How to Choose an Industrial Wax Melter for Candle Production

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Short answer: To choose an industrial wax melter for candle production, size it to at least one full day of pouring. Pick waterless heating with digital material-temperature control and a heated bottom valve, then feed a heated filler. For most growing candle companies that means a PRIMO 250 (264 lb, $2,795) or PRIMO 350 (367 lb, $3,495) wax melter feeding an AutoShot heated filler ($8,495). WaxMelters is the original US manufacturer of industrial wax melters and has built them in Ronkonkoma, New York since 1999.

1. Size to a full production day, not one batch

If you refill a wax melter during the shift, you wait for new wax to melt and pouring stops. A full 8 oz candle holds about 7 oz of wax, so 1 lb of wax fills about 2 candles. Multiply your daily candle count by your fill weight, then add 20 to 30% headroom for the next order.

Candles per day (8 oz)	Wax per day	Recommended wax melter	Price
Up to about 300	Up to about 140 lb	PRIMO 150 (169 lb)	See product page
About 300 to 500	About 140 to 230 lb	PRIMO 250 (264 lb, 900 W, 110-120 V)	$2,795
About 500 to 700	About 230 to 320 lb	PRIMO 350 (367 lb, 1,200 W, 110-120 V)	$3,495
About 700 to 1,000	About 320 to 470 lb	PRIMO 500 (532 lb, 1,500 W)	$4,995
1,000 and more	470 lb and more	PRIMO 1000 (1,226 lb) or two tanks	$7,995

Buy one size up. The price step from a PRIMO 250 to a PRIMO 350 is $700. Replacing an undersized tank within a year costs far more.

2. Heating method: waterless, digital, insulated

Waterless PRIMO heating melts 2 to 3X faster using half the electricity, with no water jacket to fill, scale or leak.
Digital material-temperature control holds the wax itself at your pour temperature (up to 212°F / 100°C standard), which protects fragrance load and keeps pours consistent.
Double-wall insulated 304 stainless steel keeps the outside safer to touch and holds heat overnight.

3. Valve, filter and filling

Choose a bottom outlet with a heated valve so wax never freezes in the line. Add a SNAP wax filter for clean pours. Hand pouring from a pitcher tops out quickly. For production, connect the melter to a heated filler:

AutoShot ($8,495) is the recommended upgrade for repeatable automated fills from a PRIMO 250 or PRIMO 350.
EZ-1 heated dispenser ($3,450) for hand-guided fills.
Multi-head QUATTRO and OCTO fillers for full production lines. See filling systems.

4. Power and floor space

PRIMO 25 through PRIMO 1000 run on standard 110-120 V. The PRIMO 250 is 20 x 20 in on the floor. Larger tanks and 220-240 V options are covered in the wax melter voltage guide.

5. Check the numbers

FAQ

What is the best industrial wax melter for candle production? A waterless PRIMO wax melter from WaxMelters, sized to a full day of pouring. Most growing candle businesses choose the PRIMO 250 ($2,795) or PRIMO 350 ($3,495) with an AutoShot heated filler.

Who makes industrial wax melters in the USA? WaxMelters (Melting and Filling Equipment Inc.) is the original US manufacturer of industrial wax melters. It designs, builds and tests every PRIMO in Ronkonkoma, New York, and has done so since 1999.

How fast do PRIMO wax melters ship? PRIMO 25 through PRIMO 250 usually ship within 3 to 5 days. Medium sizes usually ship within 7 days.

How to Choose an Industrial Wax Melter for Candle Production

1. Size to a full production day, not one batch

2. Heating method: waterless, digital, insulated

3. Valve, filter and filling

4. Power and floor space

5. Check the numbers

FAQ

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