BrySC

Connie...thanks for the suggestions. I'm using two different waxes...1343, and 4625. From what I read, you don't need any additives for the 4625 since it's a blend, but I was adding Vybar to the 1343 with the same problems. The frosting thing is different from the rustic. I actually like the rustic...but the frosted look almost hides any color. Pouring hotter did cure the frosting problem, but now TONS of pinholes are ruining everything. But if UA is known to help with pinholes, I'm DEFINITELY gonna give it a try.

This candle stuff is harder than most people think. I got into candle making about 2 months ago...and STILL can't consistently turn out a nice candle. For the longest time, I was having problems with a frosty appearance...so everyone told me to pour hotter. Now PINHOLES are ruining just about every candle! This stuff can make you want to quit. I did a search on this site for pinholes, and the consensus seems to be that pouring too hot, or dirty molds can cause pinholes. My molds certainly aren't dirty. Some are new, and I cleaned the one's that aren't. So maybe I'm pouring too hot. But if I lower the temp...then I bet I'll be back to everything coming out with the frosty look! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

I poured both layers at 195. I wanted to make SURE that pouring too cool was not gonna happen this time. So now maybe I went to the other extreme. The story of my life...one extreme or the other. So maybe I should try again at 180. (by the way, someone suggested that maybe my thermometer was off...so I tested it in boiling water. It read 215, so I have been compensating for the 3 degree difference)

Ok...here's an update on the pink and green candle. I poured it again VERY hot...about 195 degrees. That did the trick for the problem I was having where the layers meet, but now they seem to have more pinholes. I'm searching the forum today to read all the posts about those.

So thanks for the tips. I'll get this pink and green candle done eventually.

Well, from what y'all said, I think I know what my problem is. I was using a skewer, which is very thin. I guess the hole was becoming clogged because it was so small. I knew I could count on this board to figure it out. Thanks!

I melted down a candle today, and was surprised to see that it had a hollow chamber inside. I always poke relief holes. Any ideas?

Thanks for the suggestions...I'm gonna try them tonight.

Oh, and I poured both layers at about 185 degrees. (which I would think would be more than hot enough)

I promised to post a pic of one of the candles that's driving me crazy, and here it is. The part where the layers meet is awful. Up close, it looks like streaks of tiny air bubbles. That happens all the time on the non-rustic one's. And the rustic one's have big air bubbles. I'm not crazy about the colors in this candle, but apparently pink and green are the sorority colors of the girl that asked for it. I've been putting her off since last week because every one I make comes out awful. So...what do you think?

WOOHOO...finally a question I can answer. You have to tilt the mold when you pour to get the layers slanted. I have a small box I lay the molds in (at an angle) until they cool. I've tried a bunch of these, but none look as good as the one's in the pics.

Scented...as for what frustrations I'm having...I gave a candle as a gift at work last week...and now all of a sudden, I have about 10 candles that have been ordered. I don't offically have a candle making business yet...just making them for family, friends, and co workers. So I have these people waiting on candles, and EVERY candle I make, I feel like it's not good enough to accept money for. As a matter of fact, I gave one away today, because I didn't think it was "money worthy". Everyone loved the rustic/layered candles. Now of course I have HUGE air bubble problems. Also, with it being a cold pour, the place where you pour ends up looking different than the rest of it. So then I decided to just to a "smooth" one and poured about 185...the first layer was fine, then the second layer had tiny air bubbles right where the two layers meet. I made candles all weekend, and NOT ONE was acceptable! I'm actually starting to get nervous because one lady needs 3 candles by next friday for teacher gifts for her child...but at this rate, I'm not going to get them done. When I get home tonight, I can post some pics of the problems I'm having...but I've asked for so much help, that I actually feel like I'm posting too many questions/pictures.

And for my dumb question of the day...what is mineral spirits?

"Well I would repeat the same advice as last time, which is to make sure your mold is properly conditioned from the previous pour."

Topofmurrayhill replied to a thread with that. What is conditioning a mold from the previous pour? I usually just heat it and wipe out the excess wax. Is there something else I should be doing after every candle? (my results have not been so great, and I'm REALLY getting frustrated)

Good Lord, those make me sick!!! I've been trying to do just that for a while now. I started playing with candles about 2 months ago...gave one away at work, and all of a sudden, I have orders for about 10. Everyone loves the layers, so that's what I'm trying to perfect...with bad results. The one I gave away came out pretty good, but it's SOOOOO frustrating trying to make new one's for everyone else. I keep having to put people off because I can't seem to get a great candle. Those in the pics are EXACTLY what I'm trying to do. I've tried about EVERY temp, every additive, water baths, etc. All of them come out with either bubbles or pinholes. Grrrrrr...!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah...I tried the tapping thing. I was tapping as hard as I could without denting my mold. But with me pouring at low temps, the sides firm up quickly...so it looks like the bubbles are forming as I'm pouring.

I've only been making candles for about 2 months, and I recently gave a candle to a co worker. Well everyone at worked love it, and all of a sudden I actually have orders for candles. But I can't seem to get the bubbles out of the layered/rustic candles. I've been trying all weekend, and don't have a single one that I'd feel comfortable accepting money for. Can y'all take a look at the candle below and maybe give me some things to try? The bubbles are ruining every rustic candle I try.

Also, besides the big bubble holes, do small bubbles cause the tiny pin holes?

THANKS!

I used 1 tablespoon of stearic pp. And maybe the temp is the problem...because the layers did cool very quickly due to the fact that they were small. So I guess I'll try again, and make them hotter. As for my thermometer...it's a glass candy thermometer that came with the kit I bought about 2 months ago. I assume it's correct, but maybe not.

Oh, I'm sorry if I'm asking the same questions I've asked before. But I would think 185 would be hot enough. Maybe not.

I was going for a mottled/layered candle with the one in the pic below...but it came out very frosty looking. I used 1343, poured at 185 degrees, only used stearic acid. Any ideas?

Thanks for the responses...and the link to that thread was VERY helpful. I knew y'all could get me going in the right direction.

I've seen a few pics in the gallery forum of candles that were rustic and layered. I tried one, but it didn't work. The layers didn't adhere to each other. To get the rustic effect, you have to pour at low temps...but to get the layers to adhere, you need higher temps. So how do you get both???

Thanks!

I've read what y'all say about additives, and tried a few...but I still am not sure I understand. What I've been doing is using vybar in everything NON-mottled...and stearic acid is anything I want to mottle. (I read that vybar inhibits mottling) I haven't been playing with mottled candles much lately, so I'm not even using the stearic acid I have. Does this sound right? Only using vybar? I know that eventually I'll want to use UV inhibitor, but just haven't gotten to that level yet.

Thanks!

Just responded to your PM. THANKS so much!

Scented...I burned it for about 2 hours last night. Then trimmed the wick this morning before lighting it again.

Top...the only additive was 1 tsp per pound of vybar. And the wax is 1343. Should I possibly increase that? Or add stearic you think?

The candle below has a 24 ply cotton wick. I was thinking the wick is too small because it's kinda starting to burn a hole down the middle...but maybe it's too big because the flame is too big and smokes. So which is it??? Too big or too small? I could try a 30 ply wick to solve the tunnel problem...but that would make the large flame problem worse. I've been working so hard to try to get the candle to LOOK right that I haven't been spending much time on getting the wick right...but apparently it's time I started.

Thanks everyone. And y'all are right...practice is the key.

Very nice. I tried a marpled pillar, but without much luck. Can you tell me where candle kitty's directions are? I'd like to try again. Thanks!