Grungedoll

Yep, I did tare the scale. Since I’m am only using a pound at a time in the presto right now and I only move it once... just to pour the wax at the end into my pour pot, I figured it would be ok. I’d only planned on just sitting the presto on the scale at the very beginning unplugged and empty while I was weighing the unmelted wax in it before sitting it on its place on the counter and melting away. The only time Id ever move it is to pour the wax out at the end. I also already figured Id need to just get a ladle for when I start doing larger quantities.

Maybe this would be a decent choice...? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Smart-Weigh-USPS-UPS-0-05oz-x-33lb-Digital-Shipping-Postal-Scale-Sleek-Steel/130302976?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1033&adid=22222222227046294484&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=96452391530&wl4=pla-218796527570&wl5=9018520&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112343676&wl11=online&wl12=130302976&wl13=&veh=sem

So, I'm finally getting into the groove of using my little presto pot and I am beyond happy with how quickly it melts the wax! Definitely a time saver and well worth the money! Now besides getting the timing and everything down (keeping heat, etc)... I'm having a bit of a different issue. I weigh out a pound of wax in my pour pot (well, actually-1 pound and 1.4-1.5 ounces just in case) on my little scale and pour it into my presto. Normally using the double boiler method this amount would give me just a very little over 3 of my 8 ounce tins. In the presto it somehow only gives me enough to fill 2 of my 8 ounce tins and this is after I have made sure that I got every drop out of the pot. I'm wondering now if my scale is off... 😕 maybe I should just get a scale I can put the whole presto on and tare it out to weigh my wax instead of the pour pot? That would also kill off any issues with there being a little left over un melted wax stuck to the sides just from measuring. Or does the presto really just melt the wax to the point of it somehow... evaporating? What do you think? And to humor me... because I think I really would like to get one... does anyone know a good accurate scale big enough to weigh everything in the presto? Thank you as always!

So here I am collecting up quite a few empty FO bottles now... because I haven't found the right place yet around here to dispose of them and don't want to just go throwing them in the garbage as I'm sure that isn't a good idea 😕. So my question to you is.. what do you do with empty bottles? do you store them up until you get up enough to make a trip somewhere to get rid of all of them worth it? and where do you take them to? Thanks in advance!

So pretty! And that scent sounds wonderful. May have to pick some up on my next FC order... 😍

Well the ones I was cleaning when I’d wrote this thread were in fact a soy wax, haha. My apologies. I just switched waxes so I was asking about how I’d go about cleaning any, really, that way I’d know. The soy I was using had still had left that waxy residue so I figure I’ll just hit them all with my heat gun and follow all the rest of your guys tips. Thank you for your help!

@Gary in Canada At the moment I’m using a parasoy blend (CBL-130) and I’m also planning on trying just a paraffin soon to choose between the two.

Thank you both for the tips! One more question to go along with this subject... how many times do you feel you can reuse glass mason jars before it may break? I’m using canning mason jars (half pint and pint) from Walmart along with my little tins and I’ve heard/read that after awhile of lighting candles in them they get weak....? 😕

Ok so, might sound strange... but when I make testers for a certain scent, wax, wick combo.. I make at least three different tins or Mason jar testers. I’ve been having a heck of a time trying to get the left over wax out of them when they’re burned down so that I can reuse them as testers again. I’ve tried filling them with boiling water as Ive heard that can work and I’ve tried just scrubbing them with soap and water- but it just leaves an annoying waxy film all over them that I can’t get completely out. Am I missing something? Haha. How do you clean out your testers??

Well now I know! based off both your responses it doesn’t sound like something I’d want to try, haha.

Does anyone use or has anyone used KY 133 Paraffin Wax blend from Rustic Escentuals for containers? I'm just researching a few waxes tonight for fun and felt curious enough to ask about it.. How's the hot/cold throw? What wicks do you feel work well with it?

Thank you so much! I’m really wanting to try it now!

That sounds so awesome. I’m really curious to try it. Especially with all those great points and being cheaper! May I ask where you get yours? Maybe a link (if it isn’t too much trouble)......?

It’s probably my paranoia but I always get kinda nervous about reheating the pot after I’ve put my FO in it. Even just to do repours. I know it really shouldn’t be a concern though after everything I’ve read and that I probably just need to stop being a weirdo, haha.

Are you eliminating it because of the quality? Or just tired of using it? im wondering if I shouldn’t look more into palm wax- I hear so many good things about it but I don’t know all that much about it besides the basics. What brand palm wax do you use?

