Maggie

I used to use this wax and loved it. Without going back and checking my notes I am pretty sure I used HTP wicks. The CBL140 is great for tarts and votives too. Why did I stop using it? LOL...I really can't remember but...I think it was right after Vickey at KY started a supply business. She and I used CBL129 and would compare notes. Then when she was a supplier I tried her KY125 but really wasn't sold on it. So then I started using Joy wax from NG until Vickey started selling parasoy blend called Perfect Blend. About 2 years ago I started having problems with it so I tried CBL130 from Candlewic and I love it. Now CW is carrying GB464 which I had tested before and loved it. Since it's cheaper than the 130 I am thinking about using it again when I have to order wax. Now back to your testing...I also tested CBL129 with zinc since that's all I was using in previous paraffin waxes. I didn't care for them in the 129. As far as curing...I was always impatient and would test burn the next day. Since the HTP burns hotter than zinc that could be your problen with the hot throw. I would try several other types of wicks till you find the right one that works for you. I am pretty sure if you ask Bill Binder at CW he would send you sample packs of different wicks to try. He did that for me with the LX wicks. I never used Crisco and I am pretty sure I never used over 1 oz. per lb. If I remember...LOL...I will look back through my old notes tomorrow and give you more accurate info. Good luck because it IS a great wax.

About 2 weeks ago we were going to PetSmart and at the end of the strip mall there used to be a Yank## Candle Outlet store...it's gone...dark and empty. They do have one in a mall about 20 miles from that location and it might do a bit better since it's right in the middle so to get to the big anchor stores on each end you have to walk by it. After I gave up on Yank## I started buying candles from a large shop that poured right there not too far from me. I really loved their Pumpkin Pie candles. They had been in business for many years but...they decided to finish the upstairs and sold mostly imported crafts with some Amish made wrought iron pieces. I think the money they invested in all of that inventory may have helped with their demise. They also did refills of any type of container you supplied...never questioned the thickness of the glass etc. and I am sure guessed at the wick size. Anyway...when they closed that's when I decided to start testing. The only reason I was melting the tart that I mentioned before was...before I poured tarts...just candles...my hubby bought a bunch of Christmas scented Yank## tarts for me...2 of 3 different fragrances. I won't have the heart to tell him that they suck. lol

Wow then you got 8 hours more than I just got with one of their Christmas scented tarts. I'm talking scent throw...faint cold throw and NO hot throw. So...I threw it in the garbage. And those "pillars" in a jar look EXACTLY like my Madison jars. I have both sizes. I didn't watch the end of the video because...such bullshit. Is the public THAT stupid that they think they are pillar candles? As far as the strength of their scents...I've had 1 that I can say was strong...their wisteria. Other than that most of the candles I used to buy had a very faint throw. And of course since I didn't know any better I assumed that was what a scented jar candle smelled like. My DIL at the time told me about a wonderful apple scented candle she bought at a craft show...this was back in the 90's before I ever poured candles. After that she kept saying...don't buy anymore of those mass produced candles...homemade are the best. And of course in 2000 I started pouring and found out for myself that was the truth. Just checked Y's website and they are selling those candles for $19.99...lmao. All of their stuff is overpriced but I sell the same exact candle for $15.00 and I fill it a bit fuller than what they show. If I was a member of YouTube I would post there and say...this is NOT a pillar candle...it IS a jar candle. I like how the woman says...it is a filled candle. Sneaky advertising...LOL.

That's great Sliver. I always had great luck with Lonestar when I ordered from them. I don't order from them anymore with the price of shipping from TX to the east coast. I used to say...if a company has great products I don't care where they are located I will order from them. But...since I've cut back some making candles and stuff...or should I say I am just lazy...I'm inclined to stick to suppliers in the east.

