topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 A recent question was about the possibility of making candles out of 100% stearic acid.The candles we make out of natural waxes have a very large proportion of stearic acid, including soy wax. Vegetable derived stearic is usually palm wax. The palm wax that's sold for making candles is a specialty blend of palm stearic with other ingredients to adjust hardness, melting point, and surface finish.So making a candle out of 100% stearic acid, while it doesn't produce an optimal candle, isn't nearly as crazy as it may sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 After that introduction you might think I was going to make a candle out of palm stearic, but I happen to have an excess of the stearic derived from melted-down animals so I went with that instead. I call it a crystallizing cow wax candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 Success! It makes fire!I wicked this with CDN 14. We need something that has the chemical treatment for use in natural waxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 Well at least it works for an hour, in this case. Then the wick fizzled out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 So Top, this is plain old stearic with a little color added..nothing else?? It is pretty but then all your candles are...but you already know that;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRC06301983 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 thats a pretty slick looking candle...Top I would be especially appreciative if you keep me informed of how the burn goes, what wick, size candle, etc...I really like the way that one looks.What was your mold and wax pour temp?Is this a natural look for stearic no matter how you pour?obviously its strong enough for a pillar, possibly for a hurricane as well...hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 So Top, this is plain old stearic with a little color added..nothing else?? It is pretty but then all your candles are...but you already know that;)100% animal stearic with a some cherry color block. Thanks for the compliment, but I only accept it in behalf of the cow that gave its life for this experiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 but I happen to have an excess of the stearic derived from melted-down animals so I went with that instead. I call it a crystallizing cow wax candle.Umm.. you keep dead cows laying around the basement waiting to be melted down?? And just how do you melt down a cow?? Very pretty, BTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRC06301983 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 wait, you don't have a dead cow in your basement satin?uhhh...neither...uhh...do I....nope...nuh uh...no cow here...so uhh...yeah anyway I'm gonna go look for my blowtorch now...just so I...uh... know where it is...yeah...just keepin it handy...just in case uhh...I get attacked by a..uh...creme broulet...yeah...a creme broulet...Hey, totally unrelated to the cow in the basement thing, oddly enough I'm having a run on animal based stearic acid if anyone wants a slice... I mean piece...err chunk...dang it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 thats a pretty slick looking candle...Top I would be especially appreciative if you keep me informed of how the burn goes, what wick, size candle, etc...I really like the way that one looks.What was your mold and wax pour temp?Is this a natural look for stearic no matter how you pour?obviously its strong enough for a pillar, possibly for a hurricane as well...hmmm...To tell ya the truth, I don't intend to burn it any further. Guess I could swap out the wick and try some more, but this was just for kicks and education and I have other things to do.The stearic was poured at 200 degrees or a touch higher into a 2 1/2 x 3 tin mold. Straight stearic crystallizes upon cooling as far as I know. If you like the effect you should visit Candlewic.com and check out their palm waxes. You can maybe make something more practical with one of those specialty blends versus straight stearic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'm sure this will further along the naive line of my questions, but makes no difference to me Just where do you get "melted-down" cow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'm sure this will further along the naive line of my questions, but makes no difference to me Just where do you get "melted-down" cow?The regular non-veggie stearic is derived from animal tallow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I think your candle is "udderly" beautiful!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcroome2005 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Ohhh Top, I used to like you.. But keeping dead cows around to experiment.. Well, ya just lost me .. hehehe LMFAOChristina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceCarvesWax Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Sounds like a bunch of bull.....errrrrrr cow to me. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CranberryGirl Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Ok dumb question!? Is steric acid the same as sterine?Sorry I know it is a silly question..Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcroome2005 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Ok dumb question!? Is steric acid the same as sterine?Sorry I know it is a silly question..ThanksI do not know the answer because I am DUMB!!! LOL So I can't help you on that but just a reminder that there is no silly question :-)Christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRC06301983 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 stearic acid is the same as stearin wax which is what I believe you were referring to cranberry. additionally most palm wax from what I am coming to understand, is mostly stearic acid. There is the stearic acid/stearin wax derived from animal fat/tallow which top used in his experiments and we add to candles to strengthen etc... also there is a palm stearic acid/stearin wax which is pretty much just palm wax from what I'm gathering. I had that exact same question myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CranberryGirl Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Thank U LRC for explaining that!!! DCroome Ur Not dumb!I thought That is what Top did..We did this same candle in a votive many years ago...I was wondering if it was the same thing we tried...hehehehe that is to funny! Top, the way your wick drowned out was the same thing that happend to us! The crystals are the Bomb though! Such a pritty texture! Cool test! I had forgotten that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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