So to speak.
Today we’ll be looking at candle dipping.
So many people say to me, “Sean, as a well paid and high profile morning radio journalist, isn’t it just as easy, if not quicker,for you to just go down to the Red Shed and buy some pre-decorated candles?”
To which I reply:
“You’re missing the bloody point.”
Candle dipping is a venerable old craft, dating back to 1487 when Belgium friars discovered that they could create a steady form of light by combining wax and cotton. I’m not about to let that tradition die for the sake of saving three dollars by buying some cheap knock-off imported directly from Taiwan.
Before you start investing in an industrial-grade Dipping Wheel (I’m lucky enough to have one in the garage - Kim organised all the other staff here, at work, to club together and get me one last Christmas), why not try out a mini candle first and see if you have the flair for it?
How to make a mini candle
1. Melt a bar of candle wax in an old pot (I advise not using one you would like to use again) - it needs to have a melting point of at least 60 degrees Celsius
2. Cut a 8cm. length of 12 or 15 ply wick.
3. Using pliers, grip the wick and dip it into the wax, making sure that the wick is evenly coated in wax.
4. Allow the first coat to dry.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have reached your desired diameter.
And remember - hand dipped birthday candles really show how much you care about a person. Why not try personalising them in that special person’s favourite colour?
Make sure to keep checking back at my blog - next time we’ll be looking at decorating with dried pasta.
EDIT: thanks to Mystic Seaport for the picture - I had a rather unfortunate incident with my digital camera back in November when someone who shan’t be named (let’s just say their name starts with Wayne and finishes with Mowat) thought they would borrow it to take photos at the annual RNZ Diwali Party and dropped into a pot of Chicken Madras on a bain marie.