Asher

Do you know how Lone Star Candle Supply has those wick sampler packs that contain a little of everything? Is there something similar for waxes? I'd love to try several different waxes without having to buy 10 lbs of the stuff at a time, while also keeping my shipping from becoming astronomical. If I order from multiple stores I'd have that pesky minimum shipping charge of $6 (or whatever it is), and that would add up.

Since I don't live near a supply store I'll have to order online.

Thanks for the help!

I once joked about using a burning tires fo, but I can't imagine you'll actually find one.

Methanol? Yeah, this is odd, to say the least. I think I can say with much confidence that you'll never find either of these. If they don't make a dijon mustard scent they sure won't make a methanol or burning rubber scent.

Forgive me if this is the billionth time such a topic has been posted.

Anyway, I recently got the "Home For the Holidays" scent and absolutely love it. Currently, it would have to be my favorite since it really brings back lots of Christmas memories.

I know that sounds a bit "mushy", but I'm sure the same is true for others as well. Besides, your nose has a direct neural connection to your brain, so scents can be powerful memory invokers (can you tell I have studied neuroanatomy in the past?)

As far as non-seasonal scents go, I picked up "Irish Creme" from Lone Star Candle Supply several years ago. I haven't had it since, but from what I remember it was a very good scent.

I used a gas stove with a double boiler and never had problems with it. Sometimes, little bits of wax that had mixed in with the water would shoot out and contact the flame....but they'd burn up almost instantly. I might see a miniscule flash and hear a 'crackle' sound, but it was so small and happened so quickly that it never appeared threatening.

Honestly, the worst part about using a gas stove was the clean-up (since there were nooks and crannies to get around). My current flat-top stove is so much easier to clean. However, if some wax gets on the burner it will just sit there and slowly burn up. One time I filled my kitchen with a haze of smoke...and that never happened with the gas stove.

So, what is the best way for me to test these out without buying a pack of 100 of each kind (for fear I'd be stuck with a few hundred I couldn't use)? It looks like CD-4, CD-5 and CD-6 would be the most appropriate sizes for votives. I could order a CD Sampler set from Lone Star, but they include 5 of EVERY kind of CD wick (most of which I wouldn't need).

If I do have to get 100 each of the 4, 5 and 6, then I may be giving away the ones I can't use. Stay tuned

You know...it would be cheaper just to get a sample pack (which has around 100 wicks total) and test them out, instead of getting 300. Duh! Sorry, my mind is on the holiday already

I've never used anything but zinc wicks for votives, but last night I finally realized how much I hate them. Someone once told me that zinc was the best way to go for votives, but after seeing the long, spindly flames and ugly clumps of black goo for months now I'm ready to try something new.

A highly-esteemed member of this board has recommended CD wicks, so I will try some of those. I'm just looking for a nice, controlled flame without the need to trim every hour!

I have a few dozen 34-40 SP zinc wicks if anyone wants them

They say these waxes are one-pour "if used properly", whatever that means. Nice way to cover themselves if it doesn't work right. They can always tell us that we didn't use the wax correctly and that we must be doing something wrong

I used the 4761 several years ago, since it was advertised as "one-pour". I got enough shrinkage to require a second pour, but because I had poured the first above the lip of the mold there was no easy way to fill the dip without causing a big mess. Needless to say I only got one slab of it.

Michael's wax (Yaley's prem) went up to $25/11 lb slab

A few weeks ago I got the 11-lb slab for $10.48 with the 40% off coupon. Normally it is $15.99 here.

If it has jumped to $25 (which would be like a 75% increase here) then I will certainly be looking into something new.

Thanks, Kerry. There is also something called Tennessee Candle Supplies, which is about 3+ hours from here. I wish I could sample something from everyone, but there's generally a minimum shipping charge. I don't want to pay $6 shipping for a 3-lb bag of soy wax that only costs $3.

Unless I increase my order, though, is there really any other alternative?

This is why I will only buy from Michael's with their 40% off coupon

Those seamless molds are outrageous!

Hi there....this is actually the first time I've posted in this particular section of the board. I have never used soy wax, but was a bit intrigued when reading about this Cargill NatureWax V-1. I'd love to try using soy wax for votives just to test it out.

