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Making candles is similar to cooking in many ways,
and, as with cooking, there is the potential element of messiness,
and the possibility of unforseen accidents. To cut down on these, and
to be ready for any eventuality, please read the following carefully.
Always wear old clothes, cover work surfaces with newspaper and move
or cover rugs and carpets.
- Keep a pile of old newspapers close by in case of spillage.
- Always give yourself plenty of room to work in and keep your
work space clean and tidy.
- Have all the materials and equipment to hand for whatever
project you are working on.
- Keep all equipment clean and keep unused materials in
containers away from dust and dirt.
- ALWAYS keep fire extinguisher within reach.
USING WAX
When using wax, treat it as you
would cooking oil. Below 200F it is fairly safe. Higher than
this it is likely to catch fire as the wax is turning to vapor.
Remember wax will not boil just continue to get hotter and hotter.
Always place your thermometer in the saucepan at the beginning of
the melting process. This will not only ensure your reading is
accurate, but will prevent you inadvertently overheating the wax.
Only fill melting pot
2/3 full with wax - you will have to move the hot wax at
some point to fill containers or molds. Make sure
that the wax level is low enough that it does not
splash out of the pot.
Keep handles turned away
from the edge of the stove so they do not catch on clothing or the pot doesn't get
accidentally knocked off the stove.
Never leave melting wax unattended.
If you notice your
melting wax is beginning to "smoke", cover the pot with a tight
fitting lid as the wax may begin to flame at any time, turn off the
element and let the wax cool down on it’s own. NEVER ATTEMPT TO
MOVE A SMOKING OR FLAMING POT OF LIQUID WAX.
After use, do not be tempted to pour excess
molten wax down the sink as it will set and block your pipes.
Instead, if it's hard wax pour it into an old baking tray and cut
into cubes before it hardens. This can be used to make chunk
candles at a later date. Or, if it's soft wax pour excess into tea
light cup and use as a sample.
it is not recommended to make candles when children are
present.
IN CASE OF SPILLAGE
For wax on carpets and items of clothing: Scrape off the excess wax
and remove the rest by placing a paper towel over the stained area
and pressing with a hot iron. This will transfer the wax to the
towel.
For wax on metal or plastic objects: Place in the freezer for an
hour to make the wax brittle. It then becomes easy to simply
crumble the hardened wax away. Alternatively, dip the object into
boiling water and allow the wax to melt and float to the surface.
SHOULD THE WORST HAPPEN...
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Switch off the heat
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Do not move the pan
-
Extinguish a fire
that may occur by smothering the flames with a saucepan lid or damp
cloth/towel or using an ABC rated, Dry Chemical Fire
Extinguisher
-
On no account attempt to douse with water.
This will only spread the fire.
If you have further questions on how to deal with the possibility
of a paraffin wax fire, be sure to contact your local fire
department for more information.
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