Which Candle Wax Casts The Best?

In this video I test three traditional waxes used for casting candles: soy wax, beeswax, and paraffin.
Is there much difference between them? Do they hold detail well? And how much do they shrink?
Does the casting temperature matter? Should the molds also be heated?
So many questions. In this video I look for answers.
Thanks to Jasmin for sending in this project. Check out her Instagram: mlle_jasminmacrae
Here is a list of suppliers for many of the materials I use in my videos:
www.dropbox.com/s/kz6mhmf7v5v...
Do you have a project to suggest for the channel?
Here’s a .pdf with everything you need to know:
www.dropbox.com/s/pjb0l6fr7zj...

[@funo6581]

“ I haven’t seen that kind of shrinkage since the last time I went ice fishing.” 😂 You snuck that one liner in there pretty damn smoothly! 😎 …The castings were great too!

[@RobertTolone]

😄

[@HalidonDioramas]

@Robert Tolone comedy gold!

[@roger.agburn]

That gave me a good laugh, too. ^^

[@Superkuh2]

Ice fishing is why I'm here learning the tricks to casting wax. It seems like the easiest material to cast into waterproof blocks around electrical wire connections for an underwater fishing camera+sensors.

[@nottheeviltwin6]

we love you robert 🤣

[@22hilding]

-"You can see the parting line... is nowhere to be seen." When a professional describes his work! Amazing work Robert!

[@RobertTolone]

Gotta love those cut molds!

[@LiKwId-Plays-Games]

as someone who is currently sculpting master models atm, I've learned more watching this channel over the last few weeks than I've got from everything else I've watched or read over the last year!

[@MisterGrooves]

Lots of famous statues don't have noses anymore, this is fine.

[@truegret7778]

Yes, but with wax, you can repour with the original wax from the failed attempt, which cannot be done with resin. Very cool.

[@SeanBrown22]

“Another day older and deeper in debt” that cracked me up. This video was super helpful! My first 3 pours (paraffin) have come out with all kinds of problems but watching your process I have several improvements to make (like not trying to pour directly from the crock pot lol, what a mess). Thanks for sharing and hope to see more wax pouring on your channel in the future

[@destinyharrison5848]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! This has helped me understand issues and prevent waste which is hugely important. It is truly appreciated! ❤️

[@questioneverything3632]

So informative and entertaining! Where have you been all my life! Love your channel! 🥰

[@NoTimeForThatNow]

Excellent job! Nice to see the development process of improving the results!

[@Catstronautgirl]

Thank you so much for this video! Your testing is going to save me so much in materials, you have no idea!!

[@jamiespenik5150]

Thank you KZbin for finally giving me something good in my recommendations. I am a new subscriber. You are the best person to watch on candles. Thank you for the time you put into your content :)

[@CrunchyMcDugals]

Been binging your channel again lately. Cant wait to get into this video later

[@brandonwarner8450]

Another great video, thanks Robert!

[@nerobaal6655]

That ice fishing joke was too funny 😂

[@andy-in-indy]

The Soy wax has a very high expansion while heated. You need to keep you pour temp just above the melt temp to minimize the shrinkage.

[@jasminmacrae4490]

This is so nice!! Love it, thank you so much.

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

Used to make candles years ago. Not sure of the type of wax I was using. The molds were hard plastic, didn't even need to be silicone. One good the about wax is that you can easily get rid of any parting lives with a little heat at most

[@garyoverman4393]

Great job and video… as usual !

[@frankschannel2642]

Well done, sir! Funny and informative. Enjoyed your video.

[@ethanhinkle5369]

Omg i was JUST thinking last night about this topic after seeing your candle casting video!!!

[@luizagriebelersouza8461]

Oh you and your wisdom deserve more views and likes, Mr Robert

[@yugos.oficial]

Awesome work!

[@kaijorgensen6940]

This video came out at a great time, I’m beginning to do investment/lost wax casting and this helped me decide which wax to try first

[@RobertTolone]

You will definitely want to use a wax that is designed for lost wax casting so that it burns out clean.

[@josemariacajica9824]

¡Awesome work!

[@portionssnus]

I tried casting parrafin wax to make cubes for wax carving. There was alot of shrinkage. We use something we call "lunker kammare" (swedish, dont know the english term) when casting metal, basically an extra chamber that can provide material as the metal cools.

[@securityrobot]

That was excellent, and you didn’t lose your head unlike Marie Antoinette.

