Profession candle maker

Candle makers mold candles, place the wick in the middle of the mold and fill the mold with wax, by hand or machine. They remove the candle from the mold, scrape off excess wax and inspect the candle for any deformities.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Types of waxes

    Waxes are organic compounds composed of alkyl chains and they can have different origins. There are animal waxes such as beewax, plant waxes such as soja or palm wax, and petroleum derived waxes.

  • Candle making techniques

    The characteristics and specifications of candle making techniques which comprise wax melting and candles containers.

Skills

  • Melt wax

    Safely heat wax to the correct temperature so it melts and becomes a pliable susbtance.

  • Extract products from moulds

    Remove finished products from moulds and examine them in detail for anomalies.

  • Fill moulds

    Fill up moulds with appropriate materials and ingredient mixes.

  • Tend wax bleaching machinery

    Tend machinery used in candlemaking such as vats and filter presses to bleach wax.

  • Ensure conformity to specifications

    Ensure that the assembled products are conform to the specifications given.

  • Dye candles

    Apply a dye to the candle wax to obtain the desired colour.

  • Insert wick

    Cut the wick to specified length and insert it into the mould of the candle.

  • Cool candles in baths

    Dip the candles or molds into a water bath in order to accelerate cooling and create a shinier surface.

  • Control temperature

    Measure and adjust temperature of a given space or object.

  • Use moulding techniques

    Apply moulding techniques.

  • Construct moulds

    Construct moulds for the casting of objects in plaster, clay, glass, plastic or metal. Use casting machines and materials such as rubber, plaster or fibreglass.

  • Shape candles

    Cut and trim candles to specified sizes, using handtools such as knives or hand dies.

  • Drip candles

    Drip wicks in heated wax repeatedly to create candles, either by hand or machine.

  • Grade candles

    Rate candles according to type, colour and size.

Optional knowledge and skills

repair mould defects use heat gun add scent match product moulds order supplies set up the controller of a machine record production data ensure correct goods labelling select mould types carve materials ensure mould uniformity quality standards trim excess materials pack goods beeswax maintain mould parts

Source: Sisyphus ODB