Precise measurement of ingredients is a critical step in the success of different arts and crafts. Just like in cooking and soap-making, a weighing scale is an indispensable tool when making candles.
High-quality scales ensure you mix the right amount of fragrance oil and other additives to the wax. We are sure you already know the consequences of inaccurate measurements in candle making: poor or no scent throw, candle sweating, and settling of fragrance oil at the bottom. Yikes.
So, what type of scale do you need for candle making? The best scale for candle making is a digital scale that’s appropriate for kitchen use. Ideally it should handle a weight of up to 10 pounds with accuracy and precision down to at least the tenth (0.1) of a measurement.
If you are in the market for your first scales or looking to upgrade, we’ve got you. This post gives you tips to guide your shopping, and reviews the best scales for candle making.
Choosing Scales For Candle Making – What to Look For
Spending all that time painstakingly and lovingly making a batch of candles only to find the scent throw is poor or they’re not equal enough to sell is a big disappointment! The right tools for the job can’t be underestimated. That’s as true of finding a good scale as it is of using the right wax.
You are unlikely to find scales specifically marketed as candle making scales. Therefore, it is important to look for those specific features that’ll make your candle making process easier and measurements accurate.
So, what should you look for?
Conversion Feature
Candle making involves experimenting with new recipes from time to time. These will not always use the same metrics. Some will be in kilograms and grams; others will be in pounds or ounces.
A conversion button gives you an easy time switching between them without going through tedious conversion calculations.
Precision and Accuracy
Many scales will be accurate to a whole number but lack the ability of detailed measurements such that 4.1g and 4.2g will show as 4g. Such small details do matter especially for things like fragrant oils.
A good candle making scale can measure at least increments of 0.1, but those that go as low as 0.01 (to the hundredth place) are hands down the best for making those minor adjustments.
Tare Feature
The tare function is one of the most sought-after features on a scale. With this function, you can reset your scales to zero and measure your contents without factoring in the weight of the container or multiple ingredients, saving you time and helping you avoid extra math.
Power
Battery operated scales are the market standard precisely due to the advantage of portability and convenience. Nonetheless, batteries can let you down abruptly at the time when you really need them to work.
Once they start running out, the scale begins showing inaccurate and illegible figures, and you might not have replacements at the exact time.
You can avoid this mishap with a model that has an AC adapter. But then you’ll have to rely on a power outlet each time.
The 3 Best Scales For Candle Making
To take the guesswork away from you, we sought the three best scales used in candle making by experienced candle crafters and top reviewed brands. Here are our top recommendations:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nicewell Food Scale | Stainless steel, precise graduation, easy to clean |
| 2. | My Weigh Kitchen & Craft Scale | Intended for soaps & candles, easy to clean, brightly lit |
| 3. | Escali Primo Precision Food Scale | Lightweight, durable design, |
Let’s look at each one a little more closely, shall we?
1. Nicewell Food Scale
Nicewell is a versatile multi-purpose scale with really stylish aesthetics; you’ll be so proud to display it on your countertop.
It is constructed with a plastic base, tempered glass, and brushed stainless steel surface with a quick response sensor screen and tare function. The nice led digital display has a blue backlight, so you don’t have to struggle reading. It runs on two AAA batteries.
Nicewell scale measures from as low as 2g to 22lbs (with a 10kgs maximum), making this excellent for a large batch of candles. Its 9 x 6.3-inch surface offers ample space to work with.
It detects small 0.1 oz increments, ideal for measuring fragrance oils and other small additives. You’ll also love that it is a multi-unit scale. You can switch between pounds, ounces, grams, kilograms, and milliliters.
The device is very accurate, and with such an impressive design and high-quality construction, it is one of the best scales for candle making.
2. My Weigh Kitchen And Craft Digital Scale
KD-8000 is one of crafters’ favorite scales. A significant advantage above others is that it comes with an AC adapter to keep it powered. There’s no need to worry about batteries dying on you.
The unit takes up to 17.6 lbs (8000 g) of weight, and you can switch between four modes: grams, kilograms, pounds and ounces. It measures in single gram (1 g) increments and therefore rounds up fractions to the nearest gram.
The design is somewhat bulky though sturdily built to last long. There’s a led display with a backlight and an auto-shut function, but you can disable these if you need to.
The weighing platform has a gunk shield and is removable for easy cleaning. Display and function buttons are also protected from accidental spills with a removable guard.
Apart from the need to calibrate, this is one of the most durable, accurate, and reliable scales you can get for your candle making projects.
3. Escali Primo Precision Food Scale
Escali Primo is a compact, attractive, battery-operated scale for those quick measurements. It has a sleek rounded design with rubber grips at the base.
There are multiple beautiful colors to choose from if you want a refreshing change from the usual silver or black.
The scale measures up to 11 lbs (5000 g) with single ounce (1 oz) increments and has three modes: grams, pounds, and ounces.
Escali’s digital display is clear, though not brightly lit. There’s the tare feature and an auto-shut feature too that activates within four minutes of inactivity. The function area has a spill-proof cover that seals the buttons from moisture damage, making cleaning a breeze.
It is a little portable, accurate and consistent candle making scale with a lifetime warranty. You’ll need two AAA batteries, and there’s a low-battery alert signal, so nothing catches you off guard.
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