‘Why are my soy wax/beeswax candles cracking?’ is arguably the most commonly asked question by homemade candle makers. Let’s examine the numerous causes of the cracks and how to fix them as well!
REASON 1: THE CANDLE COOLED TOO QUICKLY
Your candles' surface cracking is most often caused by cooling them too quickly. We know that sometimes you'll desire to speed up the procedure to create your candles more quickly. This reason is the most likely one if you are making them in countries like the United Arab Emirates where AC usage is very prevalent leading to quicker cooling of the candles.
SOLUTION: Simply allow it to cool down a bit more gradually. Maintaining a steady temperature in the room is necessary to keep your candles at room temperature.
REASON 2: YOU FREEZE THEM
SOLUTION: Always keep your candles away from the freezer. By freezing them, they will become brittle and will most likely break.
REASON 3: TEMPERATURES THAT ARE EXTREME (TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW)
In this case, using a thermometer is critical to maintaining the proper temperature. If the pour is too hot or cold, you may end up with surface cracks. If you don’t have one, get it here!
SOLUTION: The room temperature in which you are working may necessitate some experimentation, so you may need to adjust the heat by +/- 5° to find the ideal setting. Pouring at a slightly higher temperature usually yields the best results.
REASON 4: AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF STIRRING OR VIGOROUS STIRRING
Small air bubbles can be created by stirring too much or over stirring, which become trapped during the cooling process. The bubbles get smaller and smaller until they burst - leading to a cracked surface.
SOLUTION: While stirring, try to be as smooth as possible. Use a heat gun to re-melt the candle surface which helps smoothen the surface and fill up the cracks!
REASON 5: YOUR CANDLES COOLED UNEVENLY
When candles are cooled, they will cool unevenly if they are kept close together. When glass containers are placed too close together, heat is trapped on adjacent sides, causing a problem. As a result, the sides of the jar cool more slowly than the rest.
SOLUTION: To ensure safety, keep the distance between jars between 2′′ and 3′′. While your candles cool, elevate them with a wire rack or a towel beneath them and cool from the bottom up. To ensure even cooling, try to make the airflow under the candles more even.
REASON 6: TOO MUCH LIQUID WAS POURED INTO CONTAINERS TOO FAST
Pouring the wax too quickly traps air bubbles inside, making it difficult to cool evenly.
SOLUTION: Of course, the wax must be poured slowly, and the only way to do so is with a pouring pot.
TIPS ON SAVING CRACKED CANDLES
- Utilize a heat gun
The melted surface will fill in any cracks (or holes) left by the melting of the candle's surface. If there are any air bubbles in the mixture, tap them out first.
- Melt some extra wax and set it aside for later use
When you're pouring your candles, don't forget to save some for later. If necessary, cracks will be filled, and any other issues, such as sinkholes or uneven surfaces, will be addressed with the extra wax.
- Coating containers or molds:
Coating the container or mold with coconut oil or another natural oil prevents beeswax from sticking to the sides and causing cracks.
In summation, using a thermometer when making homemade candles is essential and pouring wax at the proper temperature should be done slowly and steadily.
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