[@RobertTolone]

I narrowly escaped!

[@levinebette15]

This is great!

[@komma8203]

We make a lot of candels and we cast all cast-candels in parafin wax and we refill/backfill the candels every half hour for about 2-3 hours after filling so that way we dont get a huge hole at the end to fill

[@RobertTolone]

That makes sense to top them as they cool.

[@Easy2705]

Do you have an Instagram

[@komma8203]

@@Easy2705 not about that, i only post my model hobby on my Instagram, miniatures, scalemodels and gundam

[@Easy2705]

@@komma8203 would be happy to give it a follow. I have a question too as I’m jsut starting out

[@komma8203]

@@Easy2705 its omma_minis, and yeh you can DM me there if you have questions, i will try and answer to the best of my abilities

[@bethelgues3918]

Bee's wax also pours very hot, probably why had more filling issues. But great work. Id's say waxes cast alot like metal, in that metals that shrink less generally are easier to cast. That beings said, if you learn your material you can pretty much cast anything...

[@oderasworld158]

I enjoyed this video. Thank you

[@michaelwalton6392]

nice work ..also, nice reference to "sixteen tons".

[@JunkWorkshop]

Nice one! Thank you for sharing. Greetings from Sicily ✌🏻

[@leanneesparza9478]

Thank you!

[@Emanuelmartins69]

Really nice casts

[@danje748]

So next level of candle molds is where you put in a little bit of a vent in the mold where the wick will be so you can preload the wicks before you pour the molds. =) Excellent and entertaining as always Robert.

[@RobertTolone]

I think that most candlemakers use what’s called a wicking needle and they just poke the wick through the mold wherever they want it.

[@janamoraal893]

Thanks , just in my line off testing

[@FoxySparkles]

You are so funny! Glad I found you!

[@joshmosen2580]

I wonder if you could pour the wax, and then place the moulds back in the warmer for a while....would this encourage the wax to stay molten and fill in the smaller details?

[@nilles12345]

How can you easily get rid of the 3d print lines on the candle? To make it smooth.

[@zibiah]

Which wax is best to use for molds?

[@roger.agburn]

Getting slowly but steady into being a pro candle caster? ;-) Nice video! It seems it's getting cold in your workshop considering seeing you in a sweater, right?

[@sandracrawn623]

What kind of wick for these is best

[@WillieTaggett]

"I haven't seen that much shrinkage since the last time I went ice fishing" Lol subbed

[@carlahlers9454]

Learned a lot! Thanks! Beautiful work. I’m no candle making expert, but something tells me your candles are missing some wicks!

[@harkejuice]

Great video! I think I'd take a hint from the wax-toy sculptors and mix a bit of the harder waxes with something like soy. I don't see myself doing candles, far too impatient That's why I've got 10-minute cure resin!

[@RobertTolone]

I have spent most of my career sculpting toy prototypes in wax. My blend of waxes and fillers yields a wax that pours well but it hard and polishes well. Also minimal shrink. I’m not a candle maker either, give me resin any day!

[@rxz4140]

@@RobertTolone you sculpted the toy prototypes or molded/casted them?

[@RobertTolone]

@@rxz4140 I did not stop these prototypes, they were sent to me by my viewer Jasmin.

[@alanlabriola3810]

​@@RobertTolone I have an idea for a future video that goes a little outside the box considering your usual material if you will; show different wax recipes based off your extensive experience so future artists can figure out a way to make their toy ideas come to life. I adore your page & thought it was a good idea....even if I was a little selfish in this request, excuse me, I meant "suggestion". -Subscriber for life

[@TheChemicalWorkshop]

personally i prefer praffin, the reason is ease to get... you go to 1€ shop and buy a buuunch i also melted a huge super cheap one from sale and made mini muffin ones, so when i need some wax o just have lots of small pieces

[@noemiromo7109]

Before reading the comments, I kept thinking you were saying "party lines" haha

[@FrostyFreeze541]

The ice fishing joke 😆

[@RFC-3514]

Most commercially produced candles are made of a mix of stearin and paraffin.

[@shahinaliyev1193]

Hi, I have a question. Which temperature (approximately) did you do warm the molds in oven? Because, I did 80 celsius warm in the oven but inside of the molds was cold.

[@RobertTolone]

You have to heat the mold long enough so that it heats all the way through. For resin I usually just warm the mold to 25- 27 celsius. For wax I heat the mold to the melting temperature of the wax.

