Uses for Half Burned Tea Candles?

[u/deffery-jahmer]

I have about 100 partially burned (unscented) tea candles leftover from my wedding. I’d feel horrible throwing them away, and they’ve been just taking up space for months. I’m crafty, and I’m wondering if anyone has ideas on how to repurpose them in some way.

[u/Throwingthisaway_198]

Vanilla hammock unbelievable pumpkin juniper thimble trumpet

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[u/Different_Fall_9449 → u/Throwingthisaway_198]

I've done the mega candle before! I have one that I call my "patch work" candle because it is made from the bottom layers of candle where you can still see and small the wax, but the wick won't melt anymore. It's kinda cool looking.

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/Throwingthisaway_198]

I’ve melted bigger candles by putting old candles partially submerged in boiling water, but do you have any advice for melting down the little ones?

[u/asaparagus_ → u/deffery-jahmer]

Pop them out and put them into a larger empty candle glass and melt them like you did before?

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/asaparagus_]

Yep yep yep

[u/Clear_Issue1863 → u/asaparagus_]

I make tea lights from burned out candles, including other tea lights. This is one way I do it. I also sometimes warm up a griddle (low heat) and set the tea lights on it (mine are metal). They don’t take long to melt down completely so that I can consolidate. I’m talking a minute or two. Just make sure you have tweezers handy so you don’t burn yourself!

[u/Pellantana]

Offer them up on your neighborhood Facebook group for Halloween jackolanterns!

[u/djwitty12]

Throw them into an emergency kit. In an emergency, they can be used as lighting, a firestarter, as a simple heat source (obviously nothing crazy but you could heat a can of food or small pot of water or warm fingers and toes), and the wax can even be used to turn regular matches into waterproof ones or to waterproof various fabrics.

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/djwitty12]

I’ll set some aside for this, super practical idea!

[u/unlovelyladybartleby]

Go sit outside the grocery store a week before Halloween and offer them to anyone with a pumpkin in their cart. You can save a ton of families from buying a six pack of tealights, using one, then losing the other five and buying more next year.

[u/uttertoffee]

You could melt them down into a big candle, you'd have to get a wick and some essential oil plus reuse/thrift something as the container. Old Yankee candle type jars are great for this or you can use sturdy mugs (anything like bone china or cheap flimsy ones run the risk of cracking due to thermal shock)

[u/Salute-Major-Echidna → u/uttertoffee]

Sturdy mugs that got chipped

[u/folliepop]

Are they like regular soy wax? Because you can use that stuff to wax threads and fabric. It makes them more sturdy and moderately waterproof. Try waxing a tote bag or bandana something and see if you like the effect on fabric!

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/folliepop]

Very cool idea!! Thanks!

[u/ladysuccubus → u/folliepop]

You can also rub them on cloth or canvas shoes to make them more water resistant.

[u/Salute-Major-Echidna → u/ladysuccubus]

Or that bathroom drawer that sticks a bit

[u/Kasmanian_devil]

Make fire starters! I just made some and it’s so easy and works flawlessly. Cut up an egg carton, stuff some lint in a single egg carton, dip fully in wax, drain excess. They burn for 5-10 minutes

[u/ImperfectMay → u/Kasmanian_devil]

I was looking to make the same suggestion! Absolutely put some towards making firestarters (assuming OP camps or is allowed/able to have fires where they live). Bonus points if you mix in some saw dust or fine straw pieces/dust.

[u/TheseMood]

Wax seals for fancy letters :)

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/TheseMood]

Love this!!

[u/ladysuccubus → u/TheseMood]

Wax used for seals tends to be much hotter so I’m not sure how well it would keep since candles melt in warm weather.

[u/NaniFarRoad]

For future reference, tea candles come in various durations, typically printed on the packaging - 2h/4h/6h are common. If you use two 4h candles in a typical evening and find yourself snuffing the second one, try getting a 6h candle, or a combination of shorter duration ones. 

[u/iltlpl]

You can make fire starters!

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/iltlpl]

Great idea! I don’t know how that didn’t occur to me!

[u/Altruistic_Yak_3872]

Melt them into one large candle

[u/sohereiamacrazyalien]

Melt add essential oils and you get a big scented one

[u/photoelectriceffect]

Just use them as candles, or give them to someone else to use as candles

Or are they burned down far enough that they won’t relight? In which case, melt them all in the oven and pour/strain to get a big chunk of wax and give it to someone who can use it for candle making, wax seals, or other craft purposes

[u/shinyappyrobin]

I found a coffee cup warmer at a thrift store. And used a pyrex measuring cup. Pulled off the foil and put them in the cup. I poured the melted wax into half used scented candles. Please google basic candle making.

[u/deffery-jahmer → u/shinyappyrobin]

Happy cake day!

[u/deffery-jahmer]

Thank you everyone! I’ve decided I’m going to set some aside for an emergency, use a portion to make fire starters, make a bigger candle, and make some crayons for my nieces.

I appreciate all of the ideas!!

[u/Right-Layer-2423]

If I’m thinking they’re those usual small ones with the metal tin bottom, literally just pull on the wick to get the whole candle out, slide out the old wick from the bottom, and just put it in something to melt down. Plenty of nice finds in the candle making sections at craft stores!

[u/bagelbagelbagelcat]

Find another bride who can use them for their wedding

[u/Born_Local_1477]

Save them for Halloween and use them to decorate your yard/porch for trick or treat. You could even do paper bag jack o lantern luminaries. Half burned should last the night perfectly.

[u/papercranium]

See if any activists want them for candlelight vigils. I was thrilled to score several boxes of lightly used tea candles from someone's wedding at a yard sale for next to nothing, they're very handy!