Easy Home-made Candle

I've been collecting wax for quite a while, and I have been wondering how to make a candle without it being in a container. So in this instructable I will show you how to make a free-standing candle.

You will need:

1) A tin for melting the wax.

2) One clean, used, toilet roll.

3) Some wax (it's a good idea to save wax from snapped candles or candles that are too small to burn).

4) A lid (Keri lids work well).

5) A wick.

6) Small round metal disk for holding the wick up (you can get these from the bottom of most candles).

7) Oil.

8) A wooden bread board.

9) A fireplace (or a stove top).

10) Pot mitts.

11) String (optional but recommended).

12) Long-nosed pliers.

13) A small plate.

14) Sellotape.

First, take the label off your tin and then bend the edge of it so it is like a pouring can.

Now pour some oil onto the plate. Using your finger (or a clean paint brush), oil the inside of the toilet roll. Then, put your lid inside the toilet roll. You should use a tight fitting lid, but if you don't have one the right size you can make it fit by cutting a slit in the toilet roll. Now put your lid in, and then pulling the slits together and then taping the toilet roll together tightly around the lid. When the lid is inside the toilet roll, tape over the bottom of the roll (use lots of tape to ensure that the wax doesn't leak through).

For melting the wax, I used the top of a fireplace, but you could use a stove top. Put the wax into the tin and then put it on the fireplace (or stove top) until it's melted.

While you're waiting for the wax to melt, you can get the wick ready. Get the wick and metal disk (I'm not sure what this is called) and put the wick through it. Once the wick is through, squeeze the metal disk together with the long-nosed pliers so the wick stands freely and won't fall out.

When the wax has melted, take it off the fireplace (or stove) and put it onto the wooden bread board. If you want to be 100% sure your wick won't bend over, you can tie a piece of string around the top of the wick (I would recommend this). Put the wick inside the toilet roll and then pour the wax in! Leave at least one centimetre of wick sticking out of the wax!

Be patient! Do not put the candle in the fridge thinking it will harden quicker - yes it will, but it might cool down too fast and crack. So, when the candle has hardened at room temperature, you can peel the toilet roll off the wax. (don't do this too soon either or you can wreck the outside of the candle) Once the toilet roll is off, you can take the string off the wick. I hope you enjoyed this instructable! :)