Brenda (OH)

Can anyone tell me if a 62 cotton is comparable to the Low Smoke Zinc #17? I need to order more of the #17's but WSP shipping is a killer for small orders. Thanks in advance . .

I get alot of fragrance oils from Southern Scentsations but I don't use soy so I can't help you with that. But if you do a search on their message board I know there is alot of info there. www.greatcandle.com Their fragrance oils are awesome !!! They only test in soy and every one I put in my parasoy blend throws fantastic !!! The ones I have in my line are: Winter Hug Sweet Chestnuts Drakkar (Type) Coconut Lime Verbena Lemon Pound Cake Banana Nut Bread Pearberry Waterfall Mist Sorry I couldn't help more with the soy question but the oils are worth testing !!! Edited: Forgot to add their customer service is top notch. Very quick on filling and shipping orders. HTH ~ Brenda

Yes I did heat my mold prior to pouring but maybe not enough . . .I have cranked my heat up on my pot and will try heating my mold a bit more before pouring my next testers. Edited to say: I will try heating my mold a bit more . . .

I have not used any additives in the pot before just container wax which is a lower MP wax - 125*. I will turn the temp up to 200+* to see if that helps to dissolve the floaties (???). Thanks for your quick reply.

I am testing the 6228 wax and feel really dumb asking questions so try to give me a break :undecided . I have made container candles for 4 years and WOW pillars are a whole new world. First of all, my melted wax in my presto has little floaties in it which I have never seen in any wax before. This doesn't seem normal to me, any ideas? (Temp is at about 195*) I went ahead and poured 2 pillars yesterday and unmolded them today. The surface of the pillars have little tiny holes on it, which I am thinking is from the floaties. (Pour temp 175* - 180*, heating mold between pours). What do you think? Could the floaties be the problem or am I doing something wrong? I have attached a picture but don't know if you can see what I am talking about very well.

Thanks for the replies :highfive: I will pour this wax hot and warm my molds. I have only made a few pillars, still in the early stages of testing. I am testing different waxes to see which I prefer. I want them to have a strong hot throw so I was directed to this wax. I am so envious when checking out the gallery . Maybe someday I will get them perfected. Thanks again !

I color my butt nake a pale orange - even lighter than peach. I can't help you with a hang tag pic - sorry

I have got a slab of the 6228 to start testing pillars and am not sure how hot to melt the wax in my pot or what the pour temp should be at. I am wanting to do layers and will start with a 3x4 round mold. I know that each layer needs to be 10* degrees hotter then the previous layer, but what temp do I start at?

Thank you faerydust - unfortunatley I do not have any lx wicks to try - ugh! I will have to get a sample pack to test them out. Thanks again - Hugz to ya ~ Brenda

I need a bit of help wicking Orange Clove. I use J300, 8% fo load, zinc wicks and liquid orange color in wide mouth half pint and pint canning jars. I have tried fragrance oils with several different suppliers and every OC I have tested the wicks seem to cause tunnel burning. The 1st burn is always wonderful - full MP 1/2" deep throwing like crazy then on the 2nd burn the wick starts to fade out leaving a skin along the edge of the jar. The 3rd burn and throughout the remaining candle the wick tunnels. I had given up on the OC last season and all my customers have begged me to bring it back for this year. I cannot figure this fragrance oil out for the life of me. I have tried the 60 and 62 zinc and HTP 1212 (caused way too much smoking). Any suggestions?

I had also tried the watchmaker tin's for my samples a few years back and they didn't work for me either. The lids were not snug enough and all my scents ended up blending together and they all smelled the same. I tried melting them down and re-pouring new batches but what a PITA. Then they all blend together again. I now pour my samples into 3/4 oz plastic solo cups with lids. They look like little jello shots . I put them all into a carrying tote with a handle that I got from Walmart. This has worked great for me and right now I am in the process of making of my 6th full set. This method is very inexpensive and if one of the samples looks tacky or the cup has cracked I just pitch it and make a new sample. Another tip would be . . .the paraffin waxes will adhere to the inside of the cup where the wax sample would not be loose after cooled, whereas a soy blend will shrink away from the cup after it is cooled and pop out when opened. Either way, this method has worked great for me. Thought I would share - Brenda

