geekrunner

I have some J50 and didn't work with it for very long before giving up on it, mainly due to wicking issues. It does shrink when in cool climate and expand in warm. I have had the problem when adding J50 to soy too, but it goes the other way, where the jar has no wet spots but pulls all the way away from the jar. What I have tried to do with both plain soy and parasoys (both Greenleaf and my own soy/J50 mix) is to preheat an oven to 150, turn off, pour candle, and place in the oven to cool very slowly. I do this mostly to get better setup and color smoothness, but it also has helped alot with adhesion. It may help if you try that with J50. HTH! geek

That was fast! Very nice looking candles! Not to be overly picky but you overfilled the one just a little. Very good work! Now go make more geek

Hi and welcome! You will get hooked on this for sure! It may be frustrating at times, but when you get a nice candle that burns correctly and smells great, it will be worth the effort. Everyone here is very helpful too. Also, when you get one you like, be sure and take a picture and post it in the Gallery! geek

We are our own worst critics. We need to trust others to gauge how our candles smell, due to candle nose. However, the truest gauge is if they continue to buy our candles. People won't spend money on your stuff just cause they like you, you have to offer a product that smells good, and is a reasonable price. geek

Still wax formula testing. It never seems to end! I used up a 16 oz bottle of Gemlite Mulberry in several candles where the only variable was the composition of the wax. I am searching for the Holy Grail of 100% soy: even color distribution, complete glass adhesion, no frosting, smooth setup after burn, good cold and better hot throw. A seemingly impossible task, you say? Well, I'm nearly there! Other things to do this weekend, take care of mrs geek who is ill, go to a HS graduation reception, party at one of my running friend's home, ride my mountain bike on a big-time bike trail, solve world hunger :rolleyes2 geek

Also on their out of stock: When I was ready to order they were OOS on the MP jar. They import their glassware from China, so if they run out then they have to wait as the product arrives on a slow boat from China. LOL geek

I ordered a case each of their 16 and 24 oz Melting Pot jar, and really like the looks. I have had trouble double wicking the jars in 415 but if you use straight 402 or 464 you could possibly single wick with HTP1312 or LX 28 or 30. Another wax to try that could single wick is Greenleaf 70/30. I have one poured with 70/30, Indonesian Teak, in 16 oz jar, LX28, and doing a final wick test. If the 28 doesn't work, I'll bump up to the 30. Hope it works! good luck! geek

I have used a square quilted container, and it was 3 1/2" corner to corner. I used SS Hazelnut Cappuccino at 7% and wicked with one HTP 1312. Used 415 with 3% BW. The corner hangup eventually eroded after the candle was halfway down. HTH! geek

It is hard to resist selling before one is ready to sell, I went through that last Christmas myself. I had two candles tested and ready to give as gifts when mrs geek quit one of her jobs, and all her coworkers went bonkers and wanted to buy some! I wasn't ready to sell, but took some orders and allowed six weeks to test them before delivery. Fortunately, I got them tested and working fine, but that was alot of pressure and late nights! The problem we have is that people we think are our "friends" will turn on you in a heartbeat if a candle you sell them malfunctions and causes a fire! You say they wouldn't sue you, but can you really take that chance? Even if the candles burn safely, do you want to sell a candle you know is not working exactly the way you want it to? I am the worst decision maker! I have tested more wax mixtures I can count on my hands and feet, and yet still can't decide which one works the best, soots the least, and causes little mushrooming. I will not sell a candle till I know I have done my best, but by golly when I get it figured out, I'll have testers waiting to "run them through the wringer" and get some real world use, to see if they hold up under some abuse. Long story short, from one noob to another, don't let your so-called friends pressure you to sell before you are ready and confident in your product. I think you will be a great chandler, just don't succumb to the pressure to sell early. However, we reserve the right to chew you up and spit you out later when it is merited geek

If you look at them side by side, the 1312 looks bigger in size, but according to the charts, the 126 burns a little hotter than the 1312. Can't explain why, maybe the way the fibers are woven together. geek

When we were testing the 444, one thing that stood out for most of us was lack of a decent cold throw. The 464 is a very easy wax to work with, but is a soft wax. I guess we won't know how it holds up till it gets really hot. I wonder if anyone has played around with mixing 464 and 444? geek

I PM'd you. geek

This is thread is getting steered (?) offcourse. I'm surprised Vicky hasn't pulled it to the Business Side forum yet, however it has been a lively discussion. We should leave the politics out, that is a whole other thread for another time. Besides, if anyone was the King of weasel words it was Bill Clinton. He said he did not have sex with Monica Lewinski, since he was on the receiving end, she was having sex with him, but he was not having sex with her. The old "eating ain't cheating" defense. Ok no more politics :rolleyes2 geek

