geekrunner

My 92 YO grandma geek used to make the absolute best fried chicken. She deep fried it in a Dutch oven using lard. It wasn't the healthiest way to make it, but it was the tastiest! She also used lard in her pie crusts. That might explain her high cholesterol, and her double bypass heart surgery when she was 75. geek

ok geek

Thanks, I needed that. geek

As far as banning trans-fats, I'm not real happy about some state/city doing something that affects the entire country. Just like when California was trying to force lawn mower manufacturers to build their lawn mowers with catalytic converters on them that they sell in CA. CA is such a huge market, that lawn mower makers would be forced to fit ALL their mowers with catalytic converters in order to keep from having two production lines. So for some states, a regulation they pass would become a de facto national regulation. With this trans-fats deal, even if it only was in NYC, soon health nut groups would pressure restaurants all over the US to adopt the same ban. I am sick of nanny state thinking. Where does it all end? You know they won't stop till they can control every facet of our lives. How long will it be before they try to ban candle burning? Hmmm??? geek

I've been testing zincs in 3 1/2 inch keepsake jars, and so far (for me) most FOs can use 2 x 44-20-18z and a couple use 44-24-18z. I never gave zincs a chance before, I used HTPs and LXs. NOw I'm finding I can't double wick with HTPs and LXs and keep the MP from getting too deep. Even 2 x HTP62 gives me a full 1/2 inch MP after only two hours and the flames are nearly drowning! The zincs are burning much cooler. Now to try the zincs in my melting pot jars! geek

Golden Brand's 415 is the house brand wax for several different suppliers. It works well on it's own, or when blended with other soys of differing MPs. I think that is what makes it so popular; one can always find a close supplier of 415. Of course, then best reason anyone can have to using it is that it has the Geekrunner Seal of Approval! your humble geek

You can also check with Millcreek in Kewanna, IN http://mcsoywax.com geek

One thing that can help you is having a pre-printed candle test sheet. If you are handy with MS Word you can make one yourself, and print off many copies to have records of your testing. I have small labels I cut up into smaller squares, and use them to numerically label the test candles so I don't get confused which is which (even though they smell different, some may smell the same when I'm testing different wicks). Check for a PM from me also geek

I have used old scrap wax for firestarters, but now I am saving my test wax and will remelt them to make small samples that someone can smell before buying a candle. I still have several hundred plastic 1 oz medicine cups that make great sample cups. geek

I've found something that works, but it is not very practical and would end up driving up your electicity bill, unless you poured a bunch of candles at a time. If you pour hot, like right after thoroughly stirring in your FO, then place the candle in an oven that was pre-heated to about 125-150, and turn off the heat. Letting the candle cool very slowly like that always turned out great looking candles for me, but it was too much work. I was going to do just uncolored but I get too many requests for colored ones, so I'm explaining away what frosting I do get, which isn't that much. geek

I get my wax from CStore. Last I saw they have the 402, 415, 444 and 464. If I had to choose a wax that was easiest to use, without having to add anything to it, the 444 would be my first choice, followed by the 464. They both are formulated with additives that make it easier to pour hot, with very little touch-up work afterwards (like poking and heat gunning). If you like to play around and make your own special proprietary Mad Scientist blend, then the 415 or 402 is your choice. Both are straight soys with different melt points. the 402 is 119 MP and the 415 is 125 MP. The 415 works well with up to 3% beeswax, while the 402 with up to 3% Universal Soy Additive behaves almost the same was 464. They make great waxes to mix together. I presently use a blend of both with some USA in it and it does a pretty good job. Antoher advantage to blending your own is you'll have less trouble if there is a variation between batches of wax in the same number. We've had chandlers who got different burns out of the same wax but from a new lot/batch. Anyway it makes me feel better. HTH! geek

I once bought a candle from a store, and it was made by a chandler from Minnesota. It was a leaded crystal tumbler that was wide at the top, conducive to having the wax slid eout if it did not adhere. The wax appeared to be all vegetable, and it adhered very well. I suspect that you may have to stop using parasoy in the tumbler, since the paraffin in the soy tends to make it shrink alot moreso that an all-veggie one. OR change tumblers to one that is a bit wider at the bottom than the top, so it does not slide out when inverted. The only parasoy I found that adhered pretty well was the Greenleaf 70/30. I think the 50/50 parasoys have too much paraffin to keep them from pulling away. HTH! geek

My my you are one busy chandler, based on your other postings! You do a great job on your 'canes. I've done a few, but have concentrated on scented containers. Keep up the great work! geek

Are you telling us you know the difference between cheap weed and the good stuff? geek

That and the one with the dipped bears will go down in Candletech history. I tried Crisco in soy, 1 oz per lb and it dropped the MP so far one of my candles barely hardened! It oozed stuff and was unusable. Maybe I used too much geek

I was in Texas visiting my brother and SIL this past weekend, and while mrs geek and my aunt geek were shopping, found a votive sized container candle with a scent called Aspen Winter. It was at Bath and Body Works. Very light and perfumy. It seems like a great one to have with Indonesian Teak and Amber Romance in a parasoy. Anybody hear or smell this one? geek

Good 4 U! A wise professor once told me, that learning occurs on the very edge of frustration. geek

I started out using 415 and like it, but if I were starting out new (knowing what I know now) I would use the new blend 444. It's a little easier to use, pours at about 135, and you don't really need to add anything to it. geek

Welcome to the board from a fellow Hoosier! You are up there in my grandma's (former) neck of the woods. I still have cousins that live in Garrett and Butler. Millcreek in Kewanna, and ICS near South Bend have great FOs, and Southern Scentsations in Michigan have good ones too. Millcreek and Southern Scentsations house brand wax is actually Golden Brands 415, a good all-around soy wax. Whichever one has the best shipping costs shoud be your choice, should you choose one of those two. geek

I hope you didn't think I was snubbing you. Welcome to the board! geek

I have both 415 and 402, and the flake size of the 402 is much smaller than the 415. So it very well could be the same. Many candle supply bidnesses on the web use Golden Brands 415 as their house brand. geek

That's an interesting piece of info there on the parasoy there henryk. Now my Mad Scientist brain is conjuring an experiment with KY parasoy and 415. geek

I once had trouble wicking a rather large jar with Cinnamon Sticks from MC. At first I attributed it to the wax, I thought I had a bad batch of 415. It would burn just fine till I got ab halfway into the jar, then the flames would drown out. That FO is pretty heavy. I wish I could be more help but I don't use that jar and haven't tested anymore of that FO yet. Good luck! geek

You have chosen the best website for candle making help. There are lots of people who not only are crafters but sell for a living, and do quite well. Some of us are a little nutty :rolleyes2 but are pretty helpful when you have a question. The Yaley starter kit (available from Michaels) has good equipment but the scent doesn't throw very well. You can get kits from MillCreek and a plethora of other candle supply companies on the web that give you really tasty scents you will enjoy. Good luck noob! geek

I have used the KY parasoy, and like it for it's ease of use and low price (shipping is low to Indy). It also takes color very well, and does not frost. It does not adhere very well, but that doesn't bother me. The parasoy is a blend that is mostly soy, but KY does not give out the exact percentages. I woud guess that is pretty close to a 70/30 soy/paraffin similar to Greenleaf. My understanding of the Perfect Blend is that it has some paraffin but at a lower percentage than the KY parasoy. THe KY website may have more information, but probably is intentionally not very specific. HTH! geek