MeAndMyPuppyDog

I'm not running any scent so throw, etc. aren't important. I can tell you that the zinc is giving me a mushroom that I really don't like. The "droppings" that it leaves in the pool are not very attractive. What if I go with the same size and go to paper core?

Donita, Yeah... I'm on the fence about the spout for this application... they little guys only hold 8Lbs of wax... that's like 1.5 kettles. Hehe. Only the 150# the spout is a must. I'm not bending down into that tank!... I'm about ready to go get 4 more of these. I have to say, they really are great. The down-side is I have a small 150 piece votive job, I'm on my 3 pot. Kinda silly -- but I want to see how well it runs. Right now the t-stat isn't that that that accurate, but it seems pretty good. I am actually starting to like the magnet!!! Reason? I can just pull the magnet and I know it isn't getting power. We'll see... I'm gonna start a new thread about something relative... Pete

Well the verdict is in. NICE POT! First off, it melts VERY quickly. Second, it is a BREEZE to clean. However, I'll need to STOP using a metal ladle. Third, CHEAP REMEMBER!!!! That element on the bottom gets HOT, place this thing on some concrete board, or something to protect yourself, furniture, and life. Enjoy. (Donita, This thing is really nice. She'll melt 8lbs of material -- leaving 1" of space from top.) -- I think I'm going to get a couple of Werns next. I was able to score them for $200 so it shouldn't be too bad.)

According to French Color, C&S is one of the few that doesn't cut they dye in any way... I have NO idea if this is true or not.

Die-Hard Powder... BUT BUT BUT I'm THINKING about going over to liquid... Just not sure yet.

Did you get it recently?

I have my four Prestos... I haven't tried them yet. I will say this: 1) I like the thermostat control idea... 2) Should be nice for tiny runs 3) The element on the outside-bottom should be protected from drippings, etc. 4) Keep in mind, it is basically a HOT PLATE with a thermostat. So treat it as such. 5) The magnet cord "thing" is trash. I see me taking all four apart and hard-wiring a plug on each. 6) Judging color in a black pot is something I personally don't like... but that's just me. That's about it from me until I use them. Let's hear from Donita next.

Full Time Job. Doing it for 18 Years... Seen all the cycles and trends.

I meant to say a rack for when you're using them, not storing...

What are you folks using for your aluminum pillar molds (as a rack?)

??? Different size wicks burn at different rates. Some wick can burn 1g an hour and others can burn 3g an hour...

*That* I have to agree with! They really are!

I thought this would make a cool poll... What do you prefer and why? Water jacketed bulk melters or direct melt ones? Why? I'll go first. Overall, water jacketed -- why? SAFETY. It is simply much safer -- wax can't get over 212*f... worse case scenario you'll burn out the element. $100 (or so) -- and no damage elsewhere... Keep in mind I insulate the water jacketed melters so they are VERY efficient. They just don't melt as quickly if they've been off until room temp. I do have some smaller direct-heat melters (industrial hot plates, etc.) -- and I can tell you -- I hate using them. So what say you? Pete

Alllllrighty then. Have a good show.

How did you clean it out?

Time to do some maint. work on the 150# and let me see... it's been ABUSED! Wax in the water jacket part, busted thermometer and the sight glass is all icked up... Anyone ever let it get this bad?

Could very well be... I *can* tell you one thing. Before they started getting careless, they had some of the best (and most inexpensive) powder dye I could get. Pylam may be the "industry standard" -- and I don't know who Pourette was getting it from, but they were priced right! So maybe they were using it for the chips and with that volume, that is how the price of the powder was so cheap. Not sure... but I would do anything to get the old days back when their powder was awesome, and cheap.

Donita, I'm with you... We have so many containers with wax that we're actually moving things around this week just to make room to do one thing: melt, strain and slab all the crap wax. I estimate we have about a full pallet of crap AFTER we strain and slab. And this is good stuff, vybar and stearic. (naturally all in the pesky "mauve" color -- yeah you know the color.) -- anyway... I found the Wecks for about $250 -- depending on if you want the spout or the regular... it looks like the NEW style spout is metal? We do a lot of custom-color short run work... like 20-30 3x9 pillars in one-time colors... and the presto is too small... I don't think the Weck would be big enough for that... but still, might be nice to have one or two on hand. Here's my latest obsession... (which is basically a Weck in two parts...) -- I'm in DEEP search for a hotplate that isn't $500 that has a thermostat that is can be set to a certain temp (NOT OFF-L-M-H)... The chemical grade scales do it... but for too much cash. Basically then I could put the bigger pots we have right on it, set it to xxx*F and be good to go... If you, or anyone has any leads let me know. The Boscov deal for the Presto is good until the 5th -- free shipping on $50 -- so buy 2 and a tiny something, or buy 3. Heck I bought 4, and I don't even know if they're any good, but so many people here love them... What the heck. I've wasted $100 on far dumber ideas... Oh well... Take care, Pete

