A regular right of passage in April– being just around the corner from Hurricane Season ( I am a survivor of direct hits by Frederick, Elena, Georges, Katrina, and Issac), is to replenish my supplies of nonperishables, water and the like. One of the things I like to do is make my own emergency candles. I generally make at least a dozen 8-oz soy candles, each with a projected lifespan of about 30-40 hours, meaning a dozen is an easy 300-500 hours worth of light.
If you shop around you can get decent deals on wax and wicks. I got my latest stuff from Candle Science (you can currently get a 10-pounds of 464 soy wax for $15 and 100 pre-tabbed wicks for like $8). Add to that a $8 box of Ball half-pint jelly jars and a box of paper matches and I can make each candle for about $2. Less if I recycle old jars. If you look around this is about half the price of store-bought candles and I know exactly what I am getting.
For a dozen candles, you need 4 pounds of soy wax (it’s non-toxic and totally safe), 12 tabbed wicks, 12 8-oz jelly jars, a double boiler (or two pots, one larger than the other), something to pour hot ass wax with ( I use an old mixing cup) and something to help keep your wicks straight.
First, melt the wax (note- do not put a pot of wax directly on a stove top, double boiler it!). I find that four pounds melts in about 15 minutes.
Next, scoop out your wax into your jars, each with a tabbed wick at the bottom (the wick doesn’t have to be centered just yet). Be very careful as hot wax is not your friend.
Then center and arrange your wicks. I use grill skewers (I keep lots of propane for the grill as a bonus for Hurricane season). Other people use other methods such as gluing the tabs to the glass. This in mine and, like I said I already have the skewers, so it’s free.
I find the wax sets in about two hours, though I leave them overnight to be sure. Then cut the wicks flush with the jar lid, add a book of paper matches to the jar, and screw the lid on tight.
I like to keep a few dozen of these on hand going into the season as I give some away, use them camping, etc, plus in a post-Hurricane environment, you would be surprised how easy it is to make friends through the offer of a couple of free candles/matches.
