Double boiler

A double boiler is a simple setup of one pot or pitcher sitting inside a larger pot of simmering water, used to melt wax indirectly rather than placing it directly over a burner. The water bath spreads the heat more evenly and keeps the wax from reaching the pot's surface temperature directly.

Melting wax this way matters for both consistency and standard fire safety practice, since wax heated directly in a pot over a flame can scorch, discolor, or climb toward its flash point faster than expected. As a general precaution, always melt wax over low to medium heat, keep a close eye on the water level in the outer pot so it does not boil dry, and never leave a double boiler unattended on an active burner.

A dedicated melting pitcher with a pour spout, sized for a double boiler setup, makes pouring into containers far easier than trying to pour from a plain saucepan. A common mistake is melting wax directly over high heat to save time, which increases the chance of overheating the wax well past its intended pour temperature.