[@cranberry420]

I personally love beeswax for multiple reasons. No shrinkage, nice smell, best for the environment (since it's a byproduct of making honey, which uses bees, which are extremely important to the environment, more so than soy) and in my opinion, it's hardier than any of the other waxes

[@soothingillustration50]

What are the molds made of ? Anything non cancerous ? I read polytek provides a plastic mold material containing Diisononyl phthalate, which is known to cause cancer. Is there any other mold type which isn’t harmful to our health ?

[@BeautyThings118]

Im pouring soy wax into silicone molds. Im having a problem with the finish. Im getting a lot of frosting.

[@sprocketsmagazine9801]

How can I send my project to you? I have a necklace pendant I want to get casted in clear resin, it's already 3D printed

[@commanderwaddles3483]

Do you still use that crock pot/slow cooker for food or only for wax and other projects? I'm going to try my first of making silicone molds to make my own candles, and I'm planning on melting my candle wax in the technique where you have it in a metal container which is floating in a pot of boiling water.

[@RobertTolone]

I never use shop tools for food. The kitchen tools stay in the kitchen.

[@anithachandru1953]

I need the mold how much and how I buy

[@char3210]

How did you repair his hat? I keep trying to repair Angels wings but I can't 😞

[@ArcticFlies56]

Congratulations Bob! I knew you could it. Now you can candle aficionado to you resume. There are many attributes I like about you. The best is that you don’t give up. Okay there was the one clear ball but who’s counting? I wouldn’t have thought about warming the molds before pouring the wax. That was a good one. Best regards, Richard

[@Xidification]

Can I double Like this video? One for the great information and another for the Ice Fishing comment!

[@Sharoncat2008]

we have tried paraffin wax for a small cat head mold and it comes out pitted or mottled. We're pouring at 180 and added snow wax and it still didn't come out clean and shiny. We added fragrance and can't get a good finished product and been making candles since 1993. Please advise if you can.

[@RobertTolone]

I am not a candle maker so I can’t really help you. My experience is almost entirely with casting resin.

[@sleepytasmr]

I would've liked to hear a conclusion at the end with all the different waxes

[@julieb7229]

Same. I have no idea which of the waxes picks up the details best. That was the whole reason I watched through 3 rounds of youtube ads ... for nothing.

[@annwithnell8101]

The soy wax he stated made flawless candles excluding the tip of the hat falling off due only to removing it from the mold. Not the wax itself

[@torravengael4490]

Asking the candle makers out there - Am I right in thinking soy wax is not the best to use for a narrow-ish molded vertical candle because it would burn very quickly and drip an awful lot? I know it works well in container candles in which the melted wax is contained.

[@kykyhoffie3867]

That’s correct pillar candles are best done with paraffin wax or a paraffin and 20% soy mix. Soy wax once it melts will just cut right through the sculpture or pillar and you won’t get a good puddle and will lose all the fuel and will eat the candle up way too fast while it burns.

[@torravengael4490]

@@kykyhoffie3867 Thank you!

[@richardelliott9511]

I was thinking very much the same but to the point of why bother wicking it at all except so that you could still call it a candle for marketing purposes. Im thinking that it would take quite a bit of experimenting with wicks and wax blends to make these shapes burn anywhere near effectively and not having 75% of your wax in a puddle in your saucer. I am a hobbiest candle maker, focusing on pillar and jar emergency candles for my family and friends, which makes getting as complete of a burn as possible important to my purpose. However I have been looking for a bit of whimsy lately and have discovered that many of the molds available have odd shapes and protruding bits that just would never get a chance to burn and I avoid them as I would these bust style molds. I'm starting to look at making my own silicon molds of household objects that would burn well and still have a fun aspect in their shape. Good luck in your adventures!

[@TonitoVaderCustoms]

What happen if you use the preassure pot with these wax castings???

[@RobertTolone]

it would probably work fine. I didn’t do it because as nearly as I can tell most candlemakers don’t use pressure pots.

[@conormarie4310]

18:16 I owe my soul to the company store!

[@saharkhaled2740]

i am new to candles making and i have been told that the soy wax is not good for silicone molds as it will melt, its only for jars or cups, is this true?

[@RobertTolone]

The wax won’t hurt the silicone but it’s not an ideal casting blend. I have very little experience casting candles so I don’t know what the best casting wax is.

