Candle Making

[NH Homesteader]

I am so going to try that sometime!

 

[CookingFromScratch]

By Arminius (from askaprepper)

The pine tree is one of the most overlooked natural resources as it has multiple survival uses. The entire tree is edible, from the bark to the pine cones. You can make pine needle tea or use the roots as cordage.

The most versatile item is the pine resin, you can use it to make candles, glue, treat wounds, to start a fire, a water-proof sealant and many more.

To tap a pine tree, use an axe or a machete to cut the bark. Tie a bucket around the tree at the bottom of your area. The bucket must stay firm against the tree as it will collect the pine sap. Hack “V” shaped notches in the cleared area pointed to the bucket. You can gather even more sap if you stick a beak like metal object to direct the sap to the bucket.

Pine candles shine brightly and give you one of the greatest scents—pine wood.

Necessary Ingredients

• At least one container to melt the resin in (a tin can in this case)
• Another container that will be used for the candles
• Some rope to make the wick
• A knife
• A fireplace or someplace to melt the resin
• And, of course, the resin
  

I thought that I’d use more types of containers. It’s always fun to experiment.

Step One: Melting the Resin
After you light the fire, fill your container with the resin. Don’t be scared to fill it to the brim as it will melt down and fill in all the gaps.

Also, it will be even less if you want to filter it out, so it’s fine to go all out.

WARNING: The resin might catch on fire if the heat is too high. Just take it off the fire with some pliers, and blow the flames out. Make sure you never hold the can—it gets extremely hot. Be sure to stand next to it while it melts as it may burn to ash if you’re not careful.

While all the resin melts, start working on getting the candle holders ready.

Step Two (Optional): Filtering Out All the Yuck
After melting it all down, you will need another container and something to filter out the bark and the pine needles. I used an old fish landing net.

Get the filter ready, and pour the hot resin over it and into the container. You will need to work quickly because it cools off fast and might clog up the holes of the filter. For this to work, you will need to move the resin around a little bit so that it can go down into the container.

Step Three: Making the Candles
After getting your container ready and cutting the rope to the perfect size, you are ready to make your candles. You might have to put the filtered resin back onto the fire to get it ready for pouring once again.

Pour a little bit of hot resin into the candle holder; it will help to fix the wick.

After this, dip the rope into the resin quickly for it to soak some up. This is necessary to get the wick standing straight while you’re pouring the resin.

Now you just have to put the wick in and leave it to rest for a few seconds so it can harden.

Finally, you will have to fill it up. You might also need to keep the wick straight with your hands. It will melt the resin that’s holding it and may try to fall down; just use toothpicks to keep it at the same spot until it hardens, which will take roughly 10–15 minutes.

Enjoy your homemade pine resin candles.

AMAZING!!! I never knew pine was so versatile. Almost makes me want to leave Florida, but I probably won't.

A great and unique share. I'd like to find a sappy palm tree and see if that works instead.

 

[The Country Girl]

Hello Everybody,

I missed a lot! Thank you for the wonderful responses. I am fascinated now more than ever. Thanks for all the great info, I will look into it. I really like the pine idea. I will try them as soon as possible!! Thanks again.

Somewhere in Maine,
-The Country Girl

 

[YoteMeadows]

That is amazing!!! I ordered pine trees from our conservation department after reading that LOL

 

[candyd]

I just recently read that you can make candles using pine resin. Now that excited me since I'm surrounded by pine forests and gathering the resin would be free! I need to look up the tutorial again; if anyone else is interested, I'll post it here.

I just saw this thread, and I am so curious about this.
What a great idea! I have NEVER heard of it. I am going to look into this. Do you know if the pine trees are tapped in the spring like other trees? Or all year long?

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Never thought to tap pine trees and use their sap to make candles LOVE this idea and will def be trying it out.

 

[Britesea]

Since pine trees don't go dormant like deciduous trees, I don't think you need to wait until spring to tap them.

 

[CrealCritter]

"The pine tree is one of the most overlooked natural resources as it has multiple survival uses. The entire tree is edible, from the bark to the pine cones."

This may be true and all but have you ever eaten a pine cone? Well I have, it plugged me up for a good week. Just because you can eat it, doesn't mean you should eat it. Trust me on this one.

 

[Britesea]

ermm... I suspect they meant the seeds within the cones? lol

 

[CrealCritter]

ermm... I suspect they meant the seeds within the cones? lol

Could be... But I eat the entire pine cone. Not a smart move I can tell you that.