I usually get my French Vanilla from Sensational Scents on eBay, they are good oils but she only sells 8 oz. Her eBay name is sensational48. Candlechem is a very good eBay seller, but beware of individuals. geek

Never tried that. I actually prefer double wicking since I have less problems with sooting and 'shrooming than with single wicks. geek

I've tried zinc, LXs, HTPs, and Premier 700s, all drown when double wicking using a wick size that develops a full MP in about 2 1/2 hrs. I have wicked up two sizes from that and they stopped drowning, but full 1/2 deep MP in ab 45 minutes. It takes about four burns before the drowning begins. NO mushrooming problems at all, so it is burning hot enough. When single wicking using LX28 or LX 30, significant 'shrooming. I have tried LX30 and it leaves about a 1/4" hangup. Have not yet tried HTP1312 or 126 yet, but will. geek

As most of you know, I have been testing the 16 oz Melting Pot jar in soy and GL 70/30. I have had wick drowning problems specific to that jar, and the only double wicking that does not drown out creates a full 1/2" MP in about 45 minutes. I am attributing this to weird airflow in the jar, since I have no drowning problems when single wicking, but then single wicking the 70/30 just doesn't quite cut the mustard. It leaves a 1/4" to 3/8" hangup all the way around on an LX 30. Haven't tried the HTP 1312 or 126 yet. Now my question to the assembled masses: What is your opinion on using candle jar toppers and selling them with a candle as an integral part of the candle assembly, that is, the single wicked candle will only burn correctly with the jar topper? So far in my testing I can make the LX30 work in the 4" wide jar only if I use the jar topper to regulate the airflow and retain heat so the hangup slides down as candle burns. I really like the jar, but it is frustrating to wick. Any opinions on the jar toppers is appreciated. geek

I have almost (not quite but prety close) given up on double wicking 16 oz Melting Pot jars, they are 4" wide too. I have tried Premier 700 wicks, in GL 70/30 735 is too small but 740 is too big, and they all eventually drown unless I wick really big and get a full MP in 30 minutes. Same thing with LX 16 and LX 18. I'm going to try single wicking with LX 30, and using a jar topper to control airflow and retain some heat in the jar to make the hangup slide down the jar. geek

Good story with a good ending! Glad you did not have trouble with your candle. Shows to go you that testing cannot be emphasized enough! geek

Hi there and welcome to the board! First step to making the perfect candle is to grovel to the CT experts Apart from that, you need to give us some information on your candle wax, any other additives besides the stearic, wick size, etc. Not sure about the amount of stearic you used, it sounds like alot to me, but I'm not a pillar expert. If your candle is tunneling down and not melting nearly all the way around, you may try the next size larger wick. It is tricky to wick test pillars, since it can take alot of wax. You should make 3" or 4" pillars to test wick, then make the 6" or taller with the successful wick to do final testing. Good luck noob! geek

My Mad Scientist pouring process has 15 steps...to get down to my basement and pour candles! geek

When you take into consideration a two ounce paraffin votive will burn about 12 hours, and you are double wicking, that seems pretty close to me. Double wicking will always burn more than a single wick configuration, but then the trade-off is a complete burn, no waste, and less soot compared to the tunneling you could get in a single wick setup. geek

Nothing wrong with advertising, but her claims and statements seem a bit over the top, and a little funny to see someone making wild claims and spin on something we all do (as soy candle makers) and then try to portray this as something only her candles have. Simply an attempt to impress or fool people who have no knowledge of soy candles. If one could imagine someone speaking the words that were on the web homepage, it would sound like an infomercial! geek

It looks like she is taking alot of what we do already and putting a huge spin on it. Not sure about the soy oil carrier on her FOs, but she sure takes a big swipe at petroleum products! Lots of big claims that look inflated to me. 30% more FO? So what? That's just going from a 6% load to 8%. 7 step pouring process? I can take what I do and break it down into 7 steps, that doesn't make it any better. Two Wick technology? Come on! Everybody double wicks soy jars over 3 1/2" wide. Her advertising is just so much eyewash. She may make a good candle, but she puffs her product so much. Like Shakespeare once said in a play (paraphrasing) "All sound and fury, signifying nothing." geek

I've been trying to test red with Peak's Stormwatch, white with MC Clothesline Fresh, and Blue with Peak's Ocean. I can wick the Ocean and Stormwatch the same, but the Clothesline Fresh needs two sizes bigger. Need to find a different one. But they smell great! geek