[@saharkhaled2740]

@@RobertTolone i meant the candle itself will melt and won't last, not the silicone mold :D

[@maxkielbasa6079]

did you ever make a mold out of wax?

[@Easy2705]

if I have a 3D model could I send it to you to make a silicone mold? I’m in Burbank California

[@MarkATrombley]

My opinion. When you poured Marie you poured the head first, jiggled it, then poured a stream straight down into the wax in the head. The stream dragged air in as it hit and the bubbles clung to the side. I think if you had poured Marie the same as you did Napolean you wouldn't have had bubbles.

[@maverickstclare3756]

Napoleon got the nickname "Shorty" from the disastrous Russian Ice Fishing trip of 1812.

[@RobertTolone]

👍😄

[@MisterWhatWhat]

At the 5:30 mark I *gasp* so loud like I was pouring them LOL I'm a hobbyist container candle maker who's just recently gotten into making pillars and mold. How on earth (if you do) wick them once made?

[@RobertTolone]

You install the wicks into the mold first. I didn’t bother with wicks in this video because I was testing wax, not actually the entire candlemaking process. For that watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3XMp5SKl7SLes0si=xGOO5ZY9jiTPLbuT Also, many candlemakers use a wicking needle to pull the wick through the rubber mold.

[@sarinezarougian9373]

great video! can you please share what paraffin wax you use here? looking forward to your response. thanks

[@RobertTolone]

Nothing special, just your garden variety craft store paraffin. Probably bought it at Michael’s. But any candle supply sells it online.

[@robinfeliciano9787]

How hot do you heat your wax?

[@RobertTolone]

Depends on the wax type and blend. I am not a candle maker so I’m not particular about temperature. I get the wax just hot enough to be melt. But I understand that many candle makers are careful with their temperatures. You can look up the melting temperatures of any wax online.

[@lindasnyder3961]

Where did you find your small heat "gun," if that is what I am seeing in this video?

[@RobertTolone]

It’s a Wagner Spraytech 0503038 HT400 Heat Gun. I bought mine on Amazon, but you can probably find it lots of places online. Also google “mini heat gun” and you’ll find lots of brands.

[@lindasnyder3961]

@@RobertTolone Thank you! Also, I lost my Ogi wax recipe I got while working as a sculptor at Applause! I have a project where the client wants a wax model. Do you Know any recipes you might recommend? Ogi's was a mix of paraffin, carnauba, beeswax, titanium dioxide, talc, and oil paint color - I just lost the proportions. I am reading some carvers are switching to candela wax and corn starch, but I will have to experiment later when not on a deadline. Hope to hear from you again! You used to be out in LA, as I recall hearing your name before.

[@RobertTolone]

@@lindasnyder3961 OMG, I did a LOT of my toy work working for Applause as a freelancer. Mostly worked with Roger Shank. Your name is familiar to me as well, can’t remember if we ever met there. Seems like everyone used Ogi’s recipe. I never did, so I don’t know his the exact ratio. Email me at [e-mail]. and I’ll send you the info I have on mix ratios. I still live in Long Beach.

[@commanderwaddles3483]

I'd like to see this wicking needle through the mold technique!

[@RobertTolone]

I have never used one because I don’t make candles. But it’s just a large needle that you can use to poke through the rubber wherever you want the wick to come out and it pulls the wick through the rubber and out of the mold.

[@VindictiveMoose]

At least one good thing with the wax, if the casting fails, the wax should be able to be melted back down to use for another casting.

[@ethansdad3d]

And spillage. 😉

[@sangatrahasia861]

mengapa tidak langsung dimasukan lilinya yang setelah dituang ke microwave .? ...ini hanya sebuah pendapat ...salam from indonesia ..i love you

[@prateekv10]

Hello, who is Jasmine? also, you didn't gave any Instagram link below. And and, please help me I need these types of unique moulds for my work.

[@glass-yuzu]

Rice bran wax is pretty fantastic, lovely colour too. Quite a good long burn

[@owntor1]

funny! 😁

[@evrenerdogan4859]

put in the pressure tank ?

[@RobertTolone]

I could have.

[@evrenerdogan4859]

@@RobertTolone we love you🤗

[@dwerenat1]

Next time you pour wax you might want to use a gravy boat for the pour. It's gotta be better than a foil pie tin.

