Rob Space

9 hours ago, TallTayl said:

That is classic soy frosting.  Heating the jars to rid the imperfections causes worse frosting as the Re melted wax cools and crystallizes at a different rate than the rest of the candle. 
 

frosting can be caused by many, many factors from environmental to process to wax lots to color and similar additives. 

I'm pretty sure it was just an issue with the jars and some sort of residue from the manufacturing process.  The issues started a couple months ago when I had to order jars, but the supplier only had one kind in stock.  Identical styles, just a new company.  Never had 1 issue before with the jars I used.  Immediately had issues with the new ones though.  The spots show up about 4-6 hours after initial pour, and heating with a heat gun gets them to go away, usually the first time.  I started running the new jars through the dishwasher last week, and I haven't had any issues since though.  Strange stuff.

30 minutes ago, Lynnann81 said:

Just curious is the frosting there before you use the heat gun? I've made candles that had no frosting then after hitting them with the heat gun to smooth out the tops, frosting formed when it dried the second time. 

It is there before I use a heat gun.  It shows up about 4-6 hours after pouring, and it just started with the new jars a couple months ago.  Somehow, running the new jars through the dishwasher before I use them has seemed to fix the problem.

It's hard to tell in the pics, but the frosted looking part is where the wax has actually shrunk and pulled away from the side of the glass jar.  

My initial thought was that it was soy frosting too, but heating the jars fixes it after the fact, and now, washing the jars has resolved any problems I was having.  Maybe it's just some sort of film left from the manufacturing process?  I never had any issues before switching jars, and only switched due to the fact the supplier can't get the originals.  Was using the old jars for the past couple years without an issue, same wax and ratio.  All of this just started in the past couple months with the new jars, hence the confusion.  Wild stuff I tell ya.

The issues were happening before I tried wiping the inside with iso, I just gave that a shot to see if it would help.. it didn't.  The jars are brand new though, I don't really reuse jars.  The supplier I get them from hasn't had the normal ones I used to use in stock for months, so I've swapped to what they have for the time being.  Both are identical  9 oz straight sided 70/400 jars.  I guess with the supply issues, they get what they can get?  I have the code for the jars I used previously, and the ones they have now.  I usually use b09-01c, but now all they have is a09-01c.  I'm sure they are all imported from china, so it's strange that the original jars had no issues, and these new ones do.  Either way it seems that washing them in the dishwasher first has fixed it!

I tried washing the jars in the dishwasher and didn't have any issues this time!  At least not on the 2 batches I made last night.  Pretty weird, but I guess it's possible that I just needed to wash the jars.  I figured wiping them down with rubbing alcohol would've been fine, but I guess not. 

Lately I've been having some issues with my container candles having all of these spots after they cool.  I just recently started having these issues, and never really had them too extreme before in the past couple of years.  I'm using 50/50 464 soy and 4627 comfort blend.. same wax and ratio I've been using the entire time.  I do everything in my basement, and it is a bit cooler , maybe 68, but I've been doing them here the entire time too, and didn't have issues before.  I recently started using a digiboil, one for each wax, and mixing.  Not all of my pours have the issues, so I don't think it is necessarily the digiboil, but maybe?  I've tried pouring hotter, colder, cleaning the jars with rubbing alcohol, preheating the jars.  I had some issues before with certain jars from birch container, so I went back to fillmore container.  They usually only have one selection of the 9 oz 70/400 jars available, and I'm wondering of I'm just having issues with those, but not sure why that would be?  I usually have to go back after I pour, and use a heat gun on the entire candle to get the spots to go away, sometimes twice.  Anyone have any thoughts?  I was thinking about just switching to some black containers or something, but those will add a couple more dollars to the final price, and I like keeping these guys somewhat affordable.  Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi.. you're my only hope.

Has anybody tried out the sw-5800 or sw-3000 wax from Southwest Candle?  I was going to order some cdn wicks to try out, and noticed this wax.  Thought I might give it a shot.  Any input would be awesome!

@BusyBeehow cool!  I had no idea that was even something you could do!  Now I have to play with that just for fun. Thank you!

