Waxy at a Candle Factory

Wednesday 30 January 2002. We are, as ever, up early in the morning to get washed, wrapped in numerous layers of clothing, breakfasted, teeth cleaned, woolly hats pulled on tight and presenting ourselves to the drivers at the coach for today's exciting activities.

Today we start at a place called Brixlegg, where the point of interest is a candle factory. George warned us that some of the candles might be "interestingly shaped" at which point the ladies on the coach all started giggling and pushing their way out of the coach, leaving the men floundering, crying out in alarm and squeaking in protest... These look perfectly acceptable candles, but you will notice that there's not a woman to be seen - no. They are all clustered around a shelf not too far away saying things like "Ooh, that'd make Fred feel inadequate..." and "Do you suppose friction might melt them..."

We are called to attention by one of the candle makers who is to give us a demonstration - no ladies(!!!) - of making candles. For Heaven's Sake...

There are lots of containers of different coloured waxes, kept at liquid temperatures. You start by dipping your wick (this article is taking a rather strange course, but it gets better from now on, I promise...). Each dip leaves a thin layer of wax and multiple dipping builds up the width of the candle. Dipping in different colours produces layers that can be peeled back to reveal them - next slide please...

With the wax solidifying but still soft, the candle is cut and the cut part bent down into a curl. This is how the candles shown in the first photograph are made. A heat source to the side keeps the wax soft enought to mould without breaking.

It's one of those crafts that you feel could be a lot of fun, trying your own hand at candle making. I imagine it could be a whole heap messy too though... There were other cheaper and simpler-shaped candles, tapered, cylinders, pyramids and so on.

"Have ye found any aiggs?" asked Jock. She did... By the time we got back to the coach, Jock was sweeping it out. "Anyone bringing bits o' grit in again will get such a slap!" he warned with mock ferocity. We all did though - there was so much spread about on the snow-covered pavements.

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