[@RobertTolone]

Anything would have been better than that pie plate. I have a bad habit of using whatever is on hand.

[@dwerenat1]

@@RobertTolone So do I. Finding that gravy boat was a life saver for me, or at the very least a lifesaver for my workbench. I love your videos. I like a bit of humor with my lessons. :)

[@richardelliott9511]

@@dwerenat1 hmmm gravy boat, sounds promising, I'll have to try that. Please dont let on to my wife while I raid the kitchen....again.

[@dwerenat1]

@@richardelliott9511 Your secret is safe with me.

[@alanlabriola3810]

​@Robert Tolone I have an idea for a future video that goes a little outside the box considering your usual material if you will; show different wax recipes based off your extensive experience so future artists can figure out a way to make their toy ideas come to life. I adore your page & thought it was a good idea....even if I was a little selfish in this request, excuse me, I meant "suggestion". -Subscriber for life

[@imurme]

So they all are good waxes to cast with? Just seemed you were learning how to use the molds, no real answers about how good the wax was. You had less shrinkage with the beeswax so although you messed up the pour with it that looks to be best for no shrinkage, maybe a mix of paraffin and beeswax would be better?

[@scottmichaelharris]

No wicks?

[@RobertTolone]

This is not a candle making channel. It is a molding and casting channel. I did not place wicks because I did not wish to poke holes in the molds. When I send the molds off to Jasmine, she can decide where she wants to wicks to be placed.

[@destinyharrison5848]

I seem to recall that being discussed in the video? Makes good sense as I do make candles and sometimes wick placement is a personal choice. Love the video! Thanks so much!

[@silviallamas8033]

EXELENTE que bien le quedo su trabajo el desmoldar es todo un reto no es fácil LA VENUS DE MILO EL DAVID LAS CHICAS ROMANAS LOS ÁNGELES son muy delicados a la hora de desmoldar casi siempre se rompen las piezas lo digo por experiencia pero es hermoso este trabajo SALUDOS DESDE CANCÚN MÉXICO

[@Vagolololo]

Welp, you can still add risers next time you're casting wax

[@Gary_Hun]

How about trying to cut down turn around time by first doing an outer thin layer with the super flowy hot wax, then when it won't pool down from the mold walls anymore, fill it up with wax that is just flowing? (have no experience in this, just shooting poo poo) Should be worth trying, because it could greatly reduce shrinkage as well as work time. The outer layer could also be pigmented separately from the core.

[@RobertTolone]

That’s how colored candle are made, I think. They let the first color pour cool awhile, then pour it out. Then fill in successive pours of plain wax. I too am shooting the poo.

[@annekabrimhall1059]

Where’s the WICK?!

[@crashoverride93637]

"You poured 16 tons of number 9 wax, and what do you get another day older and deeper in debt"

[@RobertTolone]

I owe my soul to the company store.

[@NoTimeForThatNow]

😂

[@maragrace820]

No candle smells better than a Beeswax candle

[@yoopermann7942]

thanks but no thanks i think i`ll stick to resin,, i make dipped candles and that is as far as i think i`ll go in making candles,, BRING ON THE RESIN please,, great video and full of tips

[@RobertTolone]

Fear not! We’ll be back to resin next week and for the foreseeable future!

[@CovidFart]

Go figure the "soy boy" was too soft LOL

[@johndix6101]

A whole in your thing ooh uur 😆 🤣

[@RobertTolone]

At first I thought it was just a leak in my aluminum pan. But it turned out to be a wormhole to an alternate universe.

[@NoTimeForThatNow]

@@RobertTolone somewhere in an alternate universe someone is admiring the lovely wax sculpture not knowing from whence it came.

[@AshkonHemmati]

You can see the parting line, it's nowhere to be seen!

[@CeeJayThe13th]

I definitely can't afford to lose 3/4" to shrinkage!

[@RobertTolone]

Me neither.

[@thaibasil420]

Why don't you throw your molds into a ziplock back and then into a water bath? It seems safer for the molds and you don't need to babysit them like you would in an oven. Sort of like sous-vide.

[@RobertTolone]

That would work are long as the bags don’t leak. Even a tiny amount of water would ruin the castings. As a general rule, because I almost always cast resin, I won’t let water get anywhere near my molds. Because moisture causes resin to foam. So I have always warmed them in various ovens in the shop.

[@glendawest9871]

Borrowed phone nephew Anything bite your worm