Scentsy tarts that I have smelled...or not smelled...lol...suck. I know I told the story here of my X dil's partner in the hair salon going to a Scentsy party and buying one of their tart melters and several different scents of their clamshells. So far I have "not" smelled 4 or 5 different ones that are in their shop. The burner gets hotter than what they claim it does and I had to put my nose down IN the bowl to even know something was melting in it. I am the first customer of the day on Thursday so it's not like it is competing with the smell of hair products. They both have tart burners that they bought from me at home...plus I gave them one for the shop plus supply them with tarts. I gained some of their customers for my tarts and candles because of the great throw of mine. But her partner was trying to help out a friend who was a brand new rep so she decided to ditch my stuff. My X dil is pissed but she said that Kristin is like that and will someday soon admit that the stuff is crap. lol

And to add to what ChrisR posted. If you use too much vybar in tarts you will not have smooth tops. You get a rippled effect which IMO looks crappy. The most FO percentage that I use is 10% in tarts...some 8%. I would never want to add close to 20% at the prices I pay for some of my oils. I have been using a Creme Brulee tart that I made a couple of years ago...my own blend of paraffin and one pour container wax with vybar and this tart is so strong that I DO have to turn of the burner for a while because it about sickens me.

I have been computerless for over a week...new computer had problems so back to HP's tech center. I bought a Netbook yesterday due to computer withdrawl. Anyway...this news sickens me too. I have been with Vickey since day 1 of her supply business. Her apple pie has always been my best seller...grrrrrrrr. And I had a lot of people love Plumberry Spice. There are others too that I am going to miss. I sure hope someone is smart enough to buy her oils. In the meantime I will just have to wait and see. Oh...and I was going to try her Creme Brulee when I placed an order in September. I won't order from JS anymore so once I pour the little bit that I have left...another grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

This triple scented thing has been debated on messageboards for years. I tell people that my candles are scented with the highest amount that my wax blend will hold. And I explain fo loads etc. Honestly...I have never had a customer ask if my candles are triple scented. I also explain the difference between overloading the scent with the chance it will leak out over time...and the fact that 3 layered using different scents IS a triple scented candle. I tell them that it is all hype for some to say this trying to make people think their candles are better than another chandlers.

I agree Cathy in ME. Way back before I ever posted here I posted on TSR and NG's board. Of course you couldn't mention other suppliers on NG's board but TSR you could. I can remember people complaining big time about CW. One day I ordered and I have been VERY pleased with most of their products and great CS. Like all of the free LX wicks Bill Binder sent to me...postage paid by CW...along with tons of advice when pouring palm pillars. And I know I've said this before...maybe here...the time I ordered metal tart pans and they sent me like 6 or 8 too many. I called to tell them and said that they could add the price to my next order and was told...no way would we charge you. You keep them...on us.

I agree because candybee...when you had posted before I am pretty sure that I said...I knew Dan from a private board and told us that he pretty much did all of the mixing to get some of their great fragrance oils. So...if Dan is back with Robbie...it's hard to believe that he would be back just to sell Select Shades. But I remember that Dan was a big time soaper...he had a soap shack on the property where he would do all of his "work". I can't remember if he was a big time candle pourer.

Oh yes...Scented is correct. Man this is one strong fragrance oil. It was a slow seller for me at first but then all of a sudden I started selling quite a few candles...people sniffed it and loved it. Ya just have to find the right people...or at least have them sniff it.

Karen, I found these on Sam's Club's website. If you check out the page it says description etc. I didn't check but the picture looks the same. Also didn't see the price. http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=135454

I almost did a horse show...they were looking for crafters. Well...a few weeks before the show I got an email from them that they had to cancel the craft show part of it...lack of vendors. As far as the other shows you mentioned...the car shows are huge. People come from all over the country but the vendor spots are at least $1,000. a day. I don't have quite that much to spend...lol. One of the shows that I did for several years at a community center also stopped having shows. I got a letter from them a couple of months ago that said they are going to start again. Their spring show sucked but their Christmas show...I did pretty good. So...that might be something I'll consider doing again. Too much sewing and quilting going on right now Sliver...candles have taken a back seat for the moment. But...once I get out in my shop and start pouring again I won't want to stop.

Karen...did you check at Fillmore Container in Lancaster, PA. They are in Amish country so they just might have something that you can use.

And yet another gorgeous soap Barbara. When I don't see you post for a few days I think to myself...I guess Barbara is working on another beautiful soap and she will soon post pictures for us to drool over.

