Guest OldGlory Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I've had it with the cold weather. Seriously.My corner cutting, time saving method of making tins for my clients is backfiring because of the cold. I pour all but about 1/2 oz at whatever temperature my wax reaches, then pour a thin layer for a smooth top. It has worked for many, many years. But now, the tops are all cracking due to the cold.I have so many bad words this morning I half expect someone to walk thru my front door and wash my mouth out with soap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 That sucks OG! Wish I could help you with that. You could just heat gun the tops to smooth out the cracks but that won't guarantee they won't crack again. Would covering them or packing in a box help? Bubble wrap is also a great insulator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Oh, that is too bad Old Glory....I've had that happen too. How bout putting them in a smaller room with a heater going in that room? Trappeyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I just packed up 8 of them. They are going the way they are.And I melted down another 14 which I have tried to fix twice and it just isn't working. You can't heat gun soy because you get ugly tops.I can't plug in another heater - every time I do I trip a breaker.I'll just repour these, leave them in the kitchen where it's 68 degrees, and finish the order another time when it's warmer.i appreciate the suggestions! I learn something new all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Those dang tins just get cold too quickly! I've even had to put them in a warm oven to cool as the oven cools, think that's why I quit tins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Cracking all the way through, or just a few surface cracks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 TallTayl, it's only the overpour that cracks. I will have to keep the tins warmer and pour less the first time, more the second time. Thankfully, I am done with the tins for now and only have jars to finish the order. In 14 years of candlemaking, this is the first time I've seen the surface cracks.I learned something about soy wax this week. It really requires a room temp. over 70 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 But wondering what happens if you had a little bit of beeswax. Would it possibly help? I'm not talking a lot. Maybe a few grains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I don't know Scented, I haven't tried it. I would have to run it by my clients first - the labels say 100% soy wax. I have some beeswax pellets that I wouldn't mind adding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Or a bit of coconut oil or crisco etc. The beeswax might cause more severe cracks where more oil content might not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I usually hit the tops with the heat gun before the over pour. I can totally see the overpour over ice cold wax cooling with cracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Scented, that is food for thought. It would make sense that the wax would be less brittle with a bit of veg. shortening/oil.Tall, I think that's what happened. The wax already in the tin was too cold. The cracks go all the way across, like 3 or 4 large cracks.All these years of candlemaking and nothing like this has happened. Guess that sums up how cold it's been in TN this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Lol, i feel you in the temp issues. i live near Chicago. My shop was below 50 degrees recently. When you can see your breath it is time to turn UP the melters and leave them ON! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Lol, i feel you in the temp issues. i live near Chicago. My shop was below 50 degrees recently. When you can see your breath it is time to turn UP the melters and leave them ON! Brrrrrrrr!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I've had it with the cold weather. Seriously.My corner cutting, time saving method of making tins for my clients is backfiring because of the cold. I pour all but about 1/2 oz at whatever temperature my wax reaches, then pour a thin layer for a smooth top. It has worked for many, many years. But now, the tops are all cracking due to the cold.I have so many bad words this morning I half expect someone to walk thru my front door and wash my mouth out with soap! I can hear ya now friend! Hopefully these warmer temps coming in for this weekend and next week will help! Stay warm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 That is exactly what happens to me with votives when I do the overpour- PB/415 If I don't hit it when its warm- and I get distracted and forget a lot when I mke themThe last time I did that And forgot about them I did what Talltayl suggested with a heat gun to warm them up and they didn't crack so maybe it's an idea that would work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Thank God for the brevity of our winters. It will be in the 50's most of next week.ComeonSpring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckemmons Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I always just hit mine with a heat gun. I hardly ever over pour on mine but if I do and it cracks I just use a heat gun. I have never had a problem, I use straight 464. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 My tops always end up yucky if I use a heat gun. I wish I could find a way to cut this corner again, but so far the over pour is the only way I get smooth tops. Maybe I'm too picky..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 With 464 you get ugly tops? That was the one problem I never had with that wax- baby butt smooth everytime When I switched to 415 talk about ugly! Lol but I finally resolved that issue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Yes when I heat gun them. And when I can't pour at exactly the right temp. So, because I make so many (usually 100 or more at a time of 2 sizes) I cut a corner by pouring at whatever temp the wax is when I am ready to pour, then doing a thin top layer at the right temp to get a glassy smooth top. It's that top layer than started cracking last week because it was so cold in my house. I probably didn't explain that very well earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisymay66 Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Girl..your gonna have 50 degree weather next week? I'd seriously be so flippin excited for that!! Oh your so lucky!! We are supposed to have -10 tonight. So sick of crappy winter! Edited February 28, 2015 by Daisymay66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Don't give up on the heat gun idea. I found I got much smoother tops holding the gun at an angle and farther away from the top. I also hold the gun in a circular motion. The idea is to gently and slowly melt the tops just enough. Believe me it took me a while before I could master smoothing my tops with a heat gun. But it works like a champ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flicker Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Hey Scented!years ago when I was using the EcoSoya's I had this same thing happen. The candle would literally crack in the container. Dan from NGI told me to just drape some newspaper over the tops as they were cooling to slow down the process a little. It was cooling on the sides faster than in the center thus when it caught up, CRACK! Worked like a charm and didn't really disrupt my process any. May be worth a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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