The work area
& safety
In candle making, you need access to a flame and a solid bench, thus
there is some potential risk for problems to happen such as burning yourself.
Please follow some of these guidelines and use common sense and most
problems will be avoided. TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
Before you start your project you need to make
sure that the work area is covered
in newspaper, this
includes
the floor, as wax is messy to clean up and very slippery. Also it is
handy to keep a roll of paper towels nearby in case of any accidental
spills. Gather everything you need before commencing the project and
ensure that children and pets are kept at bay. Remember to never leave
a flame unattended, as it can potentially be a fire hazard.
Safety Guidelines
Candle making is a relatively safe hobby provided you adhere
to some basic guidelines:
- When melting wax, never leave the pan unattended as lit has
a low melting point and can burst into flames very quickly. If
this occurs, use a wet
towel, do not use water as this can aggravate the flames and create
a mess.
- Use a thermometer when heating wax and keep an eye on the temperature.
Do NOT let it get too hot.
- Try not to heat at such high temperatures as this may cause the wax
to catch fire.
- If you spill hot wax on your skin, immediately
hold the area under a cold running tap. Hot wax rarely scalds if
you keep it to the
temperature
required for candlemaking.
- Do NOT pour unwanted wax down the drain, unless you are thinking
of getting a new one, as this will effectively clog it.
- Although it may not be needed, it is good to keep a good
fire extinguisher nearby.
- Always use oven gloves when handling hot objects.
- Make sure you do not
get distracted (i.e. telephone, children, pets) when you are melting
the wax. If you need to attend to any matters,
turn
the stove off.
- You should stand improvised moulds in a container while
pouring the wax in, this will catch any leaking wax.
- Keep lit candles out of the reach of small children and pets
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