Crafters_playhouse

You can get plastic ones from Midwest bottle

I purchased some when I was in Gatlinburg last year.  Here are the pros: you can peal the wax out of the container (2) very easy clean up if you allow it to burn all the way. Now for the cons (1) not.a very good scent throw. (2) you have to have a warmer more than 25watt as it doesn't melt all the way other wise 

so so I think some experimenting is required. 

I went to the site to see if I could order samples.  I added all 8 samples to the cart and shipping was $117 to Ohio...Have you ever ordered from them?

I melt my wax in a presto pot. I fill to brim twice which is about 8 lbs of wax.  I melt starting  at 250 degrees once I see liquid I lower that to 200 (this is about 185) I then allow the remaining wax I add to melt in.  I ladle out of the pot take an infrared temp and usually it is just the right temp for adding fragrance.  I add, Stir and let it sit for a min while I move onto the next scent and add more wax.  I work with three types of pouring pots. Metal which keep the wax hot longer, Rubbermaid Plastic which cools to pouring the fastest & Pyrex glass which allows for a slow cool.  I have not had an issue yet using this method and it works for me.  I am a small assembly line and alone I can knock out 100 in about 1 hour. But then I  pour 1 fragrance a dozen at a time.

@Moonstar i did this.  I purchased a bag of Water Softening pellets from Home Depot.  Walmart was a bit cheaper.  I think weighed out 1lb in a glass container. I had a small scoop of GEL FOOD Coloring to one & Liquid Candle Coloring to the another jar.  The fragrance is still VERY STRONG so i will have to pull back on the .25oz. for 1lb.  but i did sell them anyway this weekend in smelly jelly jars.  OMG they are awesome!!

@mzphee I have seen this happen.  I have a customer who formally purchased my French Lavender.  I use the same fragrance each time i make the candle. I use 444 & Fragrance from Natures Garden.   She came to me several months ago and said that she and her husband have had a reaction to the candle.  She immediate said that she refused to buy anymore.  I informed her that it is possible that she has developed an allergy either to the Soy wax or to the fragrance.  I advised her to try another brand to see if she has the same reaction.  Just a week ago she asked about purchasing from me again in a different scent.  I write this to say it is possible to grow an allergy to the fragrance or the wax.  

7 hours ago, justajesuschick said:

Okay, now, you all have had a few days. Where are the pics??? haha! <- but seriously, I make naked wax so I want to see some beautiful, colorful pictures!

 

Moonshine, people (customers) LOVE cutting up their chunk melts and things like loaves. They all have crinkle cutters, cutting boards just for this purpose and buy their own polypro bags and even labels for storing. You should SEE some of the wax storage pics! Some have armoires where their favorite vendors have received a dedicated drawer and others have whole rooms for their "stashes". They love posting pictures of orders, what they have put in their multiple warmers and showing off colorful chunks and pies! 

Most online sellers make chunks 2-4 ounces but some also make and sell whole pies, pie slices, loaves and more. 

My Wax Chunks are 2x2 and i changed waxes to make it easier for my customers to cut them up.  You are so right @justajesuschick there is a following of people and they purchase cutters, boards and have videos on how to soften to cut and more.  At first i didn't understand the concept of the Pies and loafs.  But i make cupcakes with the sole purpose of people being able to cut them and place in burners.  You can't sell cutable products to an ordinary wax person, they have to have experience

Found the site for that other manufacture. I have never ordered from them. They however have a look similar to lonestar.  Here is my guess, there is something particular about woodwick technologies that requires this legal stuff.  Not sure what to tell you on this one.

http://www.unitywoodenwicks.com/original_wicks.html

Well i would have to say that what lonestar is offering on their website isn't the same as woodcandlewick.com. It's obvious by the Sustainer Clips.  My Clips are totally different.  I have seen the clips on Lonestar on the packaging with Country Lane.  I order from Woodcandlewick I have been very happy with the wicks.  There is another manufacture out of Virigina, i am still searching through my notes for that website.  I will post once i get a hold of it.  

