CANDLES AND CANDLE MAKING Candles.—A candle is often referred to as a symbol of the past, yet the candle industry of the United States is greater at present than it has ever been in the past and is increasing rap idly from year to year. Professor Thompson, a celebrated electrician, declares that if the electric light had existed for centuries and the candle was newly invented, it would be hailed as one of the greatest discoveries of the age, being entirely self-contained, cheap, and portable, and requiring no accessories in the way of chimneys or shades. Candles are much used for decorative purposes, especially for dinner tables, and they are also in demand for religious ceremonies in Catholic, Jewish, and other churches.
How to Make Candles.—The well nigh universal use of kerosene has supplanted the domestic art of candle making which in colonial times was practiced in every household. Of late, however, there is a growing tendency to revive the crafts of our forefathers, and to imitate the old English cus toms from which they were derived. Antique candlesticks in various artis tic forms are much in demand for or nament as well as for utility. The pretty custom of placing lighted can dles on lunch and dinner tables is much observed, and the use of bed time candlesticks is quite common. For all these reasons, as also on ac count of the usefulness of a bit of candle for the homelier purposes of the household, it is worth while to revive the art of candle making. These household arts have, moreover, a dis tinct educational value. Time often hangs heavy on the hands of the boys and girls, especially on stormy days in the country, and there can be no harm in turning a quantity of mutton or beef suet and a little beeswax into a dozen or two candles, which will save kerosene and which would cost quite a little sum at the grocer's.
Commercial candles are made from tallow and a substance known as stea rin which is derived from tallow; from wax; from spermaceti; and from paraffine, which is a petroleum prod uct. Wax candles are usually rolled. Tallow candles may be either dipped or molded. Candle molds consist of tubes arranged in frames of 6 or 12 tubes, and fitted with a trough at the upper part of the frame through which the tallow may be poured into the tubes or molds. The wicks are ar ranged along the axis of the tubes and tied to wires hung across the top of the frame.
Dipped candles are made upon a different frame, consisting of two cir cular wires separated by standards of a length corresponding to that desired for the candle. The wicks are strung from one circle to the other at dis tances apart rather more than double the intended thickness of the candle. The frames are then immersed in melted tallow and removed to cool, and afterwards dipped again and again, until the proper thickness is secured. Wax candles are prepared by pouring melted wax upon the wicks until they acquire suitable thickness. Afterwards they are shaped by roll ing between wet pieces of hard wood.
Candle Wicks.—The first step in making candles is the preparation of the wicks. Candle wicking can be ob tained from any dealer in dry goods in the form of cotton roping, which may be twisted or braided together, using as many strands to make the wick as the size of the candle requires.
The greatest desideratum is a wick that will consume itself and do away with the necessity of snuffing. Many efforts have been made to produce the ideal wick. The wicking is commonly soaked in various inflammable sub stances, or treated so as to cause the end of the wick to bend over when burning and protrude outside of the flame. This contact with the oxygen of the air creates a more perfect com bustion than can take place within the flame. One method of causing the wick to bend is to braid into it one strand which is shorter than the others and is therefore stretched to greater tension. Another is to load the wick with metallic bismuth. This melts in the flame and forms a bead that causes the wick to bend. 'The following solu tions for the preparation of wicks are recommended: Soak the wick in spirits of turpen tine and afterwards dry thoroughly before using. Use a wick smaller than ordinary. Or dissolve in 3 quarts of water 2 ounces of borax, 1 ounce of chloride of lime, 1 ounce of chloride of ammonia, and 1 ounce of saltpeter. Filter through a cheese cloth. Soak the wicks in this solution. Or dissolve in 1 gallon of water pound of lime and 2 ounces of saltpeter. In all these solutions immerse the wicks fif teen or twenty minutes. Remove and hang in the sunshine to dry thor oughly before using.