Advice please? Setup for 11 year old newbie?

[Even]

Hi there,

 

My daughter fell in love with candle dipping at camp, and asked for her own setup.

I am a crafter, but I have very little candle dipping experience.

I'd love any advice you have to offer that may help me avoid possible pitfalls!

 

She's a responsible girl but I'd like to help her create the safest freestanding (not on our stove) home setup possible with space for several colors.

I'm planning to start very basic.  I'm assuming parrafin wax (though I'm open to advice!) with solid dye and no fragrance.

I've think I've narrowed it down to a presto pot (7" deep) or a 4" deep Nesco electric skillet. 

In either case, I'm planning to use narrow(ish) jars or tins to hold the was so she can have 3-4 colors melted at a time.

Does this sound realistic?
Am I on the right track?

All insight will be MUCH appreciated!

Presto pot:  https://www.amazon.com/d/Small-Kitchen-Appliances/Presto-Options-Electric-Multi-Cooker-Steamer/B00005OTXY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1544509321&sr=1-1&keywords=presto+pot

 

Electric skillet:   https://www.amazon.com/Nesco-ES-12-Electric-Skillet-12-Inch/dp/B01I4SI4O8/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1544505453&sr=1-5&keywords=deep+electric+skillet

[TallTayl]

Presto pots work well for short candles. They take an astonishing amount of wax to fill to a decent dipping level, so I usually need two - one to dip in and another  to melt wax to refill the dip tank.

 

if you can find a seamless metal container that fits into the presto you can get a bit more height. The presto then becomes a double boiler. I’ve melted wax in tall pour pots for dipping one or two candles at a time. 

[Even]

Hi TallTayl, 

Love your avatar! 
Thanks for the tip RE: melted backup wax!

Yes!  I was thinking I'd use the presto pot as a double boiler.
I'm wondering what we should use as a dipping pot that won't require as much wax, and will allow us to melt several colors at a time.

Do you think a mould (like the tall one below) would be a good container?

I'm not sure what to look for in a container.  Does glass work?

 

[TallTayl]

I would stick to metal for safety and durability. 

 

A coffee can can work if the seam holds and ( and if it does and it does not rust).

 

those molds could work if you can really seal the wick holes. You don’t want thenholes to spring a leak and spill wax into the water or vice verse.  JB weld might do the trick. You’ll only get a couple dips out of a small melt container. The wax that holds onto the dipped candle takes more than we first think, so easily refilling will be important if making more than one or two at a time. 

 

Sounds like a fun project. 

 

 

[Even]

JB Weld is another great tip.

Thank you!

 

[Even]

JB Weld is another great tip.

Thank you!

Do you know how far the can can extend beyond the top of the boiling water?

 

 

Edited December 11, 2018 by Even

[TallTayl]

1 hour ago, Even said:

JB Weld is another great tip.

Thank you!

Do you know how far the can can extend beyond the top of the boiling water?

 

 

In my main dip tank right now i use a very tall 6 gallon steel pail. It extends halfway above the water mark with no problem. Especially if I keep it covered between dips.