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bfroberts

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Everything posted by bfroberts

  1. bfroberts
    I think you are probably several sizes over-wicked. I don't use Premiers in 6006, but I am familiar with them because I used to use them in 464. I'd probably test 750, 755, 760, 765.....something in that area should work.
  2. bfroberts
    I used to use a lot of zincs in 6006, but a couple of years ago I started having problems with batches of 6006 being softer and more gooey and it didn't burn as well. I retested for months and determined that Eco wicks were the best of the lot, hands down. The only real problem w/Eco's is that being just one size off can be ugly and make a person think ALL Eco's suck. In truth, the right one is golden. But definitely try zincs. You may love them. Good luck!
  3. bfroberts
    What container are you using?
  4. bfroberts
    Wow....that's one I haven't seen yet. Yikes. Just when you think you have seen it all. A sweet girl in one of the FB groups pm'd me a couple weeks ago and asked if she could mail me a couple of her candles to burn and give her some feedback. I thought it would be fun, so I agreed, and she sent 4. I've test burned them for 4 days now. They are all nice, conservatively wicked, good throw, pretty nice all around. It was a happy surprise, and I enjoyed trying someone else's product. So there is one new candle maker that seems to know what she is doing.
  5. bfroberts
    Speaking of which, I've lately come across a new breed of candle maker that doesn't feel the need to test to the bottom. I've read, "I don't have time for all that testing," more than once. Scary stuff.
  6. bfroberts
    If that is a 3" diameter jar, Eco 12 is way too big. Eco 8 should be spot on. You should also eliminate the mica. It's very problematic. Edited to add: Some people may not know this....a wick that is too large will tunnel, not just a wick that is too small, and Eco's don't have to be much too big for this to happen. With 6006 in a 3" tumbler, you won't get a full melt pool on the first burn without using a wick that is way too large. I see a lot of people that are looking for that large melt pool and they keep using bigger and bigger wicks, which then causes tunneling, and then they think they need a larger wick and just keep going up and up. It's a vicious cycle.
  7. bfroberts
    Great PSA. Hopefully it doesn't fall on deaf ears. Just like the botanicals-in-candles people, the dough bowl people are in some pretty deep denial.
  8. bfroberts
    Very cool
  9. bfroberts
    Yep, it's gone and I only have about 8oz left, so I'm on the hunt too. Some old posts I dug up have led me to believe that PFO's Vervaine Olive Blossom may be somewhat similar, but it's pricey so I haven't taken the plunge to find out. Otherwise, I haven't found it anywhere either.
  10. bfroberts
    Thanks for the info. I’m concerned. Not only because the wax is different, but also by their lack of response. I’ve had prompt response every time I have reached out to them, so radio silence on this issue scares me. Thankfully I won’t need to order wax until next spring, but now I’m wondering if I should spend the winter testing something new. I’d really like to stick with parasoy, but CBL130 was the best one out there IMO. Ugh. I really feel for you trying to make this work. Every time I’ve had a bad batch of wax I’ve wasted half a case trying NOT to waste the other half. So much time and money down the drain. Much luck to you!
  11. bfroberts
    You are so right. This year for my Christmas gift candles I'm doing a large apothecary jar that holds 30oz of wax, using C3, single wicked. Between pouring, testing, choosing scents, curing and more testing, I feel like I'm on a major time crunch, especially since I wanted some of these ready to go by Thanksgiving.
  12. bfroberts
    I surely don't understand adding FO at low temps. I have several scents that will not blend in if the wax is too cool. A couple I have to crank the heat on up beyond 185 to get it to fully incorporate. I realize that there is some bad info put out there by suppliers, but most of these newbies tend to favor Candle Science and their info overall is generally decent. I don't understand why someone new to the craft would choose to listen to the advice from random FB, Reddit, YouTube users rather than the actual supplier. I try to route people here for better info.
  13. bfroberts
    Thank you,@ErronB. Is it possible it's a different wax that was mislabeled? Before melting, does it look and feel the same? So many questions to ask and I don't even know where to begin. I'm kinda freaked out right now. Please let us know if you get a response from CW.
  14. bfroberts
    Damn. Do you have the lot #? I am so glad I am done making candles for the year.
  15. bfroberts
    Do you wash your jars prior to using them? What wax are you using? Some waxes are worse about wet spots than others. Even being as diligent as possible and practicing all preventatives, you can only control wet spots so much. Once the candle leaves your hands and is exposed to varying temps and conditions, they can and will reoccur.
  16. bfroberts
    This is the place Welcome!
  17. bfroberts
    Never noticed and never really thought about it, but since I'm always annoyed about something anyway, I took a look at my boxes to see if I should be annoyed about that too. They do indeed have a sticker on them indicating the kind of wax. Not that big of a deal for me, but I can see why you'd be annoyed if you are making what I think you are making. I'd probably want to keep a wrap on that formula too.
  18. bfroberts
    Wow. Some of those reviews were obviously nit picks from people who do not know how a candle should perform or how to actually burn one for that matter. Those are the kind of reviews that keep me from selling candles online. But there is no denying, those burned tin pics are scary. There is no shortcut for proper testing. It isn't quick and it isn't cheap, but it's never time and money wasted.
  19. bfroberts
    I've been thinking about this a lot since the original post. I keep batch records using a date code that coordinates with my purchasing records, so I can trace a candle back to it's particular batch. Do I need to be able to track customers? This is something I have never considered. In the event I would need to issue a recall, is it enough to send out a mass email, post alerts on our business website and use social media posts alerting customers of the recall? How would I handle a recall for candles that were sold to resellers? Candles are only a tiny part of our main business. Just something I make to sell in our store and I have a couple of local accounts that sell in their store. We don't collect any personal info when a purchase is made. Every candle sold is an in store purchases only. IDK. I am a compulsive tester, I wick conservatively, and I am very particular about our glassware, but I am paranoid as heck about this stuff.
  20. bfroberts
    Thank you for the link. I can't even take that website seriously.
  21. bfroberts
    Thanks for the heads up about CD wicks. I'm using those in C3, and most of what I'm using I've had for years. It never really crossed my mind that they could be different than CD wicks I purchase now. I'd have to agree, baseline tests are a must.
  22. bfroberts
    I just noticed an increase of about $6-7 for case+shipping from Candlewic. Apparently with their revamped website, the special case price + shipping is no longer available. It wasn't a big savings, just a few bucks, but every little bit counts. I'll have to investigate that more when I have time. Right now my password isn't working on the new website....ugh. Some of my main oils have gone up within the last year or two, and I've had to pay a little more for jars lately when I couldn't get them from my normal supplier. To offset these and any upcoming increases, in the new year I think I will be switching from 16oz square masons to the 12oz economy jar. My per candle price will stay the same, but the candle weight will decrease by a few ounces. The look will be basically the same and I don't think it'll be a deal breaker for any of my customers or accounts.
  23. bfroberts
    I had a few of barnwood samples that I mixed together....one was from Aztec, one from Maple St. I don't really remember about those other than I didn't care for them by themselves. The tobacco was from WSP, the Fragrance Formulator one.
  24. bfroberts
    I've never found a true tobacco scent. I have searched and searched and never found anything close. The closest I've been able to come is to blend a tobacco with a barn wood scent. Not at all the same as actual tobacco, but fairly reminiscent of tobacco curing in a barn.
  25. bfroberts
    Don't get discouraged. You are on the right track, and your wicks are within the appropriate range, give or take a size or two. From here on out, it's just fine tuning. Tins will really fool you. In the early burns you'll feel like you are under-wicked. Don't get hung up on how the candle looks at the top. The bottom will tell the tale..
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