Trappeur Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 I've used an infrared thermometers for years and I believe it was last year a post went up here about thermometers and someone posted that the infrared are not accurate thermometers as they don't get accurate readings of the internal temperature of the interior of the wax so after I read that post I went back to the glass thermometers. The reason I originally went to the infrared is because one day I wacked the glass thermometer inside the pour pot where the wax was and I wound up throwing that whole pot of wax out after seeing the mercury gone. You do have to be real careful with those glass ones. I only have 1 and I keep saying I'm going to get a couple more and haven't done yet. Trappeur 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LitUp Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 - 270# Water jacket wax melter -65# direct heat melter - rite hete wax pump -restaurant heating strip 500watt x3( went from spending all day with a heat gun to finish yesterdays batches to cranking through 600 candles in about an hour and a half.) 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 On 2/18/2018 at 3:32 PM, Pam W said: I use a piece of 2x4 wood with "V" cut in it to tilt my molds. Scented: anyway you can post a pic? Here are two looks at the tilters. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 OMG, girl....that's so professional compared to my carved out 2x4 :-) 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 It's very sturdy, except the one with the rubber coverings tends to smell like burnt rubber with too much heat gun on it. It also is harder to get into place. But overall, I think Steve did an awesome job. I love them with one exception ... that I can only do seven tilts at a time. Would rather be able to do 10 at the least lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 On 3/5/2018 at 3:44 PM, Trappeur said: I've used an infrared thermometers for years and I believe it was last year a post went up here about thermometers and someone posted that the infrared are not accurate thermometers as they don't get accurate readings of the internal temperature of the interior of the wax so after I read that post I went back to the glass thermometers. The reason I originally went to the infrared is because one day I wacked the glass thermometer inside the pour pot where the wax was and I wound up throwing that whole pot of wax out after seeing the mercury gone. You do have to be real careful with those glass ones. I only have 1 and I keep saying I'm going to get a couple more and haven't done yet. Trappeur Question: have you done a temp test comparing the infrared vs the glass thermometers....I'm curious what the temp differences would show. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 8 minutes ago, Scented said: It's very sturdy, except the one with the rubber coverings tends to smell like burnt rubber with too much heat gun on it. It also is harder to get into place. But overall, I think Steve did an awesome job. I love them with one exception ... that I can only do seven tilts at a time. Would rather be able to do 10 at the least lol. count your blessings!! I can do only 3 at a time with my 2x4....lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 1 minute ago, Pam W said: count your blessings!! I can do only 3 at a time with my 2x4....lol They are counted ... the wish for 10 is an encouragement for Steve to think about doing them. I'm not handy this way and neither is my partner. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Pouring tilted/rustics is my passion but it has been a long time since I've gone there.....time to extract my head and get back into what makes my day....kwim? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Lately I feel like all I've poured are tilts, though I could change that if I wanted to go to spoons, knives or fingers I suppose. I need modified forks made with no clue how to go about getting what I want done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testing123 Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 wooden sticks for stirring seems quite popular here. Is there a reason? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Pouring pots, thermometers, whisks, wick setters - - these all get used pretty much daily. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 23 hours ago, Testing123 said: wooden sticks for stirring seems quite popular here. Is there a reason? Cheap or free, easy to use, and a handy tool is why they are popular. I use the handle of a wooden spoon that I've had for about 18 years. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 On 3/15/2018 at 9:45 PM, Pam W said: Question: have you done a temp test comparing the infrared vs the glass thermometers....I'm curious what the temp differences would show. No I never have...anyway the infared went on the blink and stopped working, so I threw out....sorry can't help... Trappeur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 I was skeptical of the IR thermometers, but forced myself to use one while learning a few new waxes, and fixing issues with old ones. As long as the wax is stirred well before taking a reading the temps have been pretty close. It’s eye opening what a few degrees one way or the other can do to a finished candle. Another piece of equipment I can’t do without is a big fan. With my waxes a quick cool makes for a prettier candle. I put pour pots right on the fan to quickly drop temps before pouring finicky waxes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 2 hours ago, TallTayl said: I was skeptical of the IR thermometers, but forced myself to use one while learning a few new waxes, and fixing issues with old ones. As long as the wax is stirred well before taking a reading the temps have been pretty close. It’s eye opening what a few degrees one way or the other can do to a finished candle. Another piece of equipment I can’t do without is a big fan. With my waxes a quick cool makes for a prettier candle. I put pour pots right on the fan to quickly drop temps before pouring finicky waxes. So, does the fan only work with paraffin? I have one circulating air in my room but never on my candles. Intrigued by new ideas. I did recently purchase a stainless prep table and I insulated at first with boxes, forgot one day and the cool table made the candles cool from bottom up and they actually looked way better. Now I'm not using the boxes unless the table is super cold. