How to Centre a Wick in a Silicone Candle Mold
To centre a wick in one of our silicone molds, thread it through the hole in the base, pull it snug, and hold it in the centre at the top before you pour. Keep it straight and lightly taut while the beeswax sets, and do not move the mold until the candle is solid. A centred wick gives an even melt pool and a candle that burns down straight.
Why does wick position matter?
An off-centre wick melts one side of the candle faster than the other. The flame can lean, the wall on the near side can thin and break through, and wax may run down one side. Once beeswax has set, the wick stays where it is, so it has to be right before and during the pour.
Centring is not the same as choosing the right wick size. A perfectly centred wick that is too small still tunnels; one that is too large still smokes. For sizing, see What kind of wick should I use for my beeswax candle?
What do you need?
- A silicone mold with a wick hole in the base
- Wick of the right size for the candle's diameter, cut a few centimetres longer than the mold
- Something to hold the wick at the top: a wick holder, or a wooden skewer or stick laid across the opening
- Pure beeswax, a double boiler and a thermometer
How do you centre the wick, step by step?
- Thread the wick through the base. Push the wick through the small hole in the base of the mold from the inside or outside, whichever is easier, and pull it through so a short tail sticks out underneath. There's no need to seal the wick hole in the base of our molds.
- Pull it snug. Draw the wick up through the mold so it runs straight from the base to the top opening, with a few centimetres spare at the top.
- Centre it at the top. Hold the wick in the middle of the opening with a wick holder, or tie or clip it to a stick laid across the top. Look down from above and from the side to check it is in the centre and vertical.
- Add light tension. The wick should be straight, not slack, but do not pull so hard that the mold distorts or the wick slips back through the base.
- Stand the mold level. A tilted mold gives a tilted candle, even with a perfectly placed wick.
- Pour steadily. Melt the beeswax gently and pour at 70–75 °C (158–167 °F) in one steady stream, aimed beside the wick rather than straight onto it.
- Check while it is liquid. Look again right after pouring. If the wick has moved, nudge it back to the centre now, before the wax starts to set.
- Let it set undisturbed. Leave the mold at room temperature, away from drafts, until the candle is fully set. Then remove the holder, flex the silicone and release the candle. No release agent is needed.
For a full walkthrough of pouring with our molds, see How to use our molds.
Do you need a wick holder?
Not always. For most molds, a wooden skewer or stick across the top opening, with the wick tied or clipped to it, keeps the wick centred well.
We also make wick holders for candle molds, but they fit only specific molds, including Round Top Birthday, Church Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Plain (14 cm, 8-cavity) and Vintage (6-cavity). Please check the wick holder product page for compatibility before ordering them.
Why does the wick move, and how do you stop it?
- Wick slack at the top: it drifts as the wax rises. Add light tension before pouring.
- Pouring straight onto the wick: the stream pushes it sideways. Pour beside it.
- Mold not level: the candle sets at an angle. Check the surface before you pour.
- Moving the mold while the wax sets: the wick shifts and stays shifted. Pour where the mold can stay.
Will the candle shrink as it cools?
Beeswax shrinks a little as it cools, but in our molds this does not produce big sinkholes. At most, a slight dip at the base can occasionally appear, and it is minor. Pour within 70–75 °C and let the candle cool slowly at room temperature.
FAQ
How do I centre a wick in a silicone candle mold?
Thread the wick through the hole in the base of the mold, pull it snug, and hold it in the centre at the top with a wick holder or a stick laid across the opening. Then pour and let the candle set without moving the mold.
Do your wick holders fit all molds?
No. They fit only specific molds, including Round Top Birthday, Church Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Plain (14 cm, 8-cavity) and Vintage (6-cavity). Check the wick holder product page for compatibility before ordering. For other molds, a stick or skewer across the top works well.
Is centring the wick the same as choosing the right wick size?
No. Centring keeps the wick straight while the candle sets; the wick size decides how well it burns. You need both.
Can I straighten a wick after the candle has set?
Not really. Once beeswax sets, the wick stays where it is. Check that it is centred before you pour and while the wax is still liquid.
Molds to try
If you want to use our wick holders, the Church Christmas Tree mold is one of the compatible designs, and the Christmas Tree Plain mold fits them in its 14 cm, 8-cavity size. Check the wick holder product page for the full compatibility list. You can find every shape in the full mold catalogue, handmade in Latvia and shipped worldwide.
