Elysian

No, no other additives other than the clear crystals with straight paraffin, dye and FO. Seriously absolutely nothing else.

I did actually get the melted combi looking clear by the time I poured. So yeah, this is pretty weird right. I was beginning to doubt myself even wondering if I had made a mistake in the amount of FO  However, even if I did, it should have been corrected by the subsequent amounts of wax that I topped up to get the crystal and FO proportion down. At max, the FO for the current batch can no way be above 5%, even if I had made a mistake right at the beginning. Garggh 🤔

Anyway, I will be testing again and

will let you know if I ever succeed with this one 😬

Hmmm, I tried heating the formula up to 200F and did a re-pour, and I am still getting the blooming as in pix below. The below is a flat piece like a round pendant.

I made a bowl as below, with the same formula and the bloom is not as obvious although that may be due to the lighter colour as I can see the patches still. This is a real head-scratcher...if you do recall any other directions that I am missing, would be awesome if you can shed some light on this. I am still getting a more than usual film of FO on the bowl when it comes out of the mold even though this is about only 3%FO. The odd thing is that the scent from the bowl is pretty strong - which is unusual for 3%... 

Ha! "It would cloud briefly and I would stir till mixed and clear again and then add to my pot of remaining wax and mix till the light cloudy wisps disappeared." This is a very interesting statement. 

I do exactly as you did in the melting and mixing. However.... my cloudiness does not go away - both at the initial stages of crystals with wax (no FO) and when added to the larger pot of melted wax. I did wonder about that... even though the translucency does indeed come through when the wax has hardened.

I got the crystals from CandleChem. No I haven't written to ask. I tried asking some questions before I made the purchase but never got a reply even after a chaser. Being so far away from the US, and that being the only plausible source for me in international shipping, I decided to just bite the bullet and make my order (that, I got a reply LOL) since shipping takes time and I really wanted to try this for some of the stuff that I am making.

Ok, I thought that so long as the crystals melted into a liquid, that is fine - seems that the temperature is important! I am going to try to get it up to 200F in the liquid state.

Thanks so much, you have been a real treasure!

Hello Scented. Nice to know one other person has used this  

Well, I melt the crystals with a bit of wax separately, with a melted pot of wax waiting. Then I pour the melted crystals+wax into the heating pot of wax - so yes I do believe that I am mixing it all up quite well actually.

Today, I doubled up on the wax - which means that I have actually reduced the FO to 3% and crystals to 1/2tsp per pound. Guess what - the FO was leaking right through the wick hole when I removed the seal after the candle had dried. Urghs.

I am using metal molds, and I am actually in a part of the world where the temp is really (erm...enviably?) good at the moment at 82F! 

You are right though - I did see a little more bubbles than usual, but yeah I did tap them away too.

Conclusively, at this point, it really doesn't seem that the crystals work with FO, or maybe it's just me who's getting something wrong here...hmmm. Without FO, I still have to figure that one out on halving it as you said. It's just that I have this pot of FO-ed wax in a beautiful pink that I just can't bear to waste 

They retain the translucency of the paraffin wax hardening it at the same time, which I guess replaces stearic which whilst producing the same hardening effect and higher MP of the wax, causes the wax to be opaque. The latter is not great when making hurricane lanterns for instance - whilst it does work, translucency would be even better  

Hi, I just purchased some clear crystals from candlechem, followed the instructions to a T and received some odd results.

Basically 1tsp per pound paraffin wax. Heated the crystals separately, added a little wax to melt together and added to my larger pot of wax. Poured pillar at my straight paraffin wax normal temperature (85C or 185F).

I did this with a candle with 6% FO initially and had large white patches which I thought may be clusters of the FO since I didn't add any other additive other than the crystals, and figured that the FO may be too heavy. I have tried reducing the FO, but not working.

So I tried a candle with absolutely nothing other than the straight paraffin wax and clear crystals - no white patches as with the FO, but I am getting a lot of tiny bubbles and tiny white spots all over the candle and some white patches here and there.

Would anyone have any experience on this or any advice to lend, much appreciated!

19 minutes ago, Flicker said:

Fingernailing, my nightmare!