Hmmm... something tells me Mr. K isn't going to take calls... but give'it a try.

Somehow... and I could be wrong on this one... I don't think Pourette "made" them. They probably bought them bulk and the then re-packed them... again, I don't know this for fact -- but from what I know, the only thing they "made" were the metal and the plastic.

I'm with you -- I didn't have the you-know-whats to say it... all the "1" thread counters on this thread make me go Hmmmm... Eh, who cares at this point.

Hi Donita, I just found your review on epinions... sounds like you really like them! I may have to look into a few where the 150 or the 300 are too big and the Presto are too small... We've been on a "temp control" kick around here and no more commercial hot plates... everything MUST be thermostatically controlled -- which stinks. I love the crock pots for really small runs. Which reminds me... I need to make a new thread about something... Ok. Well... To answer your question. I think you got a dud. I ordered mine from Boscov.com (trust me, a sweet deal!) -- good luck, Pete

Here's a link to my thanks: http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50405 I don't like people who try to jade people against others. But nice try, Bruce.

I don't agree... Pourette was a good company, but all they really had going for them was the mold making shop (metal and plastic) -- the rest of the stuff was just re-sell type middle-man items... You can buy Vybar from anywhere... You get the idea. The mold shop was great when it was the only game. Then came along others doing the exact same thing. Two-piece plastic still had some life left for crafters, etc. But they gave that away to Yaley (and Napa's metal) (think of how they could have been set had THEY been the one to go to all the craft stores that you see Yaley in!!!!!)... Your "millions per year --- one year sales" ideal is old-school thinking - at least the way our industry is now. In our business I can name a handful of companies that had sales in excess of $1M that couldn't fetch $100K let alone $1M @ sale -- so sorry, we'll have to disagree on this one. The candle business, for the most part and at the moment, with some exceptions (huge brand recognition aside (Yankee, Illum., yet) -- start adding the labor impact (carving, novelty molding, hand pillar molding, etc.) and the company becomes that much less attractive. (That is why Yankee was so attractive -- the operation was almost entirely automated -- PLUS HUGE brand recog.) -- Will you see a time again when companies like Acadian buy up lots of little guys? Maybe... But I think not. But based on the current climate, and the climate to come -- I would say that most of the smaller guys are destined for the way of Williamsburg, Nelson, Pourette, and many many others -- So keep your business running, because I don't think too many people will be offering you "one years sales" for it. You can attack me personally for not saying "thank you" -- or some such nonsense... (which is silly at best since I just started an entire thread THANKING EVERYONE for the Presto lead for very small runs.) -- but when it comes to business acumen, I think it would be best if you stuck with carving candles. I don't really know where that attack came from -- maybe you're trying to sell your business? I don't know -- I know I didn't attack you. But that's ok. You might just be having a bad day. Blessings, Love, and yes... Thanks too! Pete

Funny you should post this... I *just* had an issue with Candlewic on this very thing. I ordered a bunch of stuff... but nothing heavy. The 500 wick assemblies (2.5" votive) came in a SEPARATE box... a 2 pound box. Who pays for that? Me. Uh... don't think so. Anyway -- I called them on it, and got some mumbo-jumbo about wanting to "protect" the wicks... Ahhh..Duh. How about this if you want to "protect" them... put the wicks in a smaller box (you HAVE to see the size of the box they sent) -- and then place that box in the one with the rest of the order... That way you save money on boxes, shipping, less labels, less room in shipping... the list goes on and on. Not to mention labor. After getting the blow-off on the phone I sent an email to Bill... we'll see if anyone replies. All I can say is give me a break! As far as using USPS... it is the better way to do it, the only reason folks don't like to is because the box isn't insured (unless you pay extra) -- but for a cheap wick order, it is a risk worth taking. We ship USPS and never have a problem. Pete