By: Tim Hinchliff

Tim Hinchliff — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:46:40 +0000

I’ve been making gel wax aquariums for awhile now and I’ve learned a few things that warrant comment. First, I heat the wax to AT LEAST 225 F to 240 F, but I wait to pour until 200 F (without stirring at all). Pouring slowly at this temperature, I keep the wick from “clouding” to a minimum. Second, I always compose my aquarium PRIOR to pouring. Works much better than placing while the wax is cooling. Third, and this is important, I feel that a good gel wax aquarium requires some bottom structure. I know of some “gel aquarium artists” that add sand, shells and even glass fish, but these rest on the bottom and are rather plain. For my candles, I create artificial coral using paper mache to make the structure and then dip these in Plaster of Paris, laying them out on a sheet of wax paper to dry. I use acrylic paints to color (dot and splash) the coral and they come out great! I then “structure” one of these in my sand and further “plant” glass fish and other glass sea creatures in, on and around the coral. They come out great! For a 22 oz candle I can get $32 US for one of these. I use a 5″ x 4 1/2″ glass wide mouth with a C-75 cotton core wick. With an inch of sand in the bottom I don’t use that much gel, so my cost is minimal. I can’t make enough of them! Now I’m not ready to quit my day job making these, but it is fun and it gives me some extra cash to have more fun with. In addition, all my friends and relatives can count on getting a new aquarium during the holidays and birthdays.

Comments on: Easy To Make Gel Candles

By: Tim Hinchliff