On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:31:35 -0500, "Bob Chilcoat"
wrote:

I've been asked by our Pastor to cast a 3" x 22" "Christ Candle". I haven't
been able to find a candle mold this big. I have a few feet of new 3" PVC
pipe that I can make into a mold, but the inside is rippled from the
extrusion process. Any suggestions as to the best way to make the inside of
this true and smooth so that the candle can be extracted after molding?
I''ve thought of running a cylinder hone down it, but this will probably not
do exactly what I want, and will leave a grooved surface.

I've thought of buying a piece of 3" copper drain pipe, but this will be
expensive and may be unobtainable in a two-foot lenght. I don't have slip
rollers, so I can't see how I could roll a mold. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

IANA Candle Making Expert, though I have done it a few times.
You're going to need some sort of a split mold to get the candle out,
it won't just push out of a length of pipe unless it's perfectly
smooth and slightly conical, and you have the release agent applied in
just the right amount...

One wild idea - Get a 3' length of 4" or 5" snap-lock galvanized
dryer vent pipe at the local Home Depot/Lowe's/BORG.

Fold a flange on the snap-lock edges so when the edges are pulled
together you have your 3" diameter round mold, it should stay close to
round with a little massaging of the metal. Then rig up two
stretchers of 1x1 wood for the seam, and a bunch of spring clamps to
hold the edges together.

A board and some sheet gasket at the bottom for the base of the
mold. A few eye-hooks and bungee cords to hold the cylinder against
the bottom. And a big pail, serving tray or steam tray to set it all
in, so if you have a big wax spill it's contained.

Thumbtack into the board to hold the bottom end of the wick, pencil
balanced across the top of the mold to hold the top end of the wick.
Heat and pour your wax, wait a few hours for cooling, then unclamp and
slide out the candle.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.