Has anyone here used the V-1 for votives, and do any companies sell "sampler" sizes? Also, it claimes to be a one-pour wax, though I tried the IGI 4761 one-pour votive wax and didn't like how it 'behaved'. It still shrunk enough to require a second pour.

Thank you for any input.

By the way, soy wax is water-soluble, right? I have heard it is a breeze to clean up because of this. That alone might be worth paying a bit more for the soy wax. And because it comes in flakes I wouldn't have to smash a huge slab of parrafin with a hammer

You just had to go and do that, didn't ya?

Honestly, I can't say much during the football season since MSU tends to stink up the field, but now it's basketball season....it's the only time during the year when we can take our revenge on the big blue (assuming your basketball team isn't very good that particular year).

Boy, we've gone way off topic here

Speaking of waxes with additives already in them, is there a place I can find the ingredients of the Yaley premium wax? I assume it has something in it, since they call it "premium".

It is the logo of my favorite college team (mainly basketball), the Michigan State University Spartans. I grew up in Michigan and we lived just 15 minutes down the highway from Michigan State.

I guess we don't have many college sports fans on the board here. I figured SOMEONE would recognize the Spartan logo, especially the lady on here from Michigan....uh, Lisa I believe.

You mean something like this?

I wish I did, though I wonder if the surface is just some kind of thin, waxy paper with that swirly design on it. I know you can pour those layers by setting the mold at an angle, but I think it would take forever to do that.

Maybe this was a good question, then...seems like I have a lot of you stumped as well. I just wasn't sure if lower MP meant the melt pool might be deeper and possibly give off stronger scent.

Thats alright, I just thought asher might know, thats ok she didn't. I am glad she like a post to herslef alone.

Actually, I'm a "he". Surprise!

...will a lower MP increase the scent throw? Because votives have such small melt pool is it beneficial to use a lower MP, or doesn't it matter one bit?

I have only tried two waxes in the last 4 years: one was, I believe, an IGI one-pour votive wax, which I didn't like....and the other is the Yaley Premium Wax, which I use because it produces some nice mottled votives and seems to have a very strong cold throw.

I have sold some votives to our workers here and they always report great results. Of course, my house contains about 150 votives right now and my nose always gets tired from the continuous cold throw. Therefore, I can't judge the hot throw so well.

Do lower MP waxes typically have better hot throw, or does it depend more on the mixture?

Even if you knew nothing of candles, you know your scripture....that's got a ton of value to people like me! Glad to see so many Christians on the board into candlemaking. Makes it feel more like family!

Thank you Chris. Good to know that. Isaiah 9:6 is one of my favorites...it is a very special message of hope, and this world sure needs that these days.

I tend to focus my candlemaking efforts on votives, which is why I can never answer questions about pillars or soaps or gel candles, etc. Goodness, there are some votive questions I don't even know. Still, I love making them.

Okay, just so I can learn something today...what exactly is a hurricane? From what I gather it is not a candle, right? Or can it be? Looks like you're mainly using them as candle holders. So are they made of wax with high MP?

And I keep hearing about this "grubby" hurricane. I found a picture of "grubby votives":

At first glance, I don't quite see the attraction to grubby candles. Sorry

Well, I think it looks funny. I don't think anger is funny, mind you...just that face.

If you posted this over in the soap section, you might get more answers. That's where all the soapers hang out.

Oh, so I'm guessing you do know what m&p soap from WSP is? I wasn't even sure if it was a real thing. Figured Lisa was just trying to appease me.

And yes, kaybee, I was doing what you said...though I'd probably pick slightly different wording

And thanks, Christine, for the kind words. Hey, I may not know much about soap or pillars or grubby hurricanes or clean-shaven hurricanes or gel candles, but it's nice to know I have some value to the board :highfive:

I was trying to mask my lack of knowledge with humor.

I don't know what m&p soap from WSP is...and here I am in the spotlight with my own thread. I had to think fast, so I figured confusion would likely work.

I usually do include one of those, but in all honesty the funniest face to me is that angry face. It just looks funny...come on, don't you chuckle when you see this red face: