Excel Sheet burn times?

[Dorothy Mantooth]

I'm sure everyone has their favorite way of collecting information about your candles on test sheets. I wanted to see if I could tell a difference in amount of wax consumed per burn based on the type of wick used.  I've been collecting data on a spreadsheet and now I'm trying to figure out if it's helpful in any way.  I list each candle by container size, wax used, wick used and FO%. Then I have an initial weight after I make the candle that I start with.  I burn 4 hours and when the wax has re-solidified I weight it again. I know know the amount of wax burned by that type/size of wick per that specific burn period.  An example looks like this:

 

8oz Tin     NW Elite 200    Eco6    10%FO      5.2 beg wt. |  1.4 end wt. | burn rates -  .5  |  .4  |  .3  |  .3  |  .3  |  .6  |  .3  |  1.1  (this one was 3hr initial burn, then 2 hour burns)

8oz Tin     4630                  HTP 41   0%FO     4.7 beg wt. | still burning  |  burn rates- .4  |  .4  |  .6  |  .4  |  (this is doing 4 hour burns each time)

 

I'm thinking if you follow the first line, it appears my candle is burning more up front, then consistent for three burns, then a big burn, and then two smaller burns.

thoughts?

 

[Flicker]

So are you burning for the same amount of time each  burn? Taking care to trim the wick to the same length before each burn and allowing a full cool down (I like 24 hours - 12-18 at a minimum) between each burn?

[kandlekrazy]

Tins tend to burn hot toward the middle and bottom so that doesn't surprise me at all.  As you get nearer the bottom there is less wax and usually the flame will get smaller which would explain why it goes down again toward the bottom of the candle.

[Dorothy Mantooth]

Most times the burn period is the same. I wouldn't evaluate rows so different burn times. Yes, I let it cool down enough. I'm testing from 6-10pm each night. One burn period. 

 

I have continuted to weigh weigh after each burn session. I added rows of "standard" rate of burn per the different wick mfg. I'm not getting a definitive answer yet, but if I look at several rows of the same item (wax/wick/fo%) and see it burned .6-.7 and I can calculate a Eco 2 at the same burn time is .7 then I feel like that's something. If mine is showing .4 for example I'd conclude it might be burning too cool, or whatever conclusion I come up with. I'll share the file if I think it's turning out helpful data to look at.