cryptic

Follow the link up above to the MMS site. Look for the post that says that there are directions on the mms site and a link.

Thanks Carrie, I see!

If you are using soy wax (I assume you will be since you are in the veggie wax forum) you can then wick test by drilling a hole in the middle and insert your wick, rather than sticking one in before pouring. That way, if the wick choice does not work, you can let the candle cool, remove the wick with your handy-dandy pliers, and insert a different one! You may want to heat-gun the top after removing the wick, so you have a smooth top to start the other wick test.

When you are done with the jar and the wax, you can scoop it out with a knife or spoon and save it as scrap, or remelt and combine with new wax to do more wick testing on different jars. This save lots of money in wax! You won't want to reuse that wax for testing scent or using in a finished candle, since it may have bits of old burned wick and carbon and other dirt, but it could be saved and used for firestarters.

the geek has spoken!

Awesome! Thank you very much for the help

Me too. That makes 11 of us so far.

BTW I love your tag line, I do read binary

Hehe

Thanks everyone!!! This is exactly what I needed to "start out" with Awesome info geekrunner! Thanks lvnmt for the link!

Question: When completing the wax heating testing in step 1, after I like a temperature and wax combo, what do I do with the wax in the jar?

What do I do with the rest of the jars after I tested with wick? Do you throw the candle away? Do you reuse the jar for more testing?

I just measured the tubes to determine what size I wanted. Put it in my label program, print them on a full sheet type of label, then use a slicer to cut them. Then I have the shrink wrap made for lipbalms to finish them off nicely.

What label program are you using? Where can I find this label program? Shrink wrap? :embarasse Are there any instructions somewhere on how to make lip balm labels? I'm lost.

I was wondering, how do you test your candles? What type of system do you use? For example, do you decide to make a certain amount of candles with all the same variables, except for one thing, such as the wick, and then monitor the wicks on the candles and jot it down in your notebook?

Do you test several variables at once instead and look for the "best" candle, and begin eliminating the ones that are doing poorly, taking note of it's components (wick, type of wax, FO, jar size, etc.)

I would like to learn how to "test" the candles by using a structured approach...how do you test?

Meridith, I thought I was the only one who had problems with paraffin (or closely related) candles! I don't suffer from any doctor-diagnosed illnesses (knock on wood), but have always had trouble with regular candles.

For me, I prefer soy wax candles simply because of the following: I hated being around candles (regardless of where they were purchased from - Walmart, specialty shops, gift shops, big & small stores, etc.) and very rarely did I purchase them - only to fill the room with a nice scent. But they made me sneeze, cough, headaches, or cause me to have a "gagging" feeling, while they are burning and immediately when they are extinguished (the worst reaction) ...until I came across a candle one day that did not cause me to experience those symptoms. I asked what type of candle it was and was informed that it was 100% soy wax, etc. Since then, I've purchased some soy candles and now I say: Wow, now I can actually enjoy candles without having those annoying effects. This is what led me to investigate the contents of candles further and coming across "candle making."

Whatever is used in those non-soy wax candles when they "burn" is what causes my reactions. I only get the symptoms above when the candle is burning. However, every now and then I did experience a small headache from smelling certain candles.

I'm not saying soy is "pure" or that it's better than non-soy candles...I'm just saying that I choose soy because it doesn't cause me to have reactions to them. Regardless, I am glad that soy wax candles exist and don't really care to use the other candles.

I have yet to try a palm wax candle or beeswax candle to see what reactions I experience from those.

P.S. This is just my experience and point of view.

For me, I prefer soy wax candles simply because of the following: I hated being around candles (regardless of where they were purchased from - Walmart, specialty shops, gift shops, big & small stores, etc.) and very rarely did I purchase them - only to fill the room with a nice scent. But they made me sneeze, cough, headaches, or cause me to have a "gagging" feeling, while they are burning and immediately when they are extinguished (the worst reaction) ...until I came across a candle one day that did not cause me to experience those symptoms. I asked what type of candle it was and was informed that it was 100% soy wax, etc. Since then, I've purchased some soy candles and now I say: Wow, now I can actually enjoy candles without having those annoying effects. This is what led me to investigate the contents of candles further and coming across "candle making."

Whatever is used in those non-soy wax candles when they "burn" is what causes my reactions. I only get the symptoms above when the candle is burning. However, every now and then I did experience a small headache from smelling certain candles.

I'm not saying soy is "pure" or that it's better than non-soy candles...I'm just saying that I choose soy because it doesn't cause me to have reactions to them. Regardless, I am glad that soy wax candles exist and don't really care to use the other candles.

