Quentin Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 To those of you who make lots and lots of candles: Could you list a piece or two of candle making equipment or tools that you simply couldn't do without? List as many as you like. Thanks. Q 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franu61 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I don't make lots and lots, but I can't live without my presto pot. I DID start out, double boiling to melt wax, and was thrilled when I got my presto. SO much easier and quicker. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Presto/melter, heat gun, stir stick, pour pots, molds, and my griddle. All of them are a MUST for me. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerven Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Scale, Presto pot, silicone spoon/spoonula (two or three), three pour pots (one small and two large), wick holders, measuring cup/scoop (anything to scoop flakes with), infrared thermometer. Do gloves count? I use a lot of disposable nitrile gloves. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Scale!! yes, a scale is crucial. Can't believe I forgot that. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) Presto, pouring cups (preference is clear), scale, bamboo/chop sticks, dull knife, heat gun, tilter, wick pins, spoon and fork are optional, plenty of molds, shot glass sized measuring glasses, paper towels and aluminum foil for the most part. Not sure what else I'm forgetting. Edited February 16, 2018 by Scented 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 5 hours ago, Scented said: Presto, pouring cups (preference is clear), scale, bamboo/chop sticks, dull knife, heat gun, tilter, wick pins, spoon and fork are optional, plenty of molds, shot glass sized measuring glasses, paper towels and aluminum foil for the most part. Not sure what else I'm forgetting. hey scented....what's a tilter?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quentin Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share Posted February 17, 2018 Great information. Thanks y'all. The big takeaway seems to be that almost everyone mentions their Presto. Are we talking about just your regular old Presto deep fryer? If so, how do you move the wax to the mold or container? Is this a special type of Presto? 2 hours ago, Sunday said: hey scented....what's a tilter?? Yeah, what's a tilter? Q 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) Well it's a piece of equipment I use to make uniform angles with my pillars. It's a metal plate that sits atop a treated wooden base. The plate is used to tilt my molds at different degrees. It has rods attached to the plate for the molds to rest against. Some people use rice or sand in a box to do their tilting. What I use allows me to make up to 7 candles close to identical depending on how much I pour. Edited February 17, 2018 by Scented 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Ohhh Ok I understand...very clever!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerven Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) It is the Presto fryer. Some people modify theirs to add a faucet. The guide at candletech.com appears to still be available: here You can purchase them already modified. I found mine (5qt, I believe) on Etsy from AmericanChandler. It didn't have a ball valve with lever handle - just a regular turn handle, which was a bit of a con since it gets so hot, but I make do. Edited February 17, 2018 by Kerven 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clear Black Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 (edited) 19 hours ago, Kerven said: It is the Presto fryer. Some people modify theirs to add a faucet. The guide at candletech.com appears to still be available: here You can purchase them already modified. I found mine (5qt, I believe) on Etsy from AmericanChandler. It didn't have a ball valve with lever handle - just a regular turn handle, which was a bit of a con since it gets so hot, but I make do. You can go to your local Home Depot or Lowes and replace that ball valve with a 90* elbow valve. They come with a rubber handle to avoid getting scorched and cost no more than a few dollars. Get some silicone tape, apply to the threads and then re-thread into presto pot. Would take you all of 10 minutes maybe after getting ball valve out Your best bet is to remove the current valve and take it with you. Someone at the home center can match the thread size and get you a proper valve with insulated turn lever Edited February 18, 2018 by Clear Black 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 On 2/16/2018 at 10:35 PM, Scented said: Well it's a piece of equipment I use to make uniform angles with my pillars. It's a metal plate that sits atop a treated wooden base. The plate is used to tilt my molds at different degrees. It has rods attached to the plate for the molds to rest against. Some people use rice or sand in a box to do their tilting. What I use allows me to make up to 7 candles close to identical depending on how much I pour. I use a piece of 2x4 wood with "V" cut in it to tilt my molds. Scented: anyway you can post a pic? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinPA Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 On 2/17/2018 at 12:35 AM, Scented said: Well it's a piece of equipment I use to make uniform angles with my pillars. It's a metal plate that sits atop a treated wooden base. The plate is used to tilt my molds at different degrees. It has rods attached to the plate for the molds to rest against. Some people use rice or sand in a box to do their tilting. What I use allows me to make up to 7 candles close to identical depending on how much I pour. Hey Julie, how the heck have you been? It's been a while since I logged on here. How's that tilter working for you? In case anyone is wondering, I made the tilter for Julie. I checked into getting a patent, but it's a complicated and expensive process, so I gave up on going through that ordeal. Of course the price of materials has risen but I still have the drawings and patterns for making them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 (edited) 36 minutes ago, SteveinPA said: Hey Julie, how the heck have you been? It's been a while since I logged on here. How's that tilter working for you? In case anyone is wondering, I made the tilter for Julie. I checked into getting a patent, but it's a complicated and expensive process, so I gave up on going through that ordeal. Of course the price of materials has risen but I still have the drawings and patterns for making them. I love it still ... better than the first one, but I want a bigger one of course lol! hOW IN the world are yoU? Do you care if I satisfy Pam's curiosity with a pix? Edited February 18, 2018 by Scented 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinPA Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 39 minutes ago, Scented said: I love it still ... better than the first one, but I want a bigger one of course lol! hOW IN the world are yoU? Do you care if I satisfy Pam's curiosity with a pix? I'm still surviving. Yeah, you can satisfy Pam's curiosity. Who knows, maybe I can make some more of them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Melter, thermometer, scales, heat gun, griddle pan, pour pots, wood spoons, wick centering tools. Can't remember the name of those paint scraper thingies but I have a small one to scrape up wax spills, lots of paper towels, small plastic cups to hold and measure fragrance, plus I also use hot pad holders sometimes. My most important safety equipment is my respirator. I also wear old clothes that cover my arms, legs, feet, when I make candles. I don't use gloves for candlemaking, but they would be a good idea to use if you spill wax a lot or canl't handle wax spilled on your hands or accidentally touching molten wax. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas251 Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 This is the equipment i use when candle making, hope this helps! I was also wondering what type of thermometers everyone uses? (Infrared or candy thermometers) Presto Pot (without spigot) Aluminum Pour Pot Scale Wooden chop sticks (for mixing wax and fragrance oil) Heat gun (for smoothing finished candles, if needed.) Aluminum Wick Holders Glue dots (for holding the wick to the jar) Thermometer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, Midas251 said: I was also wondering what type of thermometers everyone uses? (Infrared or candy thermometers) I personally don't take temps anymore, and haven't for a very long time. However, just a word of advice, if using an infrared, make sure you stir your wax when taking temps, because those type of thermometers only take the surface temp which potentially could be significantly cooler than the temp below the surface. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Ok....let's see - Melter - 4 Pour pots ( I need to get some more ordered) - 4 Small porcelain pots to do repours - Wooden skewers for stirring - Thermometer - All my many cat food plastic containers (the yellow Meow Mix) - Wooden dowel for wick threader - Paper towels - Paper grocery bags to line counters - Scale - Rags to put on scale to protect the finish - Tons of wick stickums - Uv Trappeur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 no thermometer JC? Now you have me curious? Please don't tell me you dip your finger in 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 She is such an old hand at this, I wouldn't be surprised if she says she does use her finger! lol Trappeur 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 55 minutes ago, Sunday said: no thermometer JC? Now you have me curious? Please don't tell me you dip your finger in LOL No. I work with paraffin where temps are not as picky as they are with other waxes, so what I do is set my presto to 190, melt my wax, then pour it into my warmed pour pots, stir in my RT scent and color. By that time, my pour pot is comfortably warm to the palm of my hand, and I pour. Sometimes with my pillars I wait a bit longer to pour because if the wax is too hot it will leak slightly through my wicking apparatus. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 53 minutes ago, Trappeur said: She is such an old hand at this, I wouldn't be surprised if she says she does use her finger! lol Trappeur LOL I have tried to do a paraffin dip with my wax, but all it did was make a mess. Won't be doing that anymore. Oh and I should add, when recommending the "how to's" to new chandlers, I never recommend to not use a thermometer. I have just found in my applications, with the wax I use, it is not necessary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 (edited) Same here. Quit using a thermometer some years back. I have one on hand in case but I've been making the same candles for so long I know the temp is just where I want it each step of the way. Also would not recommend not using an accurate thermometer until you have enough experience behind you you know exactly what the wax temp is every step of the way. Also, depends on what wax you use and how many temp variations you do during your candlemaking process. If I had more variations I may still be using a thermometer. BTW-- I only used one of the cheapie glass thermometors you can buy from most candle suppliers. I think they are about $5-6 dollars. I have a candy thermometer too and also a meat thermometer. Never bought an infrared or digital one. A simple cheap one works fine. No I haven't dipped my fingers in the wax.... oh wait.... I think I did once? Not on purpose thou. LOL Edited March 5, 2018 by Candybee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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