SAM Paraffin + 10% Stearin Casting Mix

This casting mix consists of 90% paraffin and 10% stearin – a ready-to-use blend for casting candles. Combining paraffin with stearin improves the burning behaviour.

Paraffin is a "by-product" of the fossil raw material crude oil. It is a saturated hydrocarbon.
The paraffin we supply is pure and contains no harmful substances. From a toxicological point of view, this paraffin poses no risk to human health.

Stearin is often added to candle paraffin to improve its burning properties. Given the many benefits stearin brings, this is certainly recommended.

Adding stearin to paraffin results in:

• Improved burning properties
• Less dripping
• Less smoking
• A cleaner-burning candle
• A harder, stronger candle
• Better colour depth
• Easier release from the mould
• Improved shrinkage properties

Making candles with casting mix

Candle making often follows a particular "recipe". When you make your own candles, you choose the shape, colour and scent yourself, giving each candle extra character and making the atmosphere of a burning candle all the more special.

Melting the casting mix:

First read all the information about the casting mix so that you work correctly and safely.

Safety:
It may sound obvious, but before you start, think of the safety of yourself, others and animals!
Molten casting mix can cause burns. Use suitable protective equipment and keep fire safety in mind.

Time:
Give the casting mix time to melt! Casting mix is a poor conductor of heat and therefore melts slowly.

Shrinkage/expansion:
Casting mix can expand by up to 20%. It shrinks again as it solidifies. Bear this in mind when pouring the paraffin into a mould.

Ambient temperature:
The ideal ambient temperature for working with casting mix is 18 °C.

Heating:
Heat the casting mix indirectly in a bain-marie. Make sure you can control the temperature with an adjustable thermostat (for example the knobs on your hob).

Wick

The wick is the heart of your candle. The wicks we supply meet the highest quality and safety standards, so your candles will burn well.

Choosing the right wick:

Flat wick: Most commonly used for cast and dipped candles

Waxed wick: Most commonly used for tealights or for filling glasses and jars

Outdoor wick: Most commonly used for outdoor candles or torches

The following factors affect the choice of wick:

• Shape
• Diameter
• Composition ("recipe")
• Added colour
• Added fragrance

When producing several candles, we recommend making a test candle first.

Practice makes perfect:

Here are some possible solutions to common problems:

Candle smokes:

• try a smaller wick
• check the position of the wick

Candle drips:

• use a thicker wick
• check that the candle is straight
• avoid draughts while burning

Small flame:

• use a larger wick
• adjust the additives (recipe, colour, fragrance)

Carbon build-up on the wick:

• use pure paraffin and limit additives
• check that the wick is centred and not slack during pouring

White ash at the tip of the wick:

• use pure paraffin and the right additives
• check that the wick is straight in the mould before pouring

Fragrance and colour

Adding a fragrance and/or dye lets you personalise a candle and give it a unique character. This can change the burning properties, but because colourants and fragrances contain so many different raw materials, it is impossible to say exactly what the effect will be.
It is therefore advisable to test a candle first, looking at the composition, the amount of dye and fragrance, and the choice of wick.

Please note: fragrance oils can attack casting moulds.

Working with colour pigment

1. Weigh out the required amount of colour pigment or count out the number of colour tablets to be used.
2. Dissolve the pigment in a separate mixing cup at a ratio of 1:10 at a temperature of approx. 90 °C.
3. Mix with an electric mixer until homogeneous.
4. Pour this concentrate into the rest of the wax and mix again until homogeneous.
5. Check that the correct colour has been achieved before starting candle production.

Dipping at 80 °C:

• One dip = approx. 1.5% (15 grams / 15 tablets per kg of wax).
• Two dips = approx. 1.0% (10 grams / 10 tablets per kg of wax).
• You can increase or reduce the amount to achieve the desired effect.
• Dark colours may require a higher concentration.

Colouring throughout:

• Add approx. 0.1%–0.2% per kg (1–2 grams / 1–2 tablets per kg of wax).
• You can increase or reduce the amount to achieve the desired colour.
• Dark colours may require a higher concentration.

Variations during processing:

When colouring candles, many different factors influence the end result, including:

• mixing method;
• temperature;
• dosage.

The image below clearly shows the differences.

From left to right:
Candle 1: mechanically mixed and overdipped twice at 70 °C
Candle 2: mixed by hand and overdipped twice at 85 °C
Candle 3: mechanically mixed and overdipped twice at 85 °C
Candle 4: mixed by hand and overdipped twice at 70 °C

The final colour depends on the raw material, as the image below clearly shows. On the left, colour pigment has been used in candles with a high fat content; the middle image shows the colour in 100% stearin candles and the right-hand image the colours in pure paraffin.

The type of wax used for colour dipping also matters. Of the candles below, the left one was overdipped in Paraffin Casting Wax, while the right one was dipped in Paraffin Dipping Wax.