 

Eventually I omitted the steric, added a bit of petrolatum and used 1 tsp pp (if it continued, just add a bit more) and it completely ceased in my containers. I will assume you are not doing pillars? Microcrystalline wax will also prevent this, but that has become very hard to find.

I am actually doing both containers and pillars with the same wax. I tried the lower MP opaque paraffin and really do not like the look of it. I really love the slight translucence of this problematic wax (besides, I have tons of it) and so am trying really hard to get it to work. I am getting there, but just really more curious about what the cause of these chunks are. By elimination, it's not mottle; from the earlier thread, a couple of folks pointed it as fingernailing, but Candybee doesn't think so...so. 

I have actually tested with stearic alone, vybar alone, beeswax alone, microcrystalline alone, micro with vybar, different proportions of all of the above, you name it, I have tried it (makes me just a little hysterical thinking of the 50 or so tins strewn all over my home ).

I get the same problem doing pillars. What works best really is stearic with vybar260, but the wax shrinks way too much for containers. I am nervous wondering if I am really the only person ever faced with this problem...

1 hour ago, Candybee said:

Its been so long ago that anyone has discussed fingernailing of paraffin. Don't know if you can even get any of the old threads in a search.

 

I know about it because I used to get it on my paraffin pillars. But to me fingernailing is more of a vertical crescent shape on the outside surface of the candle sides. They look almost like someone gouged their fingernail over and over again up and down the sides of the pillar. 

 

The circular patterns you have in the pics look more like mini air pockets or wax seperation just under the surface. I'm not sure what causes that, could be a temperature sensitive issue or an additive issue or both. If you are having luck with your stearic/vibar combo I would continue using that.

 

Sorry I can't help you with it. I made pillars for a short time with paraffin so I never resolved my fingernailing issues. I went on to soy and palm pillars where I have never seen fingernailing. But each wax has its own pros and cons to work with.

 

 

Indeed nothing came up in a search on this forum, but also nowhere on the internet strangely. Now this has made me even more curious on what these white chunks are...Thank you so much for replying though.

1 hour ago, Clear Black said:

 

 

I cant answer that question, but im curious what container that is? It looks eerily familiar with what I have been using for the last 3 years. I am curious how you are liking them if it is what I think it is

It's a screw top metal tin, about 3.5oz, 2.1" diameter. My guess would be that yours would be a push top lid? Where I am, I can't get hold of the push top lids, and I don't quite like the screw tops. The threads are messy to deal with when I am looking to top up just that little more for a smoother surface, at times when my judgement is out. Other than that, I quite like the size and the tin doesn't get too hot. 

I have had this fingernailing problem since my very first candle, and I have asked for help in another thread previously. Someone very kindly gave me a formula of adding Stearic and Vybar to my straight paraffin wax, and it has resolved the issue.

I am revisiting this issue (and also out of "scientific" curiosity as to what causes this) because the formula is not possible for a container candle as the shrinkage is too unmanageable due to the stearic. I have tried at least 10 different variations of stearic and/or vybar proportions but nothing works - it seems that 1.5oz of stearic is a minimum, added together with Vybar.  The straight paraffin wax I am using is 138F MP (which I am given to understand is a mid MP paraffin, flexible for either pillars or containers), vary 7 - 9% FO.

The attached picture shows a formula with a reduced amount of stearic (1oz) and vybar, which has given rise to the fingernail white chunks again, and the powdery parts are where I used a skewer on some of them to see precisely what they are. They feel like wax, but slightly powdery. The ones I had poked on are near the surface, but some of these white chunks are sometimes large and deep inside the wax. 

I can't find anything on the internet that talks about this particular issue - doesn't seem to be one of the common candle faqs/issues. Great to get some insight as to what fingernailing is, and what causes it. 

The paraffin I have is 138°F (59°C). Indeed V103 as recommended by Grama is right. Thanks everyone for dropping in with your advice - I may certainly have been too heavy handed with the amount though in trying to address the initial white lump issue. It's back to the drawing board again  

21 minutes ago, Jcandleattic said:

Vybar can bind with your scent and hinder scent throw, so keep that in mind as well. The more you use, the less your throw will be. If you are using stearic, you may not even need vybar. Have you tested not using vybar at all and only using stearic? I would try that before changing to a different vybar or using vybar at all. 

