Mei-Mei

I'm really glad to hear this because Maduro is the sample I chose and I can't wait! I can't wait to try their new wax too.

Soot is nasty stuff, but all candles give off some, right? I made a beautiful 24 oz container with Comfort Blend, HTP 105, African Musk FO, some color shavings. I burning it right now. I've been burning about 1 hour and I notice some very, very light soot on the interior of the glass. That got me to wondering what standards other candlemakers hold their containers to. Would you find a light soot film acceptable? Or is it something you don't care that much about (like the ______ brand candle I burned last week that is black on the inside!)?

I went to the hardware store and bought a heat gun. It worked like a charm. Thanks!

Made some 20 oz containers using this wax and some different FO's. Poured at 180 and heated the containers. I've noticed that the wax shrinks slightly, not away from the sides but from the top, leaving an unattractive wax ring a little, tiny ways from the top of the candle. Does anyone know of any way to combat this?

...I hate testing! I think I'm too much of a perfectionist and I notice little things too much when it comes to candlemaking. I made 5 container candles with 5 different waxes using Raspberry Cobbler FO. I wanted to compare hot/cold throw, glass adhesion, etc. Well, one candle was beautiful, but had poor scent throw. The next had great scent throw, but huge wetspots. And so on, and so on. I can't seem to find the perfect wax! I guess there is no perfect one. The closest to perfect for me was the Comfort Blend, but it is just so icky to work with. I guess I'll start mixing and see what works for me. Is that what most people do?

Yes, it looked just like that! I poured too hot, huh?

An admin moved it.

Thank you. I should have specified that problem #1 applies to Soy, but problem #2 applies to Paraffin. So I just posted it here.

Gasp...just noticed I'm a wax drip!!!!

(1) I poured a container with CB-Soy for the first time today. It's curing now, and I've noticed there is a strange, large sinkhole forming around the perimeter of the candle. It's not like the 'funnel' you get when you need to make a repour on certain types of wicks. It's got a jagged edge; almost like a baby punched the inside of the candle. Any idea what that could be? (2) I'm having a little problem with my dye separating, which is really weird! The dye doesn't seem to be blending well with the wax. I'm using dye chips and I'm wondering if I should switch to liquid dye for better blending. What's odd is that this just started happening, so I think I'm doing something wrong (adding the dye at the wrong time perhaps). Any suggestions? By the way, I'm a newbie so please excuse me if these questions are really elementary or obvious. Be gentle with me.

To answer some questions: I did use Vybar 260 in the wax as an additive. I didn't have a tight holder, actually, it was kind of 'loose.' This is the only wick size I've tried in votives with this wax. I made about 100 different candles without burning any (don't ask me why; I'm a nut. ) and the fast burning one was scented with Clean Cotton FO. I'm now burning one made with less oil scented in Sandalwood FO and it's burning slower, but still pretty fast.:undecided

I used 44-24-18 prewaxed and tabbed wicks. I had no candle at all in about an hour and a half.

Hi, I'm new to the site and candlemaking so be gentle with me. I made a batch of votives using IGI 4616 about two weeks ago. I burned one today. It burned so fast...I was shocked! I used a zinc core wick that I'm sure was that right size. What other things could cause the fast burn?? By the way, thanks to Brenda for telling me about this community.:wave: