Candle water baths

[Gardener]

Hi there trying to make my own candle dipping station have my basin it's 36"x24"x14" deep my cans are 9" tall for the wax. My ? Is what size heating element to heat the water bath do u think I need for the water to keep the wax melted enough to dip in the colors, also what temp do you keep the water bath during the whole time dipping yr candles into the colors thanks any help would be appreciated gardener

[TallTayl]

Here is what I do using my water jacket melter. 

 

The melter is two basin, square, holding 25 lbs each. When melting directly inside the melter (to melt the full amount of wax) I set the water jacket temp to the temp I want to keep the wax, adjusting as needed since the thermo dial is not 100% accurate.

 

when using the melter to keep a hot water bath (such as for dipping smaller amounts of colored wax), I keep that thermostat the same, add hot water inside the melter and set the dipping pot inside the water bath. Your water needs to be at least as hot as you want the wax to end at. The whole pot, wax, water will end up at the same temp. 

 

I find the submerged pot needs to be at least half half way up the side of the inside pot to keep things warm.

 

the melter is double walled, with thermostat screwed inside the water jacketed outside housing. You might be able to mimic this using a pail warmer available at ag supply houses. These are not designed to be run for long periods of time, though. 

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Premier-Line-742G-Submersible/dp/B000BDB4UG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1516040207&sr=8-3&keywords=submersible+bucket+heater

 

Could also purchase the actual water jacket heater elements used to repair water jacket melters. You have to be super careful with them. Operating without sufficient water will burn them out very quickly. 

 

I was thinking of trying to macguyver a water jacket melter, but my sensibilities kicked in. These types of projects usually cost me more in the long run than buying second hand equipment in good repair. 

[Jcandleattic]

22 hours ago, Gardener said:

Hi there trying to make my own candle dipping station have my basin it's 36"x24"x14" deep my cans are 9" tall for the wax. My ? Is what size heating element to heat the water bath do u think I need for the water to keep the wax melted enough to dip in the colors, also what temp do you keep the water bath during the whole time dipping yr candles into the colors thanks any help would be appreciated gardener

When I dip to carve, I don't heat my water bath water, but keep it at room temp, but the water that my wax vats are in is right around a steady 200 ish I believe. It's been a long time since I've carved so I can't remember off the top of my head. I love carving and I'm hoping to get organized enough to start up again this summer. 

[Wickkedwixx]

I have used water baths before with no problems but for some reason one of my recent ones got water all inside of the candle.. like the wick absorbed it. How do I prevent that from happening?