@jack be nimble

Here is the email i received

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your recent wooden wick purchase through Wood Wick Technologies, Inc.! 

For your convenience, please find a link to the "Click-Wrap Non-Exclusive Licensing Agreement" you agreed to with your wooden wick purchase.

As part of our ongoing support as your licensor, we wanted to remind you to please mark all product packaging with the following patent information:

     Wooden wick technology licensed by Lumetique, Inc.

Pat. www.lumetique.com/patents

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments - our customer service is happy to help! Thank you.

Kindly,

Customer Service

I use The CandleMakers Store Vanilla Bean Noel in 444 and it's wonderful.  I have yet to try the others so i am unable to provide a comparison.

funny you post this because i recently purchased 6006 (a parasol blend)for wax tart testing.  I have got say i like 444 much much better for my candles. For me the scent load is much better and i use a solid 10% FO.  My supplier suggested i use 6006 for my wax tarts, since i asked for advice on how to make it more sliceable.  My observations so far are that @10% The 6006 can't handle the FO. I get sweating, leaking etc on the bottom of my melts.  So my next test batch will be @ 8%. In addition i made a small set of candles with 6006 and wood wicks.  I get a lot of Black smoke, and my guess is it's the FO and the Paraffin in the wax.  For me...I will stick to 444 and 464 for my candles ( i use 444 in the Spring, summer, Fall and 464 in the winter only) but if i can get the FO  right i think the 6006 will be perfect for my wax melts.  

I recently came upon a great process for my labels. Previously i used Avery online or the Avery app on my tablet or Mac computer.  I would print them as i needed them for my product.  But now my local library has access to a vinyl printer and they have clear and white adhesive.  I can print 70 labels in full color for $2.00.  So now i take my labels created in avery import them to Adobe Illustrator set them up for Printing and then print in volume.  I printed 8feet work of labels for $20.00. It takes about 1 hour to print everything I put three labels on each jar so this has saved a considerable amount of time.

This is a great topic.  I only use dyes in my tarts and usually only use dye chips.  I recently purchased two liquid dyes.  I have to say there is a fragrance in the liquid that i don't like.  It stinks and i am worried the the fragrance will bleed into my oil.  But one thing i will say is that the color was MUCH stronger than my dye blocks i use from Lone Star.

5 hours ago, Daisymay66 said:

What are some good scents to use for over pours? In bakery ones? Vanilla, Cheesecake, Marshmallow. I think Creme Brûlée would be good but I can't seem to find a good one although it might be better in these since they are not all soy?? 

@daisymay66 for my overpours i do themes.  I currently have three: Fruity ( Usually a berry), Bakery (Right now that is zucchini) and Floral ,  In addition i write down all of my receipeies on a 3x5 index card so that have a reference. A lot of my mixes are trial and error, inspired by nature or just wha smells good to my nose.

I use wood wicks ONLY from woodcandlewick.  My local provider TheCandleMakersStore says that the source they previously purchased wood wicks from was sued so June of Last year i started purchasing from woodcandlewick.  I am guessing that wood candlewick sued them.  Now i am a complete fan for this company, there is some mumbo jumbo you have to put on your candles such as acknowledging lumetique technology as the wood wick provider, but that is it.  I know of another company in Virgina and i have to track down the information, i was going to purchase form them until i found woodcandlewick.  Besides pricing is better buy directly from the manufacture.

Light Blue = Blue Hydrangea

Light Peach = Sweet Melon

Creamy White = Vanilla Bean Noel

White = Magnolia

Peach = Georgia Peach

Purple = Blackberry (or Strawberry or any berry you want)

