Cissy

I guess sometimes you get lucky & get a good deal on a cheaper product, and sometimes you wish you'd gone ahead and spent more money for a studier product. Thanks Ladies on the Packo referral.

Beth, yes it looked like a chalk or paint line on the knob. I didn't understand why they would mark the knob, not knowing where you might want to have the setting yourself. I've never seen another new product done this way. It was the kind of mark (line) a person might mark it with so they would keep the knob set at that number for future use. You could be correct, that the loose spring might have messed up something else inside, I didn't think about that, but I didn't handle it roughly for the spring to fall down almost immediately after I rec'd it. I have used one of these on a job I use to work years ago, so I know how to handle one. Yes, I should have called them immediately, but had a deadline to meet and couldn't send it back or wait for a replacement. Still, I will not order another one from them.

For those of you who've ordered an implulse sealer from Harbour Freight: When you rec'd your sealer, did the knob have a white chalk mark on it. Mine did, which appeared to me to be a mark someone had put there to indicate the setting they used when sealing. After I used 4 times, the spring which holds the arm a few inches broke fell inside the sealer. I suspected the product had been used before because of the chalk mark on the knob, but I needed it immediately and crossed my fingers, hoping it would last awhile, & didn't call the company. When the spring broke, I still didn''t call, since it would still function to seal the tubing. I have sealed less than 300 tart bags, now the darn thing won't heat up at all. I changed the fuse, changed the metal strip, still won't work. I just got off the phone with Harbour Freight. They refuse to do anything. I am very disappointed with this company, sending me a product I believe was a used product to begin with. They will not replace it. They asked me to ship it back (shipping was almost as much as the product ($17.00), but still would not say they would replace it...and if they were to, they would probably expect me to pay shipping again. I will not order from this company again. Does anyone know another company I can get a reasonable priced sealer from who has better customer service? I just do not believe a new product would have had a chalk mark on the knob to begin with, or has anyone else rec'd one like this?

I wouldn't go as far to say their intentions are not honorable, only Jesus really know what's in their hearts and since they did mention their pastor, It is probable they do give to the church. They obviously are not too ashamed to witness for Christ and express their beliefs on their website. At the same time, I briefly considered blending this scent and selling it, but the more I thought about it, it somehow just seemed a little sacrilegious for me , and I just could not bring myself to do it, maybe because I know I would be too greedy to give it all to the church.

Thanks! Those are cute.

Does anyone know where I can find a beach chair embed approximately 2 to 3 inches high. I am making a forever gel candle and already have a beautiful palm tree 4" high. I think both would make a great beachfront ocean scene. I know that Rustic Escentuals use to have them, but have been out of stock for quite sometime. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks, I should have tried other wick brands before posting. I was trying to stick with the zincs as much as possible. I have almost every wick brand and many sizes and changing brands/sizes so much gets very time consuming and a little tedious. I took a break from container testing due to limited time, to just do tarts, and am now ready to start testing containers again (I think!) I have some of each and will try this. I don't really want to change jars at present just to get a larger opening.

I am stirring well and pouring at same temp as you two are doing. I would wonder if the FO's used was the problem if I had not already used them both from same bottle (shaken well) as I did with the J50. I used a 44-32-18Z wick in a Mulberry blend & a 51-32-18Z in the Hot Apple Pie, both 9 oz hex jars. I still did not get a hot throw as quickly as with th J50. I know the CB129 is a harder wax, but it still melts amazing quickly for such a hard wax. Unless 8% FO is too much, then ....I am still puzzled. I want so badly for this wax to work. I am tired of the softer waxes and don't want to have to start figuring out and testing additives to get a firmer container wax texture.

Don't mean to hijack your thread, plus it's not a current thread, but very few on this board seem to be using the CBL129 container wax, so I wanted to stick with this thread. I ordered a sample and poured 2 wks ago. I used 8% FO in (2) 9 oz Hex jars, a mulberry and Hot Apple Pie. I poured @ 180*, cured for 2 days. I have used J50, J223 and 4627. The CBL129 has the best cold throw of all waxes I've tried even at a higher % in others). Color is the best, also. (I use liquid dye). The melt pool depth is the best by far (1/4") even after 4 hours. Full melt pool is perfect. This is the wax I have been searching for as far as the above mentioned qualities, because I have been getting a melt pool depth in the other waxes I have not been happy with (too deep, up to 1" sometimes, no matter what size wick I tried). I really like a harder wax than the J50 etc. and the 129 is a hard wax. The CBL129 did not pull away from the jar any more than the J50, did not rattle any at all, wet spots were no worse than J50. I prefer not to have to do a repour or hit with a heat gun, but would do so to find the best wax for me. The only problem I had was the hot scent throw. Even now, after 2 wks of curing after the 1st burn, it still takes an hour before I get a satisfactory scent throw, then it is good, but not great. I used the same BCN FO's which throw quicker and stronger in the J50. Is there another CBL129 user who can help me figure out how to get a quicker hot scent throw? I'm really not satisfied unless I can get the hot throw in approximately 30 minutes. If I can achieve this, I will have found my dream wax (aside from repours).

I have to say Thanks, otherwise, as I promised, my :lipsrseal .

Top You are just too much!!! I absolutely love your sense of humor!

I saw those in a CVS pharmacy, didn't buy one, but did like the way they look and the cold throw was good. I wondered what kind of wax they use, looks like bubbles in the wax, very pretty, I thought.

