Venetti

So after a few weeks using my presto, I am in absolute love with it. Actually I’m not sure how I ever made my candles without it. When I was making them before, I used a hot plate and pan. I had concluded that the steam was causing my flames to flicker wayyy too much. I also was only able to make about one an hour (🙄 gasp, I know.)

currently i I am heating my wax in the presto to about 190•, pouring in my pitcher and adding fo quickly when it reaches my temp. I am still trying to figure out how to get rid of the odd smell it’s giving my wax though. Maybe it’s too hot? I’m not entirely sure. I am going to build a spigot on and try it that way. With my current setup, I’m making at least 5 an hour (each with different scents.)

My only issue it that making different scents is tricky as I don’t scent it in the presto. I’ll have to figure that one out. I’m not able to use multiple prestos due to it using a ton of electricity. 

Do you heat it higher than your FO adding temp? That’s what I’ve been doing. It seems to work ok but the temperature drops so rapidly. 

😁happy to help!

so, I went and got one at Walmart tonight. (Couldn’t wait I guess ☺️)

now that ive got it all set up I have another question!

Do you fill it with water and put your pour pitcher in it or directly drop your wax on the inside of the pot?

Thank you all again and again!

Thank you both very much! 

My current set up is simple. I use an induction hot plate with a 2-3” deep copper pan. I fill the pan with water and set my pouring pitcher in the water.  

I was also recently given a copperchef skillet. Here is what both set ups would look like. 

It seems the copperchef would still steam and get water into my pitcher. 

Im sure I’m better off just buying the presto. Just wanted input first

****dont mind the hot mess

•I’ve recently been testing wicks as much as I possible can (when I have the time.)

I’ve noticed that my flames flicker almost 100% of the time. I figured it was the wick, so I’d move onto another wick to test. 

I did more research and came upon something I had read years ago. I really never saw this as a problem for myself and always blamed the wick/wax/FO. 

“Any water in the wax will cause the flame to flicker uncontrollably.”

I wasn’t getting water in my wax, and I was always so SO very careful to make sure of that.  I was melting some wax the other day and noticed how much my pot steams from the hot plate and exactly where that steam was going. Straight up and onto the handle of my stirrer, onto my pouring pitcher rim and thermometer handle, and dripping right down into my melted wax. (Common sense should’ve told me this, but it was the last thing on my mind.)

So I've recently learned about presto pots. 

They look and sound like the answer to many of my issues. (Not to mention they’re $25.)

Here are my questions about

            the presto pots :

••Do you own the presto pot or the presto pot with a spigot?

••if you do have the spigot, is it a necessity?

••Did you purchase the pot and build the spigot in yourself or buy the presto pot with the spigot already on it?

••If you don’t own a presto pot, what do you use that effectively works wonders while making your candles?

thanks everyone for all of your input. 

Always Greatly appreciated!

Just scent has an amazing one. 

JustScent.com

I’ve tried researching this and couldn’t find a direct answer. (Maybe I’m a terrible researcher.)

Long version ;

I Purchased a 2lb sample of IGI 4630 a while back from VCS. I fell in love with this wax because of its consistency and burn quality. After I ran out, I bought a 10lb slab from CS. It was the same consistency as the 2lbs I’d used before. 

A few weeks ago, I bought 3-10lb slabs of 4630 from BA (I had a good discount and if I wanted to physically pick up my order, I would only have to drive an hour.)

It was shipped via mail, and when it arrived I was very disappointed. The slabs were much harder And not sticky whatsoever. At first I thought maybe they just shipped me the wrong wax. I emailed them to return the 30lbs but that ended up going nowhere. 

Then, I decided to purchase slabs from CS. 30 more pounds later... I recieved the same exact slabs I got from BA. 😑

After emailling both companies, I’ve gotten nothing. BA just keeps sending automated emails and CS hasn’t replied. Also, sending the wax back would probably be useless as the shipping would cost as much as my refund. 

My instincts tell me I need to add some petrolatum. 

TLDR;short version:

My question is this. Is the petrolatum you purchase online the same as vasoline?

(Ex. Candlewic.com petrolatum versus vasoline jelly from Walmart)

Is it the same thing or does one have something the other doesn’t?

thank you all sincerely!

I made a lot of candles last night and noticed that they looked unmixed ?

I've never watched my candles cool, so I'm unable to tell if it's just the wax cooling or if the fragrance oil didn't blend. 

I always add FO around 181• and stir for 2-3 minutes. I feel like it couldn't possibly not have blended. 

thank y'all! 

Edit** I also only used 8% FO. I never go above that percentage. 

7 minutes ago, GailC said:

I have ordered from 3 of those suppliers and have many favorites. I'll name a few.

 

Candlewic:

Berry Tangerine

Apple Cider Donut

Cranapple Spice

Summer Fresh

Pumpkin Chai.  My customers love this one more than I do.

 

Aztec - oh so many

Cantaloupe & Lily is a favorite of mine

Caramel Pecan Pie

Applejack & Peel

Sweet Potato & Brown Sugar

Orange Blossom

Georgia Peach

Citrus Fantasy

Leaves - oh so popular with my friend and family and me.

Love Spell

 

Natures Garden

Apple Orchard

Black Raspberry Vanilla

Coco Mango 

Eucalyptus & Spearmint - customers love this one

Cottage Breeze

Hot Orange Danish

Mountain Hazelnut Coffee

Seaside

Tropical Blast

Monkey Farts

Winter Candy Apple

Tinsel - customers love this one too

 

 

 

 

 

Is NGs eucalyptus and spearmint strong and does it throw well in paraffin and soy?

ive been looking for a good one for what seems like forever. That's always been a favorite scent of mine. 