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 I use the fans with beeswax, soy, and paraffin. Just stick the pot on the fan or in front if you have a box type fan, and stir to keep it all homogenous until pouring. Pour at the desired temp. Nothing removes heat like fast moving air. for candles that benefit from a rapid cool, ive put the molds and containers directly on a wire shelf over an air cleaner that turbo blasts air out the top. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5/5/2018 at 5:34 AM, TallTayl said: Another piece of equipment I can’t do without is a big fan. With my waxes a quick cool makes for a prettier candle. I put pour pots right on the fan to quickly drop temps before pouring finicky waxes. I'm with you there.......after I pour my candles if I'm going for rustics/marbled I turn on a fan that blows directly on my work table. If I'm doing mottles then I cover them with towels and keep the cool draft off of of them so they can cool slowly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyvalley1108 Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 2/15/2018 at 11:26 PM, Quentin said: To those of you who make lots and lots of candles: Could you list a piece or two of candle making equipment or tools that you simply couldn't do without? List as many as you like. Thanks. Q My master built turkey fryer with spout. I could not make candles without it to melt 50 lbs wax. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) I'm the other way when it comes to cooling. I actually use several large beverage coolers to place candles into so that they cool slowly. Most of my wax blends work better with a slow cool. So I'd have to add coolers to my equipment list, though I only use them for palm pillars and paraffin containers. My soy candles cool on wire shelves. Edited May 8, 2018 by Crafty1_AJ typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 On 3/7/2018 at 1:43 AM, LitUp said: - 270# Water jacket wax melter -65# direct heat melter - rite hete wax pump -restaurant heating strip 500watt x3( went from spending all day with a heat gun to finish yesterdays batches to cranking through 600 candles in about an hour and a half.) That's very interesting about the restaurant heating strip vs. using a heat gun on the candle tops. That's awesome if you're doing large batches like you are. I'll have to keep that in mind. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) I pretty much use all the basic stuff everyone has mentioned, as it relates to small scale candle making. - Instead of bamboo sticks or wood sticks for stirring I use washable, durable, plastic, long handled spoons from the Dollar Tree. - Digital thermometer that has the numbers panel on the top instead of the side so you can just look down at it. - Pour my jar candles on trays lined with old towels so the trays are not cold. - I took an 1.5" wick and marked off 1/4" line on it and use that as my wick trimming guide. - Finally broke down and bought a long neck, electric lighter 🔥, which I love, it’s so cool. I can’t believe I waited this long to buy one, I don’t think I’ll ever buy a regular lighter again. I was feeling so guilty for throwing away so many disposable ones and didn’t want the hassle of refilling lighter fluid. This is my new favorite gadget right now. LOL. Edited September 4, 2018 by Laura C attach photos 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura C Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) Also if you don't have wick stabilizing devices or your device doesn't fit a particular jar then you can use scotch tape to make a grid across the top of the jar (as in floral arranging). I did this with my pan test to hold all my wicks in place. And also this wick centering device. I have the single and the triple wick devices. They are a huge time saver. I love gadgets. Edited September 4, 2018 by Laura C 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echap77 Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 On 9/3/2018 at 8:48 PM, Laura C said: Also if you don't have wick stabilizing devices or your device doesn't fit a particular jar then you can use scotch tape to make a grid across the top of the jar (as in floral arranging). I did this with my pan test to hold all my wicks in place. And also this wick centering device. I have the single and the triple wick devices. They are a huge time saver. I love gadgets. Love this lighter...have to get one. The centering devices are on my wishlist...can't wait for those. My favorite gadget is my wick trimmer 🙈 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quentin Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Echap77 said: Love this lighter...have to get one. The centering devices are on my wishlist...can't wait for those. My favorite gadget is my wick trimmer 🙈 On 9/3/2018 at 7:48 PM, Laura C said: Also if you don't have wick stabilizing devices or your device doesn't fit a particular jar then you can use scotch tape to make a grid across the top of the jar (as in floral arranging). I did this with my pan test to hold all my wicks in place. And also this wick centering device. I have the single and the triple wick devices. They are a huge time saver. I love gadgets. I have that wick setter also. When I first got it I thought it was a piece of junk and threw it aside. However, I have some 8 and 4 oz jelly jars that it fits perfectly. I use it for those. If you're really bored (like I was one day) you can take various sizes of rubber bands and carefully wrap them around those steps. If you're so bored that you're about to jump out the window, you can "stack" the band on the steps. The result is that the rubber bands work like shims and will help them fit other size containers as well. Helps stabilize the device too. It also helps out the rubber band industry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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