I can't help you with the "crackle" effect but want to say welcome to the board :smiley2: . I am certain someone can help you with your question - everyone is so helpful here !!! Brenda

I just found this link and I am giving up on everything but burning candles as my problem for the time being. If anyone has any other suggestions I will greatly welcome them with open arms. http://homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/98/980109.html#98010905

I am trying to find out "what gives" - and really appreciate everyone on this board providing info. I am glad you can relate to what I have going on. Today, I am cleaning . . .even though those who are trying to figure out my problem like to run their fingers across the black stuff to feel it. I can't take it anymore - If I find anything out I will definately be posting to let everyone know!!!

I just bought Carbon Monoxide Detectors, they were not installed with the house. They have been plugged in for 2 days now, but we have only run the AC. Maybe I should turn the furnance on just to double check.

Thank you Henryk . . .very, very informational! Guess I will be testing to see if my candles are the culprit. Will let you know . . .

I'm not sure . . I am assuming it is a soot since it is all over my register covers and on the wall above them. I don't know anything about black mold. What would cause that?

This post may be considered off topic or maybe not put in the right forum area, the board monitor can move it if needed. Here is my question . . .Has anyone ever experienced a black residue throughout your house from making or burning candles? This is my dilemma . . . We built a new house last summer and moved in mid September. Everything in my house is white from appliances, blinds, window casings, ceilings, walls, registers, cold air duct covers - everything! I began to notice in the winter months and more so into spring that I have a black residue inside my cupboards on tupperware, inside my fridge also on the fridge and freezer seal, on my walls above registers, basically everywhere and in places I wouldn't suspect. I thought that it was a defective furnance or AC unit so I have got my contractor involved. He had the guy that did all my duct work and installed the heating and cooling units come out and check them and they all were fine. They suggested I contact our propane gas company to have them check the pressures of the gas. When the gas man got here he did reduce the amount of pressure of the propance going into the house but was bewildered on what the black was coming from since he says propane burns clean. The next morning he called and said he wanted to stop over to discuss "my problem". He told me that he found I out made candles and that was what was causing the black everywhere! I argued differently with him explaining and showing him that I use a soy blend that does not black soot when burned properly. He said that the burning candles would not cause it but rather my candle making would. I was furious but politely thanked him for his opinion. I still have some other phone calls to make to keep digging into this problem but I thought I would ask other candle makers their opinion and experiences. I make my candles in the basement. Was using Joy Wax and have just in the past 3 weeks switched to J300. I use zinc wicks. Mainly make container candles & tarts but have been testing pillars. I typically only burn 1 candle in my living room but sometime will light a candle in my office or bedroom. I do test extremes and "power burn" all day. Very rarely do I get heavy soot on my jars. I am sorry this post is so long but I am at my wits end. I love candle making and my business. I am just curious if it does or doesn't affect the atmosphere that could cause this black stuff.

Hi tlc26 - I use the Joy Wax and have for over a year. It has an awesome cold and hot throw and wicks well with zincs. You are right about the smell, but my biggest issue is with the sink holes. I just despise them !!! I have been testing and testing other waxes but most do not compare for scent throw. Currently, I am testing the J300 and scent throw is the closest I have found. Have a Blessed Day - Brenda

Thanks for the warm welcome . . .Astorlite makes the J300.

I must admit though, I have been lurking for a while I have found you gals and guys to be great for providing advice in all types of candles. You have answered quite a few questions of mine without me having to post. THANKS A BUNCH !!!! I have been making container candles for 3 1/2 years. For the past year I have been using the Joy Wax but have been venturing out in testing other parasoy blends since the Joy Wax is notorious for sink holes. This wax is time consuming so I thought I would see if I could find another wax that compared in cold and hot scent throw. I am currently testing the J-300 wax and am loving it!! I use zinc wicks and so far I am getting great results. I was wondering, for those of you that use the J-300 do you find that you need to double wick a apothecary jar for heavier fragrance oils? Or have you been able to single wick? Sorry so long for my introduction Brenda