 

Hmmm...no I haven't. Ok, adding that to my list of tests  

1 hour ago, birdcharm said:

 

The notes I have on this say to use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon per pound of vybar ... so, with the example in this thread, I think 1 t. per lb. is too much vybar.

 

Also from my notes ...

Vybar-103 "is intended for waxes with a melt point above 130dF. and Vybar-260 for below 130dF."

 

I, too, have been given to understand 1/4 to 1/2 tsp vybar. However, was testing the formula with 1 tsp vybar to address the white lump issue. Well, think am back to v260  tomorrow for another test batch. ? ? Thank you! 

2 hours ago, Jcandleattic said:

Was this container wax already a blend? It looks like it has too much Vybar in it, and if it's a manufacture's blend, it already has vybar in it, so the vybar you added may not be needed. 

 

I get that "alien brain" look too, when I get heavy handed with the vybar.

No, this is not a blend. It's straight paraffin - I had the fingernailing problem before with just adding vybar 260, approx 1 tsp then.

When I added 3 tbp stearic with 1 tsp vybar 260, I seemed to have a problem with both cold and hot scent throw. 

Changed the vybar to 103 today and got the "alien brain" ? 

1/2 tsp seems to help a little but not enough. 

Let's see if 1/4 tsp changes anything. Thank you!

I just tried the 3TBS Stearic with 1 TSP Vybar 103 to a pound of wax, and getting weird looking wax like in the pictures. The 2nd image is 1 tsp Vybar 103, and the 1st image is what I did a later test with using 1/2 tsp Vybar 103 - which looks a little better. I haven't changed anything else. I haven't actually seen anything like this before - beehive looking - can anyone help tell me what this can possibly be caused by? The vybar 103?  

On 7/14/2017 at 1:42 AM, grama said:

Years ago when I had fingernailing and snowflaking think it was called using 4625 I searched and finally found on Cierra Web Site where they said to add 3 TBS stearic and 1 tsp vybar 103 per lb.  I called them and asked where this info came from and they said from IGI.  I started doing this and still do and have never had the problem again.  Hope this helps.

 

Hi Grama, the formula you gave me is awesome. It totally worked to eliminate the white patches and lumps .

I do still need some advice, if you or anyone else would be so kind as to lend some of your experience and knowledge here:

1) I seem to be getting a poorer cold scent throw from including the stearic acid vs previously. My research does not seem to uncover any indication that stearic acid impedes scent throw. My candles are not ready for a burn test so I can't really say how the hot throw will be.

2) 3 TBS: is this 1.5oz or 1oz? I have been trying to figure that out for the longest time. Some sites indicate 1oz (~5% to 1 pound wax) and others 1.5oz (~10% to 1 pound wax).

Thank you!

Thank you very much for replying, everyone! I was so excited that I just did a batch adding stearic 10% and vybar 1% (thanks Grama!)...but I used Vybar 260 as that's what I have on hand... waiting to see how the batch turns out, giving it 3 days as that's when any problems that exist will all surface, in my limited candle making experience . And yes, I am indeed using straight paraffin wax, to which I had added Vybar 260.

I did read up everything I could find, and yes my problem doesn't seem to be mottling which was why I was pretty much going crazy

To answer TallTayl: when I poke the white patches, they are actually sort of hard and grainy...I don't think they are air pockets?

And I have tried slower cooling, and spacing every candle several inches apart...well I am really keeping my fingers crossed and I will let you know if this last batch works out.

Thanks so much again! 

Hi, I am rather desperate for some help and insights here. 

Attached 2 pictures of white patches and lumps within my tealight candles (both polycarb and alum containers) and tarts, that appear within 12 to 72 hours where I have tried the following tests but to no avail. I can't figure out what the root of the problem is and so it's getting really hard to pinpoint possible solution tests that I can apply. Would really love to hear from anyone with some advice to give. I am using straight fully refined paraffin wax. Thank you!