Jcandleattic

I know there is a way to shorten the link but can't find it, but here is a google listing of images of a Presto Pot. Presto is the brand name of the melting/cooking pot. https://www.google.com/search?q=Presto+pot&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JoyAVMryEtDoigK6soDYAg&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1260&bih=686&dpr=1.1#imgdii=_

I don't let mine sit for 3 days, once it's been in the mold roughly 18-24 hours I freeze it solid (in the freezer for about 4 hours) then just push it out and then I will let it sit. PVC can be hard to unmold because there is no way for the water to evaporate except on the ends, so it doesn't shrink very much. I think once the molds are seasoned they release easier. Once I freeze mine they slide out much easier, but I do not prep them with any mold release or spray, I just make sure they are clean, then pour and haven't really had any problems...

Looks great! I'll have to wait until the week of the 13th to make mine. My show season will be over that weekend.

Wilkas, there are 2-3 recent threads in the general candlemaking section of the board that link to the NCA (National Candle Association) site that has some very good very detailed information on this very subject. If you cant' find them, let me know and I'll try to link you.

The guild is The Soapmaker's guild. (HSCG) In order to qualify for their insurance however, you must make soap, but they will cover the candle and B&B portion of your business as well. Another drawback to using the guild, is you have to pay for a membership to the guild on top of buying their insurance. if that does not appeal to you or you don't make soap, you can look into RLI. I have never used them, have done no research into them, but have heard wonderful things about them.

As the others stated, there is no "fixing" a weak FO. Adding more is a waste, and lowering the pour temp will only have an affect on your wax, not the scent throw it burns off. 180 is not very high to begin with, so I don't think lowering that temp will do anything at all. A weak FO is just that. Weak. And also as others have stated, SOS is not really known for their "quality" just the type of novelty FO's.

I agree with Scented. Plexiglass molds are just not worth the effort. At least in my opinion and experience they aren't. Unscented candles would probably work in them, but I have a hard time finding a steady market for unscented candles, and IMO they were more difficult to unmold than scented ones, but the scented ones, as others have stated ruin the molds within a few uses... Do you have access to silicone where you are? You could easily make silicone molds that hold up well to both heat and scent...

I test in 1lb batches.

It might have been a concern if you make or she planned on using them as "lotion" candles. Personally I would never make a lotion candle and would never buy/use/or recommend them. Getting a candle to burn correctly is hard enough on it's own without adding people dipping their hands into the hot wax. But that is for a different soap box. LOL Just saying it might have been asked because of that, and as Candybee mentioned you can be allergic to soy, and if nuts were in the processing plant, that could pose a problem.

Well, with no information and just going on assumptions, it looks under-wicked. But without know how long it's been burning it's an impossible thing to judge. A little more information and we can give you more help.

My husbands aunt ordered some soap for her sorority sisters for Christmas. They are called "The Yellow Roses of Texas" LOL but they didn't want a rose or floral scented soap. Which was fine with me. It was actually kind of difficult trying to determine what she DID want, but I settled on this. She had mentioned in the convo 3-4 times a lemon type of scent (even though she didn't come right out and say "LEMON") So this is my interpretation of the soap she wants. It is a yellow/white swirl (hopefully) with yellow roses embeds on top sprinkled with gold and iridescent glitter, scented Lemon Blossom. (I know - no florals - but this doesn't really smell floraly - to me it smells like a lemon tart - you know, those lemon bars that have powdered sugar on them? That's what this smells like to me) and it's my smaller bars. I *think* she said half dozen, but if not, I'll make another batch because this will give 8 perfect bars and 2 slightly small ones. (There are 2 - 1lb molds 4.5 bars each mold)

They look great!

YAY! Good luck! Those are so cute!! Love them.

I put this here because I am going to be doing soaps, candles/wax, and lotions. I have a special request for a "Yellow Roses of Texas" soap, scented in lemon. (well, that was my interpretation of what she wants - the request was very convoluted) anyway, I will be doing a white/yellow swirled soap scented in lemon blossom, with yellow colored rose embeds on top. If it turns out it will be so pretty. (so of course SOMETHING will go wrong! LOL) I am also going to try an experiment. I have the Bramble-berry silicone sphere molds in all 3 sizes, so I am going to TRY and make some "melting" snowman tarts. We'll see. I haven't exactly figured out how to attach the different sized balls to each other, because the bottom of the sphere's are actually flat, so that will be a challenge for the body and head portion, I'll have to figure out how to conceal that, and then the biggest challenge - the face - not sure how to paint the face on there. Anyway, this may be a work in progress type thing and it may take a while, so don't expect pics anytime soon. (Or at all if it is a bismal failure LOL) Also, I'm going to bottle up some masterbatch lotion I have, and then I will make some new to have at my show next weekend (weekend after Black Friday - the 6th & 7th of Dec) Since my uncle passed just yesterday (I posted about that in the off topic thread) I decided just to take next week off of my day job, since it's a short week anyway, which will give me more time to execute all this. However there will be a funeral, and also my sister is hosting Thanksgiving this year and she has requested my dinner rolls, my apple pie and I'm going to be bringing a spicy chip/pretzel dip as well. So I will be doing all of that as well. That's about it for me. Anybody doing anything crafty this weekend/week? Or is everyone focused on the holiday? Since I don't host, it makes it much nicer to relax during this holiday for me.

I don't use them so I don't know, but maybe when packaging you can wear cotton gloves to reduce the chance? Problem with that is it doesn't help at shows when you have people mauling your product...

I haven't ordered those so I don't know, but I know U-line has excellent customer service, fast shipping and quality products, if that helps at all...

Very pretty! Makes me want to make pillars now.

Very nicely done.

For this challenge really all you have to do is make a Christmas themed soap (which you can interpret any way you please!) and post the pics. From what I understand there is no "winner or loser" just the fun of making a Christmas themed soap "on demand" so to speak. We have until the end of December to post our creations. Be it 1 or many... Candybee will post several of these types of challenges throughout the coming year too. (I believe anyway, I probably shouldn't be speaking for her but this is my understanding)

No, a paraffin blend. (straight paraffin with additives) My largest jar is a 16oz Apothecary jar, and I never get sink holes in the containers.

I never have to repour my jars, but for pillars I usually melt, color and scent about 3-4 oz more than the mold will hold, pour the excess in tart molds, and then when the repour is needed just pop the wax out of the tart molds into the presto, reheat (I don't adjust the temp because I pour hot enough and poke holes deep enough that the wax always adheres to itself and never separates) then pour. You could do the same with the jars, but maybe only an oz or two. Not sure what you would put the excess wax in. It would depend on how sticky your container wax is.

? Chop Sticks? IDK. I am a visual person and would need to see a picture. LOL

I would still post the problems you are having. They may know why it's working in some forums and not others. I'm not on mobile so can't help you. It works for me in all forums regardless of if it's the new Blue Mist formatted board or the IP.Board.

Have you posted your problem with pics in this forum? http://www.craftserver.com/forum/22-board-usage-questions/ Vicki or Justin would probably be able to help you, but they probably haven't seen that you are having problems...

I will be making my final holiday soaps this weekend (just gifts for my family) and will post some pics then.