Candle Making Molds – What to Buy?

PVC molds

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) molds can be easily purchased at candle supply stores at many craft stores and, of course, online. You can buy one-piece molds in several standard shapes: cylinder, rectangular prism, square-based pyramid, etc. There are also two-piece molds that are joined together to cut off leaks. Once the wax hardens, simply undo the clips, gently separate the pieces from the mold, and you have a candle.

PVC is a good material for making molds in your own home as it is strong, durable, heat resistant, and easy to wash. I consider PVC to be a very strong mold and I prefer it when working with children because even if the mold falls off, it is unlikely to break. The smooth PVC offers a flawless finish on the molded sail. Really, the only downside I’ve noticed with PVC is that the mold is opaque, which means you can’t see your candle before you take it out of the mold.

I especially love the way I can easily create some basic abutment molds with just a quick trip to my home improvement store. When creating candles in your own home it is very important to save cash, read on to learn more about this later.

Polycarbonate molds

Polycarbonate molds are extremely popular. They are also available in one piece for sails of common shapes and in two pieces for more complex and detailed sails. You will notice that sometimes intricate two-piece molds have a gasket to cut off leaks. You can also find some good polycarbonate trays to produce shaped floating candle sets. In general, I have discovered a wider variety of molds in polycarbonate than in PVC, but polycarbonate is usually a bit more expensive.

Polycarbonate is an excellent mold material for home candle production as it is strong and heat resistant and easy to clean like PVC. In fact, I think I am more careful with my polycarbonate molds as they are not as strong as my basic one piece PVC molds. Smooth polycarbonate offers a fantastic finish on a molded sail. An excellent advantage when working with polycarbonate is that you can see your candle because the mold is transparent.

Aluminum molds

The aluminum molds are one piece, seamless and create a fantastic pillar sail. Using a single piece means that there are no seams to trim after removing the candle from the mold and the aluminum has a perfect release. You’ll find aluminum molds at candle supply stores, online, and at many craft stores. They are probably better suited for the candle maker planning to run a business, rather than the occasional hobbyist who makes occasional candles at home. I discovered retail aluminum molds at a higher price than polycarbonate molds. Again, aluminum is opaque so you can’t see the candle before you take it out of the mold. Having said that, I don’t consider this to be a problem at all.

Polyurethane molds

Polyurethane molds are sturdy and easy to use. You can buy standard conical molds in polyurethane, as well as quite decorative pillars and shaped candles. The creators of the molds are able to include great detail in these molds. They are extremely durable and will definitely work for countless spills. Polyurethane molds are generally one-piece with a side slit, however some are two-piece with minimal seams due to their excellent design. Insert the wick through the hole in the base of the mold.

While there are many good things about polyurethane, if you are just starting out to make candles or are just a home candle hobbyist, polyurethane candles are an expensive investment. Before you buy one, you should make sure that you use that mold many times to get enough value for your outlay.

Silicone molds

Silicone is a bit like the new kid on the street in the candle making field. Silicone molds made from high-quality silicone rubber will last through countless pourings, if properly cared for. Silicone molds are fantastic and are available in a wide range of wonderful shapes. You can find molds to create a candle with the same shape as a cupcake, a banana split, a cinnamon roll, a flower, a dog, you get the idea! Silicone molds allow you to make candles with incredibly fine details. However, before you get too excited, they are also quite expensive. For the hobbyist who makes candles at home, you should be sure to use the mold many times to receive enough value for your financial outlay. Having said that, I can’t resist them as the range is extensive and the candles created look so realistic.

Besides cost, the only problem with silicone would be the need to handle it more carefully. Silicone can last for countless candles, however you need to be very careful not to tear it and you also need to make sure you care for it properly. Silicone molds should be kept out of sunlight, washed and dried thoroughly after use, and care should be taken when storing for extended periods.

If you are making candles at home as a hobbyist, what do you need to buy?

I guess that will depend on where you are in your candle making company. If you are just starting to make candles at home, you really can’t go wrong using a PVC, polycarbonate, or aluminum mold in a basic standard shape such as a cylinder, cube, or hexagonal prism. The one you choose will be determined by availability and your budget. I recommend that you start with a basic one-piece mold and as your experience develops, move on to two-piece and more decorative molds.

Suppose you do not have the means to buy molds. You will find a lot of DIY options, the truth is that I have made use of milk cartons, silicone cupcake trays, ice cube trays, card stock to make prism nets and I have made my own basic PVC pillar mold to starting a trip to the home improvement store. You can quickly and easily make PVC molds from PVC pipe and end cap. Simply glue the end cap onto the length of the PVC pipe and drill a wick hole in the center of the end cap. You can make a candle mold from any material that can withstand the heat of the wax and will not drip when you put hot wax on it.

In general, have fun making candles and use your creativity to experiment with possible mold materials if purchasing a mold is out of your budget at the moment.