Tart Questions

[ShanaP03]

I have recently taken over my Moms candle company, she is very ill and can't help or give me much info. I didnt want to see all her hard work go to nothing so I decided to take it over. I am strictly doing tarts. I am using a blend KY Para-Soy from Rustic Escentuals. It says heat to approx 165 and pour at 155 and requires no additives. I am using both double boiler and presto pot method. When using the presto pot it seems to cool way to fast from dipping it out then adding the FO it actually gels at times. The other issue I am having is when cooled either method it has honeycomb or flower type indentions on the top. I can not figure out what I am doing wrong. Any help would be great!! Thanks in advance.

[kandlekrazy]

I'm not familiar with your wax but I'd heat to 180 which will allow for some cooling and add fo right away.  Clamshells typically don't like wax over 140 so you may get some leaking if your pour too hot.  I don't think pouring at a lower

temp will be a problem.  I pour when it starts to get cloudy which is about 115 with my wax.

[Belinda]

I've used KY's tart wax and got bumps or indentions also. I'm not sure why it does that but it does. I thought it was a great wax though.  

I agree with Kandlekrazy about heating it up to a higher temp. That's what I had to do in order for the FO to mix. It'll still work fine. I try to pour my clams no hotter than 150 or the wax will melt the clam or it won't come out very easy.

HTH

[cebanks924]

As the wax cools, it forms those little indentations on top, like little sink holes. I think it's because of the soy content. I don't like that look on my tarts either so I pour them halfway, wait a little for them to harden, and then do a second pour. Gets them nice and smooth on top, but it is a little more time consuming.  I think candlemakers use heat guns to smooth out the tops but I've never tried that with tarts.

 

I agree with other posters.. heat your wax to a higher temp. Add the fragrance oil between 180 - 185. Let it cool to 140-150 before pouring.

 

Also, there is a tutorial somewhere (Candle Tech?) of how to add a spigot to the bottom of a Presto Pot. Then you don't have to worry about dipping in and out and having the wax cool too much. My wax goes from the spigot directly to a hot pouring pot, so it's nice and easy and doesn't cool off too much.

 

It's easy to get frustrated in the beginning, but just keep at it!

[ShanaP03]

Thank You all for your help. I have been repouring and that is a pain! Can you suggest other tart blends of wax for me and suppliers that you really like.