How to Make Chunk Pillar Candles From Wax Chunks and Fill Wax

Chunk candles are some of the easiest and most fun to make. They tend to take less time than solid pillar candles, have a rustic charm, and make great accent pieces and gifts. Chunk candles can really bring out your creativity. Before you get started, consider making your own wax chunks.

What You Will Need - Supplies Wax Chunks (either store bought or home made wax chunks) Molding Candle Wax Pillar Mold Jiffy Wicker 1/0 square waxed wick or 34-37 flat cotton core waxed wick Silicone Spray Mold Release (optional) Steamer Pot or old Sauce Pan to create a double boiler Standard Size or Small Size Melting Pot with pour spout Wood Stir Sticks, chopsticks, or something else to stir the wax Thermometer Scissors Candle Fragrance (optional) Color Dye Chips (optional) Also a good idea to have around: Paper towels Windex (Window cleaner) Aluminum Foil Newspaper, butcher paper, or scrap paper to cover work surfaces Fire Extinguisher (just in case)

How to Set Up Your Work Area

1. Put down newspaper or butcher paper on tables and countertops to catch spills and for easy cleanup.
2. Have paper towels and Windex on hand for cleaning stovetops.
3. Wrap stove burner bowls in tin foil to catch drips of wax, and for easy cleanup afterwards.

Prep Your Mold

Inspect your mold to ensure that there is no residual wax on the inside surfaces or seams of your mold. If there is, remove it.

Spray the inside of your mold with Silicone Spray Mold Release. To do this, either follow the directions on the can, or hold the nozzle 8 to 10 inches from your mold and release the spray in short bursts. I little goes a long way with Silicone Spray Mold Release.

Wicking your Mold

Use a Jiffy Wicker to wick your mold (how to use a jiffy wicker). If your mold does not have a wick hole in the bottom of the mold, use a tabbed wick (for instructions on how to tab a wick click HERE)

Fill Mold with Wax Chunks Fill your mold with wax chunks. You can place them carefully using a wood stir stick or chopstick to position them, or you can drop them in sloppily for a random look. You can fill the mold half way, so only the bottom half of your candle has chunks in it, or you can fill the mold all the way to the top, so that wax chunks are sticking out of the top of your finished candle. You can get really creative with the placement of your wax chunks, the mix of colors you use, and the shape of your wax chunks.

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