I have yet to try a palm wax candle or beeswax candle to see what reactions I experience from those.

P.S. This is just my experience and point of view.

I am new How do I start making wickless candles? I already have my eye on a 100% soy wax starter kit, which I can't wait to get, but am not sure how the wickless candles are made. I would be interested in making the wickless candles in small tin containers to have around the offices at work.

Are wickless made the same way as container candles with a wick? Any info on how to start making wickless aer greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Where can one find lip balm labels? Anyone?

I designed websites for 9 years and offered web hosting services for 2 years. From what I heard from my friends and read online, some people aren't happy with GoDaddy's hosting service. I cannot say personally, since I have never used them for hosting, but I have used them for domains before. In my opinion, they are good for domains, but I would not buy hosting from a company that specializes in domains - they are two different beasts.

I don't really care for it, so I wouldn't buy it.

Oh, MAN, that sounds good!!!

Layering it means do one layer of scent, one layer of another scent, a layered candle.

Wow that sounds really good! Thanks for the explanation, now I get it

Oh, I LOVE this stuff I layer it with BCS Scratch cake or Sugar Cookie on the bottom, then the caramel and then top it with BCS whipped Cream. It's one of my best sellers and it smells awesome. I also layer it with the Cake and then put Strawberry Jam on top, which is delicious. It's also great by itself too. But you should definitely try it with the whipped cream from BCS. That FO is a whole-house filler too.

What do you mean by "layering" it? Are you referring to mixing it?

(Sorry, I am brand new )

Thanks SatinDUcky for the answer

Right before pouring wax into their containers, I understand the containers must be heated, such as in an oven. How long do the jars need to be in the oven and at what temperature? Are there certain guidelines available? Do the jars need to be just warm, hot, or can they work just fine at room temperature? Thanks!

Maybe this will help me explain. Never used to do this until I had some "fingernailing" with IGI 1274. People on the board advised me to do this and it seems to work. Have seen the same thing on a few other sites.

http://candles.genwax.com/candle_instructions/___0___sqsntpil_make_step13.htm

Would this apply to 100% soy wax?

From researching soy wax, my understanding is that EZSoy is really flat out 100% soy wax without the inclusion of any "blending" oils, such as cottonseed oil, additives, etc. That's from what I've gathered reading online and on this site.

I've ordered apoth jars from Lonestar (www.lonestarcandlesupply.com) and they do carry the wooden lids.

Thanks!

I agree with Bruce...I would think that the thinner jars would dissipate heat while the thicker ones would hold it in and break. I've started ordering jars from www.jarstore.com, they have fabulous jars which are specially manufactured for candles.

The Jar Store seems great...I see that they have a picture of a jar with the wooden lid on it, but cannot find it on their website. Do you know where I can get apoth jars, but with wooden lids?

Thanks SatinDucky, this makes a lot more sense to me now...

~Set pour pot on scale, scoop (no spigot here) desired weight of wax into pot.

~Add FO, stir well. Add color.

Thanks all for the suggestions and help Others, feel free to post if you want, I have subscribed to the thread so I will continue reading it

Ok...I think I got the process...I am loosely speaking, meaning I understand some processes are different for each person; I just want to get an idea of how all this information on the boards works together...please feel free to correct me:

Okay, first you get a Presto and a double boiler. You melt the wax in the Presto. After wax is melted and reached a certain temperature, place pouring pot in double boiler and heat up. Then you pour a measured (or doesn't have to be measured?) amount of wax from the Presto into the pouring pot. After wax reaches a certain temperature in the pouring pot, add color and fragrance. Mix well. (Wait for wax to reach a certain temperature again?) Heat glass jars a little bit in oven. Then SLOWLY pour measured (is it here that wax is measured?) amount into the candle container.

Is this right so far? lol.

THANKS! (ooooooooohhhh, one of those! )

Hi, I don't quite understand pouring pots. I have searched these forums, front and back and have read every thread that talked about pouring pots. However, I still don't quite "get it." People have mentioned using the glass measuring cup (but I would prefer not to have to deal with a heating gun, or placing glass in an oven, and all that)...so, what other "pouring pots" do you use? Can anyone post a picture or something so I can see what it looks like?

Also, after melting the wax and pouring it into a pouring pot, I guess you add the color and fragrance here, but how do you keep the wax at a certain temperature before pouring it into the candle containers?

I am very new. I read that when making container (jar?) candles you have to heat them up first...I would like to make candles as efficient as possible without having to use a heating gun...I'm also kind of nervous putting glass in the oven that's not super thick glassware. Any other alternatives?

Advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.