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How Crayons Are Made: From Wax and Pigment to a Solid Stick

Crayola describes a simple sequence for making its crayons: melt paraffin wax, blend in pigment, pour the mixture into molds, and let it solidify.

By ThatPainter Team 1 min read
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Crayola says its crayons are made by melting paraffin wax, blending in color pigment, pouring the mixture into molds, and letting it solidify. That final step takes four to seven minutes, according to the company. The details below describe Crayola’s documented process, not a universal recipe for every crayon maker.

What crayons are made from

Crayola identifies paraffin wax and color pigment as the primary ingredients in its crayons. The company does not publish the exact recipe or ingredient proportions, so a more precise formula cannot be established from its public description.

For color, pigments may be used individually or blended together. Crayola says pigment amounts are pre-measured, allowing the wax mixture to be colored consistently.

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How Crayola makes a crayon

  1. Melt the wax. Paraffin wax is heated until it can be mixed.
  2. Blend in pigment. Pre-measured color pigment is added to the wax, either on its own or in combination with other pigments.
  3. Pour into molds. The colored mixture is poured into molding machines to form crayons.
  4. Let the crayons solidify. Crayola says this takes four to seven minutes.

Crayola describes this basic process as the same across its colors. Its manufacturing FAQ notes that special-effects crayons may vary from the standard formula.

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How many crayons Crayola makes

Crayola reports making almost 3 billion crayons each year. The company’s FAQ does not state the year or period covered by that figure.

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When Crayola crayons began

Crayola’s company history says Binney & Smith introduced its first box of eight affordable, non-toxic Crayola crayons in June 1903. The company credits Alice Binney with coining “Crayola” from craie, French for chalk, and ola, from oleaginous.

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