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Candles were made either of tallow or beeswax. Tallow is animal fat which has been boiled and strained. As a great
number of large animals were slaughtered at the onset of winter, a lot of
fat was available for use, just in time for all of the dark evenings.
Beeswax was of course produced by bees in warm weather, and merely had to
be collected, cleaned of honey, and melted. Candles were made by the
following four methods. Dipping, Pouring, Rolling, Casting
Dipped candies
These were made by first taking a bit of wick and soaking it in molten
beeswax or tallow, the process is accomplished by dipping it into a tall
vessel, filled mainly with hot water on top of which is a layer of molten
beeswax or tallow. After a dip in the molten wax, the wick is then cooled in
water. This process is continued until the candle reaches the desired
diameter.
Poured candles
These were made by first tying a wick to a support, molten beeswax or tallow
is then poured down the wick. As it flows down it will cool and the candle
will be built up. This process is continued until the desired size is
reached.
Rolled candles
These were made by first pouring molten beeswax onto a container of hot
water, and allowing to cool. Once cool, the layer of wax on top of the water
is removed. It can be cut to size with a knife, and reheated under hot water
until it becomes pliable. Then it is rolled around a piece of stiffened wick
and formed into a candle.
Cast candles
These were made by using a mould and fixing a wick in place, inside. Then,
molten beeswax or tallow is poured into the mould.
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