I almost didn't respond to your post because I think for some reason you have a chip on your shoulder and you are rearranging my words to suit yourself or your agenda. It just so happens that a lot of people in my area, all nationalities do not seem to know much about tarts, as I have had to explain to several local people what they are and what they do with them. That is why I assumed that immigrants probably do not know. I did not say that Mexicans only do farm work. Please reread my post. You're implying I said they only do farm work. It just so happens, that many of them do, as do other nationalities, in this area who might want a Neck Cooler. 75% of the shoppers I saw at the flea market this one day happened to be Mexicans. I don't know if they all speak or read English since they looked and walked on by, so I was interested in providing the translation for them, which was one reason for my post. If I was prejudiced, I wouldn't be interested in going back to this flea market at all. I'm not that desparate or greedy to make a dollar. If I did not want to make them feel welcome, I would not be interested in providing a sign translation for them. I regret that you find your translation of my post offensive, but I will not apologize when I had no intentions to offend anyone. No response is necessary from you and I will not respond again on this subject.

Approximately 3 hrs from you.

Grannyscandles: Thank you, thank you, thank you!! This is perfect and will help so very much. Does anyone have any advice regarding the "toxic" question I asked about? I do not want to take any chances on hurting anyone, simply because my conscience would bother me too much. Anything that touches the skin needs to be toxic free.

I need to add other items besides tarts and burners for a flea market I went to this past weekend. There were so many Mexicans there & they didn't even stop to look at my tarts nor at the lady's next to me who was selling incense. (don't think they even know what they are). I'm thinking they might be interested in neck coolers, particularly the ones who do farm work. A concern of mine is, is there anything toxic in using the water crystals for these or is there something better to use. I also don't think many of them speak or read English very well, so I want to make a sign in English and Spanish (but don't know Spanish myself). If any of you can assist me in translating my sign info into Spanish, please PM me. I know if I go to this flea market again, I will have to have products that interest Mexicans, also, and they don't seem to care much for scents. I will appreciate any imput on this subject, also in your experience, what products do you think they are most interested in purchasing.

Using J50 alone for tarts is ok, they do melt fast in burner, but they are so soft that your packaging will be smudged. I had a slab of 1343 laying around that I wasn't using, so I mixed 50/50 with J50 for my tarts and it works great, doesn't smudge or smear the shrink wrap tubing when I insert tart. A votive wax combo will work also.

I think we should change the subject and take a poll on how many "old maids" there are on board......frustrated or satisfied. Maybe we can include the bachelors, too. LOL (not taking sides, just trying to lighten things up.)

I will also be letting others test for scent only in the future. I gave my SIL several candles with a tester sheet. A couple of times, she would tell me her opinion, etc. about a candle she had burned, then when she would give me the completed sheet, she would have a different opinion written down, so that told me she was not making notes as she went along. There is no way anyone testing will remember these details if they can't keep notes as they go along. I finally just asked her to test for her favorite scents, and she is not even keeping up with that as she tests. Some people just think it is too much of a job, I suppose, to make notes. Others are just not going to be as interested in the details as we are nor watch closely for the issues we are concerned about. I am gradually giving her less to test, as I don't want to make her feel badly or to know what I'm thinking. I really appreciate anyone who is willing to test (not just to get a free candle), because it can take the fun out of candle burning and it is a job to test, but I suppose the reality of it is, noone else is going to really care except the candlemaker who has the most to lose.

Thanks, AngelaVA My printer is black & white and I can't invest in a color printer yet until I get some $$$ coming in, hopefully with my tarts/burners. At this point, I'd rather get someone to print a minimum supply of labels and spend my money on other supplies for testing. I don't really need a color printer except for labels.

Bitter Creek South aso has the above kit in the 20 and 40 pc set. I haven't ordered one, so can't vouch for them. Their site does say they have glass tops. They seem really cheap, though, to actually have "glass" tops. You can check them out in their "Accessories" section and call them to find out for sure.

There was a discussion a couple months ago about the cigar bands/ribbons to use for status jars. A few printing companies were mentioned who do the ribbons, but I didn't see on their site that they appeared to do the adhesive ones which can be used on candle jars. Does anyone know a company who does the adhesive type, preferrably with gold or silver edging on the bands that will fit these jars, or does anyone on this board offer this service? I'm not ready to sell these containers yet, but am thinking way ahead. Don't want to wait to the last minute to find a reasonable source for these labels, as I have done with my tart labels. PM me if preferred. Edited: I probably should have posted this in the Business section, but wasn't paying attention. Hopefully someone will read who can give me this info.

Update on last message: I decided to try a HI candle (9 oz Hex) to compare the wick burning to my 9 oz Hex. When I burned down approximately 1/3 of jar, the flame actually started dancing around more than mine have been doing. I always keep my wicks trimmed to 1/8" to 1/4" and did their's also...burned at same location, no drafts. I am a perfectionist by nature, so am thinking maybe I am expecting too much, an absolutely perfect candle. Now I don't feel quite as discouraged.

I love strawberry. Just mixed BCN Strawberry Jam 75/25 and WYW Vanilla Grapefruit...SJ smooths out the tartness of VG. Really like it in tarts, haven't tried it in containers yet. I have been trying to think of other SJ blends...will PM you to find out were you get your Rosemary & Vanilla of Pearl (JS?)

I looked at some of their candles this past week at BB & B & didn't like the finish on most of them. Most had a bubbly, cruddy looking mess on top. If this 2281 is what a mottling wax (which I've never used) looks like, then I know I will never be trying that wax. I like a smooth, somewhat firm finish without crystals or bubbles. I did buy one of their tarts (only to compare). When I opened pkg, the wax looked sort of crumbly. After melting in warmer, I poured in a tart mold, then it looked smooth after cooling. Don't know why it looked different after meltiing down unless maybe it was an old tart and was drying out around edges. It also didn't throw any better or last any longer than one of my weaker ones. I can't believe people are paying $1.49 for their tarts, although I did it this once for comparison purposes.