Posted by Karen on October 29, 2000 at 03:05:25:
In Reply to: Scented Pinecone Firestarters posted by Marcia on October 28, 2000 at 19:04:03:
(Found on message board)
Melt paraffin wax in a double boiler, or make your own double boiler.
(Deep skillet with water, and a pot inside the skillet)
DO NOT MELT WAX DIRECTLY IN A POT ON THE STOVE ELEMENT. IT IS FLAMMABLE.
While you're melting the wax, you should add wax fat.
(you can get it at your local craft store) This acts as a hardener.
Add candle dye, which usually comes in a tablet form, to the wax while
melting.
Add your scent, (essential oils or candle scents)
Tie some wick to the top of your cone. (this is so you can dangle and dip)
(much easier on your fingers). Dip the cone in the wax, drain, then dip the cone into
some cold water (this will harden the wax so that each time you dip it doesn't just keep
melting the wax off). Once you have the cone dipped to the thickness that you want
take some wick and and dip it in your wax, (so that it is coated). Fill a muffin tin with wax, place in your wax so you have about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch over hang, place your cone inside the muffin tin. Let set up and you've got yourself a scented pinecone firestarter.
I used a candy thermoter and found that the ideal temperature for dipping was 150 to 148 degrees. Less dips required, the wax coated much more thickly at this temperature than any temperature higher.
When the wax started to get a film on the top I just put it back on to my double boiler until the film disappeared and started dipping again.
They burn up to 20 minutes, you don't need kindling or paper, and the wax disappears.