e911 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 So, I created my first two jar candles. Used 1lb (16oz) of wax and filled the first container to the bottom of the neck, which appears to be the 6-7oz mark. Apparently not. Started to fill the second one and got about 3/4 of the way full and ran out of wax. So apparently 8+8 doesnt equal 16 anymore. But hey, it was my very first time ever pouring a jar. I consider it a success that a) didn't burn the house down, didn't burn myself, c) didn't spill anything, and d) i'm trying something new since I have the tart/melt business down to a science! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 They look good! You'll figure it out. Liquid measure is a challenge for me because I always go by weight of melted wax + fo and it does not equal ounces in liquid..never could figure it out. I stick with the same few jars now and I know almostexactly how to weigh it to fill the jars and how much to add to have a matching melt or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 I've found the two styles of jars I'm going to use for my brand. Now it's just figuring out how to get the right amount of wax to fill the jars :-/. Wouldn't using more wax cause the FO to be weaker? So I have dozens of 1oz jars because I was making melts it was fine for me, but now that I'm doing candles, not sure 1oz of FO is going to be as good in say 20-22oz of wax :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 That darned specific gravity gets us all at one time or another. Looking good so far though. As a starting point, measure how much water it takes to fill that jar to your desired fill line. The posted volume of a jar or bottle is not always to the line we expect. Then, look up the speficic gravity for your wax. For example, if my soy wax has a specific gravity of about .88, It means the same volume of wax weighs only 88% of the same volume of water. If my container holds 8 oz by volume to a desired fill line, i will need about 7 oz by weight to fill to that line, give or take with the fragrance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Could you share where you figure out the specific gravity of wax? I'm currently using the Ecosoy container blend 135 and would be helpful to know so I don't make this costly mistake again in the future. Just did a quick water test. Jar empty was 6.0oz. with water to the fill spot it was 1lb 1oz. so 16oz in a lb, plus 1 =17oz combined, minus the 6oz for the jar, and its 11oz. The jar is described as an 8oz jar. Did i just break physics? :0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I googled soy wax for the average of .88-0.9. It was close enough for my needs.Measure the volume of water to the fill line in your container. the specific gravity of water is 1, or 100%. Say your container holds 1cup, or 8 fluid ounces, The same volume of my wax will weigh about 7 oz. If that makes sense, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Using your 11 oz weight of water above, you will need about 9.7 oz of wax by weight, give or take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Here is where it really throw you not all jars hold what they say it does some hold more some hold less. It is what they consider their fill line. It anyone guess what the fill line is in most containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 This is such a common problem.I just tried explaining this to my sister and ended up with a migraine, telling her to just forget it. HA!Different waxes have different weight for the same capacity measurement, so you might need more soy wax to fill the jar to the correct fill line than paraffin to the same line. For me, the easiest way to do it is to weigh the jar, fill it with the correct amount of wax/FO, then reweigh it. So the first time you fill you just have to guesstimate. Then write it down somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Thanks for the info TallTayl. I about 20oz's of wax and it worked out much better. Cept I need to get better at dividing the little bit of left over up among the two jars. ha! I also noticed that this Ecosoya CB shrank a bit, not much, but i noticed it (sorry its the photographer in me). Would it be better if I poured much slower than what I did or am I prone to shrinkage no matter what I do. I poured the first batch at about 140*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Thanks for the info TallTayl. I about 20oz's of wax and it worked out much better. Cept I need to get better at dividing the little bit of left over up among the two jars. ha! I also noticed that this Ecosoya CB shrank a bit, not much, but i noticed it (sorry its the photographer in me). Would it be better if I poured much slower than what I did or am I prone to shrinkage no matter what I do. I poured the first batch at about 140*.Yeah, dividing equally is a zen thing. I watched a video of a company that used a marked stick to pour somewhat evenly. You could also pour on a scale. I don't use your wax, but my own waxes shrink and i have to do re-pours regardless of the temps or speed i pour. Practice makes perfect 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Melts were so much easier ha! At least on the plus side is enough friends/family have volunteered to purchase this entire batch, no matter how bad they are for retail asking price. So that helps so I can get more supplies! Going to have to do some cost shopping though, Peak is gonna break me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I usually get the very first pour wrong too. Happens to us all one time or more! LOL Once I have my jar fill figured out I do a fill chart excel spreadsheet and post it in my candle making room. That way I know how much wax and FO to use per jar. So whether I am filling 1 jar or many I know how much wax to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Thanks Candybee. I've started a "pour log" in one of my excel sheets that tracks everything that I used in that batch so I can figure out this whole wicking thing. Really hoping I hit the nail on the head for the wicks as I don't want to have a bunch of duds. Good thing is I have a few friends that are willing to "buy" their tester candles and help me perfect them. So that helps keep costs under control thankfully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 It's gonna me a minute to figure out this weight thing. Thought I melted enough wax for four jars and instead I have three jars and three melts :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I have always solved the how much does my jar hold by taking the jar, making a candle to completion (topping off if necessary etc) and then putting an empty jar on the scale to zero out the scale (tare) and then putting the completed candle on the scale. That's how much wax/fragrance that jar holds by weight. multiply by the number of jars you are making and that is how much mixture you need. Then make the wax and add the amount of fragrance to equal that number. I always add an extra ounce to 4-6 jars just to have a tiny bit left over and then just pour that into a silicone for a wax tart or something...just in case. It's the same way I used for years to calculate the exact amounts of cake batter for various cake pans, then I could make my recipes fit the various pans used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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