Brenda (OH)

I agree . . .you don't hear much about Make's but I use alot of their oils regularly with much success and they have great CS.

Initially I was thinking your blend was 25% 444 and 75% 4630 but now I am thinking it is the other way around at 75% 444 and 25% 4630. With more soy I would try pouring cooler than 125*. I could be mistaken since I haven't used 444 much but I recall thinking pouring around 100* - 110* or at the slushy stage is typical. I know what you mean about trying to get a 30/70 ratio measured out. I keep my calculator and note pad handy when trying to achieve a blend other than 50/50. Actually I find working in thirds is easier for me. LMK if you need help with the calculation.

Southern Scentsations carries it

Colonial Tin Works has these warmers. I have been eye balling them for a while but haven't commited to buying any to test. Thought I would try to get some feed back here before placing my order.

I haven't tried blending the 444 with the 4630 but with a 50/50 blend of 464 and 4630 I pour around 150* and don't experience any sink holes. What temps have poured at and what size jars are you using?

I am researching new styles of warmers. Can anyone give me any feedback - good or bad - on these? More specifically will a 1 oz tart fit in them? Are they a hassel to switch tarts? [ATTACH]17253[/ATTACH]

I don't know if you would be able to find out about another candlemaker's wax unless you do ask. Whether they tell you or not is another story. My wax blend is soy and paraffin and I call it a parasoy blend so I don't confuse my customers. And I am able to achieve dark colors easily. As far as paraffin waxes, I have tested J50, J223 and 4630 with soy. All these performed well but I chose to go with the 4630 since I thought it gave a better HT. The J50 and J223 did very well, it's just I prefered the 4630.

You can download a free version of an office package that has a program compatible with Excel at open office. I have an older version of excel and sometimes it doesn't work when I have a heavy formatted file so I use their free version. HTH http://www.openoffice.org/

I like the 4630 better. For me it is easier to wick and I prefer the slab form. I never could figure an easy way to work with the 4627. As for HT, I think the 4627 is a bit better.

Ahhh coconut . . I have been testing many. I don't use 100% soy but rather a 50/50 blend. I love the JS Creamy Coconut. Very strong and I am diligently testing this one since it is my customers favorite (replacing Tennessee Candle Supplies since they discontinued it last year). I do detect a slight fuel smell but my testers don't , weird. So I keep testing . . . Bert's Coconut smelled plasticy to me. Right now I am testing the Hawaiian Tropic and it is very very good. Better than the coconut IMO. Alabaster's - Carribean Coconut and The Candlemaker's Store - Country Coconut are both poured but I haven't tested the HT throw with those yet. CT on both are very good.

Anything is possible if you are willing time wise to work on it and calculate all related the costs. My thought would be if a customer was looking for a certain scent all suppliers FO's do not smell the same. For example Sugar Cookie . . there are a huge variances from one supplier to another and other scent names can smell like Sugar Cookie. I have had customer's request a scent only to be told after all the testing is said and done that it doesn't smell like so & so's. Time is money. I agree with a list to see if there is a trend.

Heightened Stimuli Sexy Stimulus Sensual Stimuli Stimulated Senses Scented's Stimulus Package

That is how it is . . .You must call to inquire. They haven't ever maintained the website.

Generic . .year round name

Pumpkin Souffle from Tennesee Candle Supply . . .love it !! but even at the holiday time it just doesn't sell for me. I am coming up blank on ideas and thought maybe I could get ideas from you all. Any suggestions?

Golly Geek, howdy stranger :wave: I can't help you with your question, sorry. Just really wanted to say it was good to see you back on the board

As testing continues here is an update: The results I have been acheiving are consistent. Although the 4630 I am working with is a harder version is it using the same wicking in my blend as the butter soft version. The HT was an issue at first, I was test burning at 48 hours. With longer cure times the wax is throwing great. All in all I prefer the soft version. I am hoping my next orders will be but for the time being this wax is workable - once I get it cut.

Glass Glow is a container wax and it will not release well from a mold. I tried and had the same problems of not being able to get them out.

I am happy to see that you have found a way to relieve your J50 wax woes It is very kind of you to post your findings in order to help others out who also are experiencing the same problems. It is ashame that IGI can't leave well enough alone with the formulas. Like they think we won't notice :rolleyes2

My DH made this same comment. I am avid at taking notes on ALL the candles I make and burn and he thinks this is just a waste since I cannot go back and follow a dedicated recipe / formula. At times like these I tend to agree. Where is the confidence level in the testing notes if we are always testing each batch? I swear I test more than sell sometimes and my house always looks like a shrine. Once I get a batch dialed in you can bet your booty it is time to re-order. On a side note . . I have experienced inconsistencies in waxes within the same batch number. My previous 50/50 wax I had bought 12 cases all the same lot number and I was testing each case since it varied so badly . Once I got threw that mess I decided to blend my own wax so I could pin point problem areas. With this issue, yes I know the 4630 has changed but when and IF it goes back to the way it was I will have more testing notes to leaf thru. And some think making candles is easy . . . 8 years and still hoping for that day

I poured up testers and let them set a couple of days. Although the wax is much much harder to cut so far the testers I have lit are burning the same. I am blending the 4630 with 464 so I'm not experiencing the appearance issues on the tops. I am detecting a slight difference in the HT but this could be a curing issue or the fact that I have a bit of a head cold. My test burning is in the early stages. I will post updates as testing continues.

I also have used KY's base but sometimes certain oils would not incorporate well and require a good shakin'. I have found The Candlemaker's Store base to incorporate the hard to blend FO's better.

Ok - I am going to try to answer some of your questions . . What should the wick look like when burning? This will depend on the type of wick you are using. A braided wick will curl and burn off center slightly whereas a cored wick will be more rigid and typically remain centered. A wick that is too small will not develop a FMP or burn hot enough. A wick that is too big will either look like a torch and burn the wax to quickly or weird as it may sound may even tunnel burn. How long should it take to achieve a melt pool? Rule of thumb is 1 hour for each 1" diameter of a jar. A 3" diameter candle typically should achieve a melt pool in 3 hours. This is only a rule of thumb or guideline. What is hang up? Hang up is wax that "hangs" on the side of the container. Depending on the shape of your container sometimes it is better to wick so that there is slight hang up on the top so when the candle burns down the hang up catches up with the wick. You don't want to wick too hot at the top of a candle when the bottom of the jar typically burns hotter. When the bottom half is burning, should it be cool enough to handle? I judge and compare my jar temperature to a cup of coffee. You want it hot but not to hot to pick up. HTH . . .

Just curious . . Have you allowed any cure time with the soy candles? 100% soy will have a stronger HT after cured a few days.

Gotta agree I am in the middle of testing to switch my pre-blended 50/50 to my own blend, now I am more less starting over again. I love testing, I love testing, I love testing . . :whistle: