tamsoycandles

Turns out that the GB 474 is NOT a pillar blend. Discovered this after I purchased it, unfortunately. It is a votive/tart blend.

Geek, is this the wax you were referring to? Or, is there a different wax I'm unaware of?

Regardless, I'll find a use for the 474. I purchased 10# to play with.

I am curious enough to see why the 474 is not good for pillars. I might just pour a couple over the weekend...

Tony

I like the results I got with 444/474 the best. The 444 takes a deeper color (I compared several different colors) and has a longer burn time which I believe is due to the higher melt point. I still have a few votives left and there is still no cracks, no frosting and they still have an awesome cold and hot throw. HTH

So, what is your final formula for these votives? I've got quite a bit of 474 and a case of 444 to play with.

Tony

Thanks. It looks like I just have to do some experimenting. I have a bunch of square braid now, so I'm off and wicking. Just poured a 3" pillar to begin testing with. This wax seems to want big wicks, so I'm starting big with ChrisR's recommendation.

I'm amazed at how quickly I can remove these from the mold. So much shrinkage that it is ready to remove before the center is even solid, I'm sure.

Tony

For my beeswax candles I use #5 square braid for my 3" pillars, 2/0 square braid for my tapers and LX16 for my votives.

Have you worked with 2" pillars? I've got some of those molds too.

The CandleMaker's store has it too.

http://www.thecandlemakersstore.com/category/soapmakers_raw_materials/

Candle Cocoon's Lime cilantro makes my mouth water... Not sure how much cilantro is there, but the fragrance is awesome regardless!

Tony

I've got a few over 1 year old (when I started). They still smell just fine. Just keep out of heat and light.

Tony

Oh, and I love buring year-old candles. Awesome throw

How many people DON'T dye their candles? I've read where Ecosoya 135 is great with scent throws but bad with frosting. Am I reading right? I am waiting on my wax now to arrive, but was doing some searching on info before i actually test. I'm more concerned about scent throws rather then appearance. How many of you just leave the dye out? Do your customers like it? I am no where close to selling, but just wondering. Does this wax have an off white appearance?

I appreciate any info..

Some fragrances I don't color, just because I can't relate a color to the fragrance. I also make some aromatherapy candles with pure essential oils. These don't get color.

I'd love not to color mine either. Once I standardize on a container and label (or tag) that I'm happy with, I might start eliminating color, except on request.

Tony

Hi there! My name is Jen. I've been lurking on the boards for the past week and I am amazed at how much info sharing occurs here! I have learned so much already! I'm really excited to get started!

I wanted to start with a Beginners Soy Candle making kit that I found on Gelluminations. I was wondering if that's the right way to go? I don't want to go crazy and buy a bunch of supplies I may not need. So I thought a beginner kit would be good to see if I will even like making candles. Any suggestions if this kit is good, or can you point me in the direction of another kit?

Also, from what I understand with this kit, the wax is microwaveable? Is this true of all soy? And is this really the recommended way to go?

Thanks for answering a newbies questions!

Jen

A kit is a great way to start. Your head will be spinning reading all the technical data around here. Don't feel that you have to perfect your first candle. Have fun with it. If you decide that you want to turn into a hobby or hobby/biz, then you'll want to start controlling the way you make your candles. Then you can start getting all technical.

Regardless, just be safe and have fun.

Tony

Here be some pics from an ECOSoya PB wick test I did. Pics are basically spaced 30 minutes apart. Unscented, uncolored.

[ATTACH]10515[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10516[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10517[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10518[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10519[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10520[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]10514[/ATTACH]

This last pic is at 3.5 hours. I put out the one candle at the 3 hour mark.

[ATTACH]10521[/ATTACH]

I tried the HTP 1212 but had a blowout every time!

Yeah, It is too close.

Are LX16 wicks cotton? I assume you have no problem putting them in the votive hole? My HTP's are to fat and I don't think they would burn hot enough anyway.

I managed to try two different HTP wicks and they both fit thru the wick pin hole, though I did have to ream the hole a bit with the wick pin.

Tony

If I read your post correctly you tried to use Ecosoya PB for a container? I do not think you can use that wax for containers.

I have been testing this wax in pillars for a few weeks and so far I have figured out that a 3X3 or 3X6 pillar needs an LX26. I use the spooled wick not the pre-tabbed.

I burn for 5 hours on the first burn and 3-4 hours every burn after and did not have a blowout. I used 7% fragrance load.

Hope this helps.

That sounds about right. Here's a final burn test pic I did with a few wicks. I'll post a thread with all the pics once I resize the pics.

This is after a 3 hour burn. Getting the wick centered helps tremendously, but I didn't want to fudge the test, so I resisted the urge to push the wick toward center as the pool melted.

[ATTACH]10514[/ATTACH]

Tony

I use LX 16 in my beeswax votives.......give that a try if you have some!!

Thanks. I think I do have some LX 16 from sample packs I bought. I'm also going to try the wicks you recommended for the pillars too, as soon as my wicking gets delivered.

Thanks!

Tony

Did some beeswax votives over the weekend. That stuff is great! It came out of the molds with zero effort and minimal wait time. And, they look fantastic too!

Now for the more challenging part.... wicking.... I got close with an HTP, but the wick drowns out eventually. I've got some more test wicks on the way. Wish me luck!

Tony

I tell ya I could just kiss whoever came up with that idea

I'd say it was ME, but I'm a married man...

The SFIC is as good as it gets for M&P, IMO. I add .5 oz pp.

Forgive my ignorance... what is SFIC.... I got the M&P and the IMO FWIW :smiley2:

Tried popping into freezer for a bit? Works for soy, never tried with palm. The only Palm I've worked with was a soy/palm blend.

Tony

Ordered some beeswax and need to decide what wicking I'll experiment with. Anyone who has tested (and succeeded) at wicking 3" pillars, let me know what type of wick you had success with. I'm also going to play with 2" pillars, votives and eventually tapers.

I realize that beeswax varies from hive to hive, bee to bee, so I'm just looking for a "type" of wick to begin testing with. I'm considering square braid, based on searching around here.

Thanks muchly,

Tony

I have a jar that needs double wicking, but the RRD 29's that I tested are a little too much. I thought I'd try some LX's but I can't find anything longer than 2 1/2 inches in the 8's. Please help if you can. I know I can get them custome made, but I don't want to purchase bulk amounts without knowing if they'll even work.

Jenn

Could always tab your own...

http://www.candlescience.com/wick/lx-8-spool/

Tony

How are Peak's soap bases? Just starting to play a bit with these...

Another Q: How much FO does one generally add to these?

Tony

You're right -- I'd probably be more careful if I knew I couldn't remove excess FO since it's already in the wax. Since I use a separate FO measuring container (one for each FO, no clean up required ) I just squirt away until I get close then I squeeze just enough to get drops. But sometimes, when I'm in a rush I don't hit the brakes on time.

Or... I've had this happen. Got my pot of wax on scale, and tared it out. Happily squirting my FO into pot. Then, scale (electronic) auto-shuts-off in mid-squirt. CRAP! So now I just need to make sure I squirt fast enough for the scale to realize that I'm adding weight to the mix.

But... if I accurately weighed the wax and color and know the weight of my pot, I can subtract those out to find the weight of the FO I added.

Tony

I learn so many wonderful things here!

Including plumbing skills! How great is that!

I love the dark pillars.

Hi,

I am new to the Candle making scene. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where is the best place to purchase square frosted glass?

What size?