Do you plan on making your own candle business? Are you searching for alternatives for the wicks of your candles? So, what can I use as a candle wick?
What Can I Use as a Candle Wick?
You want to make candles but you don’t have any candle wicks, right? You may build your wicks out of common household items. If you need a wick alternative, here are some frequent options.
However, be wary of them since they may not produce a clean-burning candle. It is typically suggested that you only use these in emergency conditions, such as a power outage. So, what can I use as a candle wick?
Toothpicks
Toothpicks, chopsticks, and even popsicle sticks are all formed of wood and would function as wicks if lighted. Toothpicks are typically far too short if you’re building a tall candle, such as a pillar or container. These perform better as a wick alternative, such as if your candle is buried in wax.
If you’re constructing a pillar or container candle, you’ll need something longer, such as chopsticks. To hold your improvised wooden candle, you’ll need a metal bottom. Keep in mind that your candle’s container or mold must be taller than the wooden wick you’re using.
Yarn, Cotton String, or Twine
Yarn could be used as a wick, but it would need to be stiffened with something like borax.
It would also be preferable if the yarn did not include any color or bleach. So, I’m presuming that any colored yarn would not work.
But you should check the box to see whether it includes any dyes or bleach. A cotton string would be preferable over yarn. It will require a stiffener, such as borax, and should be wax-coated before usage.
Paper
What can I use as a candle wick? Paper, of course! A wick might be made from any sort of paper. It includes standard copy paper, notebook paper, construction paper, cardstock, a paper towel, or toilet paper. Before lighting the paper, soak it in borax and melted wax to harden it and allow it to dry.
Strips of cotton
Could cotton swatches from an old shirt or socks be used as a candle wick? You can construct your candle using cotton strips from an old shirt as an “emergency” wick. Although it might probably work because you are essentially using cotton.
Strand of an Old Mop
An old cotton thread from a mop could be used, it is essentially braided cotton. Any sort of cotton string, rope, or anything that can be shaped into a wick would work. It only has to be cotton and not polyester.
Create Your Own Wicks!
I’ll go through two ways for making your wicks. The first way I’ll go through is utilizing a borax solution. The second option is to utilize the wick trimmings from an old candle that you created yourself.
I’ll start with the borax procedure and then go on to using your old wick trimmings. Using a borax solution is the most typical DIY guide for producing your wicks at home. This is not the quickest way because it takes a few days to complete.
If you need to build a candle quickly and don’t have a wick. Don’t expect to be able to make your wick for your candle project and finish it straight soon. The finest material for your wick would be 100% cotton twine, but any braided string could suffice.
The wax will be applied on the rope or twine. The idea is for the candle to burn steadily yet slowly. As a result, it’s critical, to begin with, the proper wick material.
Furthermore, the borax solution aids in the process of reducing the burn rate. The string will then be coated with melted wax to help it burn. We will make our wick solution out of the water, salt, and boric acid (or borax).
Begin by combining the water, salt, and borax. After that, immerse the twine or thread in the borax solution for 24 hours. You’ll need a location to hang the string the next day.
You’ll want to hang it outdoors or in a room that doesn’t have sofas or beds. You must hang the string and let it dry for up to 48 hours. You should put something beneath the twine to catch the droppings when they dry.
After the string has dried for 48 hours, the next step is to coat it with molten wax. Then, let it cure for a few minutes. You can repeat this procedure a few times to get a thick layer of wax, but one application should suffice.
However, the more wax coatings on the wick, the better the candle will burn. This is the priming strategy that was previously explained. Regardless of how many times you dip the string in wax, the finished wick should be firm and stand upright.
It aids in the correct burning of the candle. A wick that burns too rapidly may extinguish the candle before it has formed a full wax pool. It causes the candle to burn/melt unevenly, then you’ll be left with a candle that doesn’t have a wick.
Conclusion on What Can I Use as a Candle Wick
There are many materials you can use as a wick for your candles. These are helpful especially when there is an emergency. Have fun experimenting on these wick alternatives!