Adding color to crafts and projects with spray paint can be really easy, but you need to make sure that you can actually use the correct spray paint for the project you are working on!
When it comes to candles, decorating them with paints is a popular way to add colors and patterns, but what if you wanted a quicker, easier way to paint candles?
Can you spray paint candles? Non-toxic and water-based spray paint can be used on candles, but there are a few things you need to be mindful of when painting them and protecting the paint once it has dried. It’s best to use painted candles as decor rather than burning them to avoid toxic fumes and the paint catching fire.
To reiterate, when spray painting candles, they are best left as decorative pieces only, and lighting them could cause the spray paint to melt and release toxic fumes into the air, or even catch fire.
Read on to find out more about spray painting candles, and whether or not it is a good idea!
Can You Spray Paint Any Candle?
You are fairly free to spray paint any candle that you want, but you do need to read the spray paint label to make sure that it is suited to be used on wax.
Whether you are spray painting wax candles or a candlestick holder, you do need to choose the right spray paint to use.
Different candle waxes do work better with different types of paint, but it will also be down to figuring out what you prefer working with and what works best for your design.
Can You Use Any Spray Paint For Candles?
There are many different types of spray paint options on the market, and you can’t just pick any one to use to spray paint candles.
It is important to read the label of the spray paint you are wanting to use to make sure that it is suited to be used on candles. The best option to use would be acrylic spray paint. This can often be non-toxic and water-soluble, making it safe and easy to work with.
Acrylic paints are a popular choice to use to paint candles by hand, so it makes sense that they would work just as well in spray paint form.
You can get a special type of candle paint (we recommend these candle wax pens on Amazon) but this can be difficult to find in spray paint form. For wax candles, it would be best to start off with a safe acrylic spray paint and experiment with that first!
Can You Burn Candles Which Have Been Spray Painted?
Candle painting has been around for quite some time but in order to burn the candle, you need to have used paint that will not be dangerous when heated.
Candles which have been painted will be fine to burn if you have used non-toxic, water-based paint, but how much paint you have used will also determine whether the candle is safe to burn or not.
If you have only added small paint details to the candle, then it is fine to burn it, but as the paint can alter burn time, if most of the candle is covered in paint, it is best to just leave it as a decorative piece and not try to burn it.
If you really do want to burn a candle that you have spray painted, it is best to either stick to short burning times or small paint designs on the candle using only non-toxic and water-based paint, which is hard to find in aerosol form.
How To Spray Paint Candles
There is some planning that needs to go into spray painting candles, so your candles are properly painted and the process is made easy!
Get The Right Equipment
Make sure that you have the right equipment ready for when you are going to spray paint your candles:
- Masking tape
- Rubbing alcohol
- Newspaper
- Lint-free cloth
- Gloves
- Safety goggles
- Spray paint primer
- Water-based spray paint
Find Your Painting Spot
When using spray paint, it is best to work outdoors. This is because spray paint can cause quite a bit of mess, and quite an odor.
If you are unable to spray paint outdoors, then make sure to cover the area with newspaper or plastic sheeting for protection, and make sure that the area is very well ventilated.
Clean The Candles
Once you have your painting area set up, you need to prepare the candles. Spray paint should only be applied to primed, clean surfaces, and if you do not prepare the candles, then there is a good chance the spray paint won’t apply evenly and will not dry properly.
With protective gloves on, dab a lint-free cloth with some rubbing alcohol. Rub this onto the candle to remove any oil and dirt residue, and any wax lumps. The rubbing alcohol will prepare the surface of the candle properly for the paint.
You can then apply masking tape to areas of the candle which you do not want to paint.
Paint The Candles
Once prepared, you can then spray paint the candles. If you prefer, you can use a spray paint primer on the candles first, holding the spray paint can the recommended distance away from the candle.
A single layer of primer should be fine for the candle, and once it has dried, you can go ahead and use the colored spray paint on the candle, creating the designs that you want.
Try to get even coverage on the candles, and avoid depositing too much color in one area if you can, as this could cause the paint to dry and crack and just not look so great!
You can then seal the spray paint with a gloss or matte finish if you wanted, but this isn’t completely necessary. If you are using more than one color on the candle, wait at least 15-20 minutes between each color for it to dry before adding the next.
How Should You Protect Spray Painted Candles?
To keep the colors and paint in good condition, you could seal the candle with a non-toxic water-based varnish. This will preserve the colors and the glossy or matte finish of the candle for a lot longer than if it was left as-is.
Another practical way to protect spray-painted candles is to display them in a glass jar. This keeps dirt and dust off of the candle and helps the colors stay vivid for longer.
Even though non-toxic, water-based acrylic paint is safe to use on candles, it is best to just use these candles as decorative pieces. If you do burn the candle, there is a good chance that the paint will melt, affect the burning time of the candle, or even catch fire if it comes in contact with the flame.
Can I Use Metallic Spray Paint On Candles?
There are some beautiful metallic spray paints sold, and you might be tempted to give your candles a silver or gold finish, but you do need to be careful.
It is fine to use metallic spray paint on candles, but you should not light these candles. The metal elements in this paint could cause a fire hazard if they come into contact with the flame, or even just become too hot.
The melted wax, and the metallic spray paint, could pool around the candle, and coming into contact with a flame can cause quite a dangerous situation.
Summary
You can definitely spray paint candles, and you can have fun decorating different size candles and creating different patterns, but you need to be cautious when doing so.
If you are going to use spray paint, it is best to choose non-toxic, water-based acrylic paint. This is safest to use on a candle and will give the best results.
If you have only used a small amount of spray paint on the candle, then it should be fine to burn, but if quite a large portion of the candle is covered in spray paint, then it would be best to leave it as a decorative piece and not risk destroying the paint by lighting the candle.
Related Questions
How can you make paint stick to a candle?
The best way to get paint to stick to a candle is to prepare the candle before painting. The best way to prepare the candle is to wipe it down with a lint-free cloth and some rubbing alcohol. This removes the sheen and oil from the surface of the candle, which could cause the paint to not stick.
Is acrylic paint flammable?
Acrylic paint forms a plastic polymer when it is dry and once the water has evaporated out of it, this can burn at very high temperatures. For more information, check out our article Is Acrylic Paint Flammable?
Can I use glitter in candles?
It is best to avoid using glitter in candles, as it can be a fire hazard, and could even cause a blockage in the candlewick.
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