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MacGyver-gone-Jackass Candles

6/6/2013

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Bring on the wick jokes; we're making candles! 

When we have enough old candle ends saved up, we melt them down to create new candles, with the rescued wax. 
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I braid candle wick with twine left over from Todd's photo shoots:
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Masking tape, twist-ties and rubber bands ...
I like to think MacGyver would be proud:
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Yes, there are a lot of other ways to get the wick to stay put. 
No, I don't want to argue about them. 

While I prep the molds, Todd chops the candle stubs into smaller chunks, removes anything that isn't wax, and creates his own version of a double-boiler--
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--Yes, really:  That is a glass Pyrex measuring cup filled with melting wax chunks, floating precariously in a pot of boiling water, over an open flame.  Kids, don't try this at home (seriously, kids; don't. This is dangerous, and even kind of stupid, given all the things that could go wrong.  You don't get to do this sort of thing until you're a grownup, at which point you really ought to know better).
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Todd wrangles the (abused) Pyrex with a pot-holder, and pours the wax into the molds:
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We leave the molds to cool overnight.  Sometimes there's some sinking in the middles; Todd pours the last of the wax into the centers, making sure to soak the top wick in wax as well.
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Occasionally, a bit of steam will become trapped between the wax and the glass.  To be safe (because obviously, safety is our first priority), I pop the candles from the molds and let them air (you don't want any trapped water heating up under the glass; it could cause the glass to crack, possibly sending shrapnel in all directions).
 
These candles are a little off; so the fit right in, over here. 
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It takes about an hour to create them; we keep useful goodies out of the landfill; we save money on candles; Todd gets to do crazy (read: hazardous), things in the kitchen.  Everybody wins!
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Disclaimer!
Obviously, we aren't pros at this, or even hobbyists, and some of our methods are decidedly MacGyver-gone-Jackass.  So, if you want to try this at home, please do your research first, because there are safer ways to pull it off.

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