Creamy White = Marshmallow

Green = Gardena

Peach = Georgia Peach

So i finally figured out how to attach files. I have to use my Computer and not my IPAD   Here are a few photos. I stocked a store with Chunks, Cupcakes & scoopables i only work with Vegetable & Plant waxes.   I do two type of scoopables.  1 is a crumble and i use 464 for this.  I have found that my crumble scoopables only work with 464 and they need time to dry so it takes ab out 1 - 2 weeks to make a good crumble. i discovered how to do this by pure mistake, but i pour a think layer of wax into a very large cookie sheet and let it harden, about 30 min with the window open (and it's really cold here in cincy) next i take a drywall knife and scrape and cut repeatedly for about 10 min.  This creates fine crumbles.  I leave the crumbles on the cookie sheet to dry even more and about every 3 days i go scrape and cut until the wax no longer sticky on the cookie sheet.  I then transfer the wax to a Mason jar, lid and label and let it sit on the shelf even longer.  A lot of work but very popular.  My Other scoopable is a mix of 415 & oils a 40/60 mix.  This is just enough to make both the oil & wax scoop with a plastic spoon and stay solid when cold. i only use oils that are in a harden form already.

For my wax melts i use two methods.  the first is to pour a 8x8 pan full of wax scents let them cool and then cut them into small pieces i then pile them in to a mini bread pan and over pour my wax.  I cut them with monofilament (fishing line).  I am trying to get my guitar string cutter working, it's a hacksaw with the blade replaced with a guitar string, similar to or i should say exactly what soap makers use.  So i then cut up the chunks bag them to dry for about 1 - 2 weeks.

My other method is a use a ICE cube mold i found at Bed Bath Beyond.  they are itty bitty just big enough for chunks.  I do a light pam spray because they are not so easy to smack out.  I will pour 1 - 2 different scents in these molds.  Let them cure just long enough to take out (about 1 hr).  i then combine the chunks into another mold that i found at WALMART.  it's a 2" ice cube mold and it's just big enough to make these really large chunks.  If you use a soft enough wax your customers can cut them on their own because they are HUGE 2"x2".  Anywoooo, the molds work GREAT!!!! they crease 3 oz chunks and are easy to take out of the mold and to do multiples at once, i purchased 3 trays and will go back and buy at least 10 they were only $2.43 ea.  The mini molds were $3.99 for 2.

Here are a few photos

I too have been working on tri-scented was chunks. Today I stocked a store with chunks cupcakes and scoopables. Next I want to try a silicone mold. Currently I cut the chunks with monofilament or a heated knife. A mild would be so much better. Hopefully I figure out how to post photos here.

There may be your problem. It should be no more than 1/4 inch above the wax when lighting. The wood cannot wick up any unmelted wax to continue the burn.

 

Thanks for the info, but i don't have an issue with my wicks staying light.  I was explaining to clear Black how i keep them light without doubling up.  in an earlier thread i mentioned that i do soak my wick in Wax prior to setting in the candle.

I can get it to stay light. I do however, leave the wick extra long and maybe that's not the right way. But I tell me customers to not trim the wick for first burn. So far no issues. But I could be going about this wrong.

I also use woodcandlewick.com to get my wicks. I do a double wick combo in a 10oz jar that has a 3" opening. I use the 1/2" Wick size in a double combo. For 444 & 464 I found that you get a nice pool after about 35min. In addition about 1/2" form the top of the candle will be completely liquid. It creates a good throw. I use to double up but I have opted to start using the thicker wick from wood candle wick and I no longer double up per sustainer

90 percent of the fragrances I use are from the candlemakers, but then I live in Cincinnati and it' easy for me to just drive up to the store when the warehouse is open to play with fragrance samples. I have to say I agree that many of thier dupes are off, but my rotation of candle scents is constant and the ones I choose I can't get from anyone else. My favorite of thier is Lemon Verbena which is awesome, The Lovespell is spot on. Thier wine fragrances are really good - with these you have to try them in cured wax, hey smell awesome once hot. Thier bakery scents are good too.

Hello I am new to the forum and I use 444 /464 WAX and wood wicks only. I do two things when prepping my wicks. 1. I use a small amount of wax to adhere the wick and sustainer clip to the jar. 2. I soak the wick for just a few seconds in wax to give it a thin coating. 3. I pour slowly at a low temp. Usually around 125 or less just before the top skims over. I havre had separation only a few times. Hope that helps.