May I also ask just out of curiosity @Jcandleattic What’s your favorite paraffin blend and wick combo? I’m trying to find some different combinations to try out. I really want better HT with my container candles. I’ve got CB-130 and I’m looking forward to using it, but I’d love more input!

Thank you for the help! (As always :)) I saw that recent scary post about Pyrex which was one of the reasons I decided against it... haha. That and other posts I’ve been reading on here. I have my trusty metal pour pot already of course that I’ve been using and I’m planning on grabbing another size soon too... I just thought it’s too bad pyrex wouldn’t work as it seems like really easy clean up! I recently found a heat gun at Home Depot that seems to have good reviews and decent price, so I’m thinking since I’ll need it in the long run anyway (and I luckily have a 5 dollar off coupon) I’ll just grab it soon.

Thank you! And thank you for the response. I’m so excited to use it. I was just kinda worried I might just go put the wax in it without asking these things and it might blow up in my face or something, so I just wanted to make sure! Hahaha.

So, here’s my brand new Presto Pot that I picked up today! I’m SO excited to throw some wax in it once I’ve finally got sometime to! I thought I’d post a photo just to get a little info from those of you who may use the same model. And now for the questions... 1. How high do you set the temp on it to start heating your wax? 2. Do you feel it works well with all kinds of waxes? (At the moment it’s either soy or parasoy I’m using and I’m thinking of trying out a coconut blend as well in the near future.) 3. Do any of you do anything inparticular to the inside of it before just pouring in and melting your wax in it? 4. I’m without an electric griddle as I’ve read many of you use one to heat up your pouring pots. Do you find theres another easy way of heating them? I plan to get a heat gun soon but until then.... I really like the idea of heating up a simple glass Pyrex cup in the microwave for a few seconds and using it for a pourer, but I’ve read that that’s a really bad idea.... 😕 As always- looking forward to feed back!

I knew it wouldn’t be cheap! That’s awesome! I’ll definitely see if there’s anything like that where I’m located. You’ve all been very helpful and I’ll definitely be taking your advice. Honestly in the meantime, if anyone’s located around IA, feel free to just point me in the direction you started! or even some suggestions as far as good rates for insurance in the area, etc!

I’ll be checking into the minimum for my state. And I have been checking out legal zoom as well (they’ve been highly recommended to me) I’m definitely keeping it in mind! @Tokoo @Candybee you’re always so helpful! I’ll be looking into all of that ASAP! Obviously this is going to vary... and I know it’s not going to be “cheap” by any means... but overall, did you feel getting everything all set up on your end was very expensive? What all do you have in place for your business?

So, I’m still a ways now from starting up my business- still much testing to be done and candles to be made. I’m probably getting really ahead of myself right now.... but being a person who likes to think ahead and try to get my ducks in a row- here I am! Theres so much to take in when thinking into the future- from LLCs, liability insurance, business licenses, trademarking, etc, etc... I would love to have something like a.... “mentor”? I’ve done so much reading on all of these things but maybe if someone could just help me put this all in order so I can figure out more of what I personally NEED in a business plan... what are actual things I NEED to do for my size business and what I don’t (for example: do you need a business license when you’re just in the very beginning stages of selling with such sporadic purchases while getting yourself known? Is trademarking my name really something I should be concerned about?) The questions/concerns are endless. I’m also curious what I’m looking at as the best choices for these things so I could get my finances in place for it. Saving for all of this is one of the many things forefront in my mind and I feel like someone who’s done all this already could help get me on the right track. So there you have it. If anyone’s interested in being a mentor or just wants to give me some input, please feel free. Haha.

Been very interested in hearing how well this wax works... hot throw, wicking, adhesion, the whole 9 yards. It sounds great. Will definitely be awaiting the results!

I have HTPs already on the way! Id been thinking of testing them too. Thanks for the tip.

Yeah! I love woodsy scents, and I had high hopes for it.... but Fallen leaf just wound up smelling like some really terrible perfume. (And I love perfume) but this was too much. I like Winter woodland a lot, that and the strawberry got good reactions when I had a few people smell them. I’ve heard so much about Vanilla VooDoo, I really want to try it. I also got daydream believer which is insanely mint, but I think might be really nice in wax. I also got a sample of the mango I actually really like OOB which is crazy when I normally don’t like mango at all! They have so many great sounding scents!