Pillar Finish and Weight
$110 USD · 3.5 hours · metal molds
Pillars punish impatience. In this session we work with blended paraffin-soy mixes suited to California indoor temperatures, and we spend real time on the seam: the faint line that tells you whether the wax pulled away evenly from the wall or tore on release.
I keep a bent paperclip on the table—not for wicks, but to trace the inside lip of the mold after pour. If the wax catches there first, you adjust the next pour’s temperature down a few degrees. Pupils often chase a glossy surface; I care more about whether the pillar stands straight when you set it on a plate without rocking.
What we supply
- Two-piece aluminum molds in a mid height (you take home what you pour)
- Release spray and a soft brush for even coating
- Wicking needle and pillar wick sized for the mold diameter we use that month
- Scale for weighing wax and fragrance so you repeat the batch at home
Schedule: Selected Sunday afternoons, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM, with a short break. Winter months sometimes shift earlier for natural light at the workbench.
Strengths
- Hands-on un-molding with coaching on thumb placement
- Written note on how much weight to add next time if your pillar burns fast
- Discussion of when a second pour is cosmetic versus structural
Limits
- Not a mass production class: one primary pillar each
- Strong fragrance oils with vanillin may frost; we pick safer blends for teaching day
Tip: tap the mold on a folded towel, not glass—glass transmits shock and encourages fine cracks. Why: you want the wax to release from the wall first, not vibrate as a solid block.
Try next: Scent balancing or sinkhole guide for jar work.
Reserve your spot