My wife likes burning candles but neither one of us can see paying $10 or more for those pillar candles that look nice in the fireplace. Our solution? Clearance candles at the big stores and craft stores are often 90% off or more after season. Our last batch we got from JoAnn Fabrics, candy striped candles originally $12 were going for $0.99 you just can’t go wrong.

One other place we’ve picked up some cheap candles is rummage sales. People ditch half burned or even new candles for pennies on the dollar.

Here comes the fun part!

After the wick is burned gone, the candle has collapsed or burned uneven there is this big chunk of wax left over. We save the chunks and bits and bobs in a box in the closet. When there is enough in there to do something with we start melting. How do we know when there is enough? We are running out of candles in the fireplace.

All the bits and bobs, uneven burned, wick gone but still wax, everything goes into the pot. Once it is all melted we use a metal strainer to filter out all the left over wick and other crud. If we want to stop there, the cleared wax is poured into a glass bowl until it is hardened, then it pops out and goes back in the wax box.

At that same craft store that we found the clearance candles is also products for making your own candles. My wife has found using the wick with a wire center holds up better, and the little metal bases that you put the wick in and squeeze to hold it. Maybe if I’m ambitious I’ll find the technical terms for this stuff.

On the shelf there was also “professional candle mold”s. We even bought one. Thankfully it was with the occasional “50% off one regular priced item” coupon that comes in the mail, because that piece of … piece of… well it doesn’t work for squat.

What works? Pop cans with the tops cut off, malt extract cans after I brew or any other straight sided vessel works fine for a candle. The wax must shrink just enough for it to glide on out.

If the new candle is big, as it cools it also collapses a little so we have to heat up more wax and pour a little more in the center to balance it out. Sometimes she even has to poke holes a little in there before topping it up, but over all it is fairly easy to get new candles from spent remains.

But wait, it gets better! We also like having fires in the back yard fire pit. My old Boy Scout days came back and I remembered a cool fire starter, sawdust and melted wax poured into empty egg cartons! Then when its time to start a fire cut out one pod, pile up your scraps and twigs, light the fire starter and away we go!

Peace,
Tony

Warning: NEVER POUR MELTED WAX DOWN THE DRAIN. Just don’t do that, it won’t be saving money. Plumbers aren’t cheap.

Another hint, use a dedicated set of utensils, pot and strainer because, while it can be cleaned, it is a pain.