Lummers

haha, well rather you be upfront than not!

I'll  be heading out to the local shop to purchase more tins/spa cups now because I haven't perfected in calculating the actual amount of wax per container. 

1 minute ago, obsessed said:

It is all relative ... 10% is 10% no matter how many grams /ounces you are using.  The only time this is of importance is if the maximum holding capacity of your vessel is less than the amount of wax you want to pour into it! dont stress about it ... just have some tealights ready for any excess wax 

Thanks Obsessed!

I'm grabbing more tin containers for the excess wax that I do come abouts sometimes. 

I've figured out afterwards, that logic should've kicked in, and 10%/8% of wax to FO ratio is the same, I'll just have extra.

I just feel like this whole candle making and perfecting the art is making me overthink a lot of the simple stuff.

I'll be testing this same method with GW464 and keep you posted on my findings as well.

So I've been testing RRD40/47 in my glasses, 3.25" in diameter. with Ecosoya CB-Xcel soy wax.

I've found the following -

RRD40

7% FO - great burn pool, HT is not that great, but could be because of the wax, shrooms, but keep cutting to 1/4" for burns should help.  No sooting on glasses, flames consistent, no smoking as well.

8% FO - great burn pool, HT is better, shrooms a little more, but keeping to 1/4" wick helps.  No sooting on glasses, flames great, no smoking as well.

RRD47

7% - jars is hot, but not too hot to hold, burn pool is full off the first burn, so I'm guessing it's too large of a wick.  HT is decent, keep shrooming to a minimum by 1/4" snips.  A bit of sooting on glasses, flames a little too large, no smoking though.

8% - burn pool is full off first burn, jars is hot but not too hot to hold.  HT is good, shrooms so 1/4" snips.  Soots on the glass, flames large, no smoking.

Hope this helps out.

I'm testing out some HTP as well, so I'll keep you posted.

I feel as though as CB-Xcel is a hard wax to get really good HT.

Thanks for the advice guys!

I'll keep this in mind and stress consistency with my candles.

15 hours ago, GoldieMN said:

What do you all consider "too hot" when testing a jar candle?  Can't pick up at all?  Can't hold for more than 10 seconds?  The jar can be picked up but not held in the area where the wick is burning?

Goldie

I believe it you should be able to hold onto the jar.

On 3/20/2017 at 5:43 AM, Trappeur said:

I use that jar all the time but in 464...and I use a cd 14, so Pam that is what I would go with for you.

 

Nicole, I used to use c3 and loved that wax.  Generally a 3 to 4 hour burning testing stage is how a candle should be normally tested out at.  I used htp's  for the c3 wax so can't really give advice on what eco's to use.  From what I see, in the amount 2 hours you have burned the candle, it looks really nice to me.  You need to continue to test that jar all the way to the end, but so far, I would say you have a beautiful burn going on there.  And you really shouldn't look for a full melt pool all the way to the sides for the first give or take 3 burning sessions.

 

Trappeur

 

 

This is one of the best advices you and TallTayl have mentioned.

I'm guessing the first few burn tests should be going for about 3hrs as well?

Welcome back!

Hope candle making will help you take some stuff off your mind, as it is for me.

I figured it was easier to have a pour pot for each scent as well.

Or maybe I'm just being lazy in cleaning out the wax out of the pour pot...

But I find it easier and quicker this way.

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing great!

When you guys are adding FO into your Candle Mix, do you guys take the wax that = that amount?

i.e. 280g of wax * 0.07 = 19.6g

Do you minus the 19.6g from the 280g, since the FO will/should substitute that amount of wax?

Is this a true 7% of FO adding?

Or am I thinking too much...and making my life too difficult?

Appreciate everyone's input so far!

I'm assuming the FO goes in at 180 degrees?

Thanks for the tip on the pouring temp, I'll make a note of the 150 degrees as well for smoother tops.

Any suggestions for Wicking?

So I'm thinking of switching over to GB464, not really familiar with the wax, and I'm wondering if you guru's out there can perhaps guide me a little on a few things

- how's the HT/CT

- pouring temps around 135F i'm assuming

- frosting?

Containers I'm using are  -

11oz 

Heights - 3 1/2"

Diameters - 3 1/4"

Thinking of using HTP - 104/HTP - 1212 (maybe too large?)

Any pointers is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hey everyone,

It's been a little tough finding some items up here in Canada

I was wondering if there are any fellow Canadians that would like to share where they purchase their supplies.

I've taken a look at the the following 

www.voyageursoapandcandle.com

www.wicksandwax.com

www.saffireblue.ca

www.canwax.com

Thanks!

5 hours ago, TallTayl said:

I would move up to a presto pot. Two sizes are available retail right now. The larger of the two holds enough wax for 25 of my 8oz tins. I can line up several to keep wax at the ready, pouring about 100 in a short session. 

That's awesome feedback.

I'll look into purchasing one!  Can't wait and excited now.

I'm thinking either the 12lb or the 25lb aluminium.

Thanks again TallTayl..

On 12/11/2016 at 9:52 PM, cp0421 said:

Check out https://craftybase.com/.  It is amazing and very reasonably priced.

This is awesome!

Great suggestion.

Does anyone have pictures they might want to share for their packaging ideas?

14 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Equipment choices all depends on your production levels. 

 

As far as which side you scent, again it depends. Unless I am making a full melter full of a single scent, I scent the pouring pots. 

 

I don't love scenting the ,elder because then I need to fully clean it before the next batch. I use my big melter for several waxes, making it challenging enough to clean between batches  

Thanks for the feedback! 

My production level is still low relatively, but I've definitely out grown the double boiler method.

I currently melt my soy wax (CB-Xcel) to around 185 let it sit to about 180/175 add my scent in a Pyrex (pouring pot) then mix well, I usually mix until the temps drop to about 150/140, let it cool until 120, before pouring into my container jars (Libbey 10.9oz)

I just don't find this efficient when I'm making batches of 20 a day.

Like I said I'm new still, so trying to figure out my processes still.

Much appreciate any feedback and if I should go forward with the Presto.

Hi all,

Totally new here, been creeping on the forums for a while now, and have found that there's a lot of wonderful people here with great knowledge, best of all, you're all willing to share!

So I do have a few questions as I'm trying to speed up production.

Should I go with a professional melter?  Or presto?  Thinking future proof/cost savings down the road.

Also do you just dump the scent in the Presto and mix?  Or do you still pour into jugs, mix, and then pour?

Sorry, just completely new to the candle making and finding the double boiler my major bottleneck in producing candles fast enough.

Thanks and appreciate any comments/feedback.