I usually use sharp scissors, but I thought I'd get fancy and pull that wick trimmer out the other day for some reason.  

Also, thanks for the info BusyBee!  Any thoughts on some wicks I should look at?  I'm going to be trying lx next

I've tried every wick from too small to too large.  I've got a few more to try still.  The green candle actually has the perfect wick, it just might be a deceiving pic.. hard to get pics for some reason, but the flame height and melt pool and scent throw have been exactly what I was looking for.  As far as the 2 scents in question though, I haven't seen a difference between too small and too big, other than the melt pool.  Some end up too deep, and the flame is tiny.. not drowning out, but tiny.  The wicks that are too small don't have a good melt pool at all, obviously, and they end up drowning out.  Both have scents from a newer company that aren't in any other of my candles.  I absolutely love the scents though!  I'm starting to think they might just be too problematic though.  

Thank you for the help!

I'll definitely try a few more wicks.  The uc 2.775 was probably the best so far that I've tried.  CD 18 was 2nd, but the flames on both eventually were pretty small.  The melt pool was about perfect for the time frames on both wicks, and the flame didn't go out, it was just really small.  I use 50/50 464 and 4627 with all of the candles I make with really no issues, so I guess I'm lucky there!  Also, I just realized I haven't tried lx wicks!  I thought the zinc core 51-32-18 from candlesandsupplies.com were lx for some reason.. I guess I was wrong!  I'll order some now!

Also, thank you guys for the knowledge!  I really appreciate it!!

I'll try dialing the scent back.  I've tried lx, uc and cd wicks.. all with the same results for the most part.  I was thinking about changing the wax ratio of 50/50 464 and 4627, to maybe 30/70 464 and 4627.  Not sure if that will help, but worth a shot.  I listed all the wicks I've tried so far up top.. which is pretty much every wick minus the eco.  I did try an eco 14, but it was way too big. 

Definitely a couple with too deep melt pools!  The first burn test looked good on the cd16, 18 and 20 surprisingly, but on the 2nd test 5 hours later, none of them looked good.  The only eco wick I had was an eco 14, and it was way too big!  I'll have to look into the cdn wicks.  Appreciate the feedback! 

I've been trying to wick a couple new candles for awhile now, and I'm not having much success.  Both are 50/50 464 and igi 4627.  I'm using 1.6 fragrance load per lb on each.  One candle is 1 oz sweet vanilla tobacco by truscents, .4 oz burberry from southern scentsations and .22 oz gunpowder from texas candle supply.  The other candle is .8 oz guns of the west from texas candle supply, .1 oz leather from lonestar candle, .4 oz pinon from wellington and .3 oz red cedar from southern scentsations.  I use 9 oz straight sided 70-400 jars.  I've tried every wick possible, and both candles have the same results for the most part.  The only scents I've never used are the ones from texas candle supply.  All the others I use all the time with no issues.  Every wick I try ends up with a tiny flame that is almost drowning out, but stays lit.  CD 20 has been the closest.  A couple wicks have given good melt pools, but the flame is just so small.  It seems crazy to have a cd 20 in a 9 oz jar, but I'm still learning, so maybe it's not too crazy?  Any thoughts on some things to try?  Maybe adjusting the wax ratio?  Any help would be rad!  The green candle in the pics is one with a good wick.  I've tried cd 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20.  htp 93 and 104.  51-32-18 zinc and 60-44-18 zinc.  RRD 40 and RRD 47.  uc 2.592, uc 2.775, uc 2.9 and uc 3.1.  None were ideal.

Just wondering if anyone has had much luck with Candle Science's Library scent.  I love the way it smells, but the ht is just a little on the weak side.  Wasn't sure if that's just the way it is or not.  I'm using 4637 comfort wax and 464 blend with htp 83 wicks at 10%. I've tried a few other wicks as well, all on the weaker side for the ht.  Ct is great.  I've tried it in wax melts using pillar of bliss wax at 10%, up to 12%, still weak.  I'm guessing it is just how it is. I just love the scent though.. reminds me of our library in the little town I grew up in from the early 80s.  If anyone has any recommendations on alternatives for a library scent, I'm all ears!  Thanks!