| Do you want to know how to figure out how much | | | | Radius = half of the diameter or width of the candle. |
| wax you will need? Do you want to know how to | | | | So if we have a round cylinder pillar that is 4 inches tall |
| figure out how much scent your candle will need? Do | | | | and 4 inches in diameter, we would multiply 3.14 ( Pi ) |
| you know how to determine a candle's burn time? | | | | times the radius squared. Remember the radius is half |
| Details inside! | | | | of the diameter, which was 4 inches. So half is 2. |
| It's time to put on our thinking caps and do some math! | | | | We multiply 2 x 2 = 4. This is the radius squared. |
| Remember geometry class and all of those strange | | | | Then we multiply 3.14 x 4 = 12.56. |
| formulas? It's time to use them. I will tell you how to | | | | We now take that 12.56 and multiply it by the height |
| figure out how much wax you will need for your | | | | which was 4. |
| candles. | | | | 12.56 x 4 = 50.24. So this candle takes up 50.24 cubic |
| How to figure out how much wax you're going to | | | | inches. |
| need. | | | | Remember wax is 29.6 cubic inches per pound. So |
| First we will calculate a square or rectangle candle. | | | | now we divide 50.24 by 29.6 and we get 1.69 pounds. |
| We need to determine the volume of the shape. You | | | | Whew! That was easy. NOT!;) |
| simply multiply the height by the width by the length. | | | | Okay now that I have put you through basic geometry |
| This will tell you how many cubic inches that space | | | | again, I will show you the easy way to figure out how |
| occupies. | | | | much wax you need. That's right, the easy way. |
| Let's say we have a square candle that is 4 inches | | | | You will need a digital scale for this method. |
| high, 4 inches wide and 4 inches thick. | | | | Weigh your mold. |
| We would multiply the width, times the height, times the | | | | Fill your mold with water and weigh it again. Subtract |
| depth or thickness. So it would look like this. 4 x 4 = 16, | | | | the weight of the mold from the weight of the mold full |
| then multiply 16 x 4 = 64. | | | | of water and you have exactly how much wax is |
| 64 what? 64 cubic inches. That doesn't seem to help | | | | needed. |
| does it, does it? | | | | For instance this silicone mold weighs 1 pound. We fill it |
| Okay in general, wax is 29.6 cubic inches per pound. | | | | with water and now it weighs 3 pounds. So the |
| So now we need to divide 64 (our total cubic inches ) | | | | difference is 2 pounds, that's how much wax is |
| by 29.6 ( the amount of cubic inches in a pound of | | | | needed. |
| wax ) and we get 2.02 pounds or just over 32 | | | | Much easier! |
| ounces. | | | | Always use an ounce or two more wax than is |
| Confused yet? | | | | required. If you come up short you will have a hard |
| The formula for a cylinder or round pillar candle is even | | | | time matching the color. If you have a little more your |
| better. The formula is Pi times radius squared times | | | | okay. Remember too that most wax shrinks when it |
| height. I am getting a headache.;) | | | | melts. So it will appear that you have quite a bit of |
| Okay back to school. | | | | wax left over. This is needed for the second pour or |
| Pi = 3.14 | | | | Repour. |