joym

Might also try Goo-Gone or Dissolve-it.

I price the same as my retail - and what I recommend to the stores I wholesale to - don't want to undercut them.

Can also trying spraying melter with PAM before melting tart - If the wax is cold, I sometimes will melt the tart just long enough (2 or 3 minutes) & it will slide out.

I find a "cold" candle and hot 180 or more overdip brings on shine -try warming the candle a bit and then dipping at 150 or so.

Cellophane is fine.

I use the fine paint strainers from Sherwin-Williams - don't know if you have that there, but maybe something similar -- have seen people use the coffee filters.

I find that parafin wax will frequently have dirt in it; I usually can't see it by just looking at the wax, but I always filter my wax before pouring into a mold or other container, & will see bits & pieces of "gunk" in the filter.

What is the temperature of your overdip? I don't do the same kind of candle you're doing, but have found with what I do, it's best to have the overdip wax above 180 to get a shiny finish.

I've used my turkey roaster to melt them down; can get in several jars.

After whipping wax & applying to the top with a fork, try using a heat gun for a few minutes to take away the peaks.

I use the ones from Associated Bag.

No pictures, but a couple of thoughts - I really like the wire shelves with wheels that you can get at Sam's (& probably other places.) about $80. I do store the finished candles in boxes - otherwise they fade over time.

Another word of advice - take your time adding things and working out arrangements - I didn't and have had to backtrack some.

Good Luck - it's exciting to be able to move out of the kitchen (and, by the way, I'm still finding wax to be scraped off the kitchen floor)!!!

Let them set up until there is a skim on the top, but not totally cooled - and, yes, a knitting needle (size 12 or so) works great - can also use plastic chopsticks.

Lebermuth has good prices, if you need enough to meet their minimums.

Infinity Packaging has them.

My experience is that a straight line on the front of the booth works best; you can also modify B so that the center tables are pulled back 1 or 2 feet; that will give you more show room, but keep customers from feeling trapped.

If time & money permit, what about a tumbler or jar with a label commenorating the event?

re warming pots - when it's really chilly in the pouring room, I warm the pot by putting two or three cups of wax in the pot and then pouring it back into the melting pot - if the pot is too cold, the wax can drop below the "pouring temperature."

What kind of oil are you using? Fragrance oil? Thanks.

I store my extra scented wax chunks in polypro bags in cardboard boxes - Don't see why this wouldn't also work for tarts.

The only time I use a wax remover/cleaner is if I had poured a red or other deep/dark color and then need to use the mold for a white or very light color candle. "Goo-Gone" and "De'solv'it" both work well for me.

I use 4786, 1oz/#; but usually add fragrance about 190. Try raising your temperature, and stirring gently for at least 2 minutes before pouring.

Occasionally, some fragrances, vanilla based, will not blend at the 1 oz/# ratio; then you can add a very small of Vybar 260, or lower the percent of fragrance.

I used a 3 oz dixie cup, bent so there is a "v"-shaped pour spout.

For my votives, I use a drill press.

For pillars, I tie the wick, at the top of the mold, to a skewer-type rod, or use wick pins.

I've never noticed this, and I do test burn some candles in my shop. I'm wondering if it could be your heat source - oil or gas? or?. I have electric heat.