I got that email too candybee. I used to use them a lot...and did pay for about a year but then quit using it because a lot of what he lists in my area isn't really craft shows. He will list ALL types of events. Some of the big car shows are in my area and I know for a fact that they don't have crafters there...but yet he lists them. Anyway...I think about 3 or 4 months ago I checked things out and wasn't impressed. I've found a couple of great shows by word of mouth...talking to vendors at other shows. I'm also a member of Festival.net and found a couple of shows there that I enjoyed doing. I didn't do any shows last year...just my Christmas Open House. I am planning to do one show this year...it's here in my town and it's always been a great show for me. The locals really do support this show so I will see how it goes since the economy is down. But...it's in October so people are just starting to buy their Christmas candles and gifts.

I went through several years of panic/anxiety attacks and it is NOT fun. But mine was different than yours...I really don't know what my problem was...lol. I CAN be a social butterfly and I talk a lot so craft shows and I were made for each other. What if you had someone to help you with shows? Like you both go and get everything ready and then if you feel that anxiety/panic coming on he or she could continue doing the show. Just thinking out loud here. Do you take any prescription drugs for it? I took Ativan for about 5 years but a new doctor wanted me off of it right away. After we talked I said I would try something else that wasn't addictive. It took be several months but one day I woke up and they were gone. It's been probably 14 years now and have never had another one. I don't do any internet selling. It just doesn't interest me...so I have no ideas or experience with it. Good luck with whatever you decided to do.

KY's is my favorite by far. When Vickey was on the hunt for a good one she told me she wanted one that smelled just like HI's apple pie. I've been pouring it since the day she added it and it outsells most every other fragrance that I pour. My next door neighbors got hooked on it and will buy all I have plus order 6 or 8 for Christmas gifts. I've tried NG...it was okay. Before Vickey opened her supply business I used the one from the now OOB Bubbles & Lights. Lori had the best apple pie AND just plain old Pie Crust that was excellent.

I LOVE IT!!! Great looking labels and product.

That is what I was thinking too. I don't pour tapers...and never plan to...lol. But...I googled best wax for making tapers and found this. It's one of the pages from the original Candlemaking Techniques from Peak. Here is the link...... http://www.candletech.com/candle-making-basics/hand-dipped-tapers/

I used to buy Angel from Sweetcakes. They came out with a reduced cost version when the "real" one started going way up in price. I see now they only have one on their site and it is $66.00 for a lb. I won't swear to it...but I think that IS the reduced one because when I ordered the last time....several years ago...the "real" one was up to like $90./lb. and the reduced was $50./lb. A friend of mine fell in love with Angel and I told her that the prices had gone so high that my candles in this scent would be VERY expensive. She did buy a few until I found another supplier's that she tested for me and said she couldn't tell the difference. It's from AH/RE and it is called Interlude. I just went to their site and it says that once their current supply is exhausted...new oil will raise in price by about 50% since it has patchouli in it.

Sliver of Wax that posts here uses CB. She uses a big putty knife to slice it. Maybe she will see this and tell you exactly what she does. I have used it and I used a BIG metal spatula and didn't have any problems getting it out of the bag.

Bringing this back to the top because last night on our local news they announced that these are being recalled. Hubby had the remote in hand and the story was coming up next after the break. Of course HE decided to change the channel because the local weather forecast was coming on another channel and he was MORE concerned about the possibility of heavy storms here. Did anyone else hear or see this?

Just an FYI about NG's Ocean Mist. I have never tested their Ocean but I've tested and sold Ocean Mist. It's not a salty/sea ocean type scent. It has those notes plus...to my nose it has a perfume type smell too.

Back when I was testing 464 I always poured hot. I tried both hot and the recommended pouring temperature and hot worked best for me. I hate waiting too. Candles looked great and I had great how throw with the fragrance oils that I tested. Still debating what I will order...love the CBL130 from Candlewic but the price is a lot higher than 464. I found 2 cases of Perfect Blend that I was pouring before KY discontinued it and I switched to the 130. Since I take a summer break and only do requests...no craft shows...I will have enough wax to get me started on fall and Christmas containers.