Thank you soo much! ☺️ That's insanely helpful Gail! (as you always are!)

I ended up buying some the same night anyhow. I've spend so much already I was just trying to salvage what I could. I purchased them on amazon and tossed my old ones. 

I've been looking through each suppliers oil and they all offer amazing sounding FOs. 

Im looking for strong oils that throw well in paraffin and soy blends.

If you have ordered FOs from these suppliers, which scents threw the best and which were your favorites? 

Thank you!

I'm making candles for Christmas this year for my family, and I'm struggling trying to find scents. 

My my sister had mentioned before that she like YC midsummers night. I think she'd also like clean scents. 

My sister-in-law is more particular. She despises the smell of vanilla. I can't use any FO that even smells slightly like it. I know that she likes BBW scents (not vanilla, clearly) and Victoria's Secret sprays. 

I used to make my dad drakkar candles from CS, but they've recently Discontinued their drakkar FO. 

They all love strongly scented candles and melts. (Because many people who aren't prone to headaches do.)

Long story short...

I'm looking for strong smelling FOs that throw very well. Any and all recommendations are welcome!

ones I need:

* masculine/cologne types

* good dupes of BBW or Victoria's Secret

* clean and fresh scents

* and other FOs you've had good experiences with. 

I'm using my own blend of 80/20 paraffin and soy.

I've tried FOs from FB, CS, TFC, and northwood. I was pleased with most of them. 

I've decided to use my excess wax for firestarters. I've never done this before, so I'm hoping someone that has can give me a bit of advice. 

I have a few questions :

1. Does it matter what type of wax is used?

(I have about 30lbs of bum tester wax I've recycled - paraffin and soy mixed all throughout.)

2. If I put cotton balls or pinecones in, do they need to be dipped in wax first or just put in the mold and poured over?

thank you kindly ☺️

**I am making these as part of a basket for Christmas gifts.

Thank you very much! I actually didn't have any goo gone and researched that WD-40 does the trick.

I gave it a shot and it worked extremelyyyy well at removing the permanent labels.

It was strong smelling but I'm letting them sit and the smell is dissipating.

I think I may try boiling/hot water bath-ing them to get the FO wax out. 

14 hours ago, Kerven said:

Are those cross shaped wicks the EricX Light wicks?

I believe so. I just figured I'd give them a try.

I've decided to use them in my firestarters 🤣

4 hours ago, TallTayl said:

I do notice a burn difference between two days, one week and two weeks.

 

I’m about to do a demonstration for the form on this. You might want to play along. Makes three candles. Burn one after two days, one after one week and one after two weeks

I'd love to do this!

I know that soy needs 2 weeks to cure, but is the purpose of this solely for throw?

Will the burn be different than it would be in two weeks?

I'm testing a new wood wick and I just want to know how it burns. 

Thanks all!

I am making baskets for my family for Christmas full of my candles/melts/etc.

I was going to order plastic clamshell molds but I realized I had some already. Unfortunately, they have already been used. I popped out the wax and am left with 12 empty clamshell molds. 

I'm wondering if I am able to reuse these? 

If so, ANY AND ALL advice on how to get the smell out is highly appreciated. 

A few of them also seem to have residual wax left in them. 

Also, does anyone have any experience in removing permanent labels from these molds? 

thank you all again!

Have you tried amazon?

I use CS and they're absolutely wonderful. My items ship quickly, usually the following day. I receive them in 2-3 days. 

As for wicks, I would definitely go with the Eco sample pack.

  That way you can try a few sizes at once. Then, you can order the size you like best, and not have a big bag of unused/useless wicks. CS has some terrific Fragrance oils. They aren't insanely overpriced either.

ime, CD & premier wicks tend to burn best with 464. However, it may be different for you. You have to do a ton of testing to find out. Everything is a factor from what FO you use to how much you use. 

I would recommend a para-soy if you've never 'candled' before. 🤓 

I started with the IGI 6006 and It worked amazingly for me (basically) not knowing what I was doing. 

I wish you the best of luck! The community here are very wonderful, helpful people. 

If you ever need any help, or have questions that I may be able to answer, feel free to message me.  I'd be happy to help to the best of my ability and knowledge. 

1 hour ago, Sponiebr said:

I wood ant (see what I did there?) give up on them just yet... You might split a strip off either side of the wick to make them less wide. Also try trimming the wick closer to the wax. I seriously only had about 3/32 ( as in 1.5 (16ths) of an inch above my wax and they burned beautifully. I "soaked" my wicks in hot wax, (not oil mind you) before I set them into the jars. But I made my own wooden wicks too... 

So working 12 hr shifts on midnights huh? I too am one who dwells in the darkness... Tell ya what, I'll bring the soap, YOU bring the light.  

Sponiebr 

The Executor of Bad Ideas and NOT A CHANDLER... 

Works for me! 😄😄

I've been looking at a few different FO suppliers as I want to test a few new ones. 

I'm trying to find strong, uncut oils. Just fragrance oils which smell strong and not with the diluted smell some contain. 

I've researched reviews on a couple and they don't look promising. I've only heard good things about them on this forum, though. Most had 3.5/5 stars. 

I'd rather get some insight than waste money. Thanks everyone 😊