the gel.
How to make gel candle without bubbles?It happens that they are not necessary, but it's still there.Put the finished candle in a warm oven or on a sunny windowsill - the heat once the air is gone.The preheating container also prevents the formation of bubbles.
Interesting ideas
Want to make unique gel candles with your own hands?Photo showing interesting findings will help in this.
gel stained yellow dye and whisk, then pour looks like champagne, especially as candlestick glass of select high.
And if, in addition to a transparent gel, use a white wax melted, it can be a souvenir mug.
Place fir twig, a few bumps in the gel - get a great Christmas candle.To make it sparkle, finely chopped or tinsel rain Stir in hot gel.
Originality will be different each candle, because to repeat it would be virtually impossible.
