BrySC

Thanks for the compliments.

Panda, I used the technique called "draped layers" that I got from this site. It's apparently hard to get the layers exactly right...but I'm still trying. I love doing it this way, so I'm gonna play with this until I get a PERFECT one.

This is my second draped layer...certainly not perfect, but I'm getting better. I really enjoy doing this technique. I think I found what I want to focus on.

Thanks Top...yeah, I guess it's the wax from the craft store. Some 1343 is on it's way to me as we speak (type)...so I would imagine I'll have better luck with that. Thanks so much!

I'm curious to see the experienced candle makers answer to this one also. I'm fairly new to candle making, and the pillars I've made burn right down the middle. I THINK that's called tunneling...which is a bad thing. (correct me if I'm wrong someone) I'm going to try a larger wick to see if it stops the tunnelling.

Scented...yeah, I don't have any other info about the wax I'm using. Just a wax with a medium MP from a craft store. It had a small label on it, but I threw that way. I imagine I'm going to have better luck with the 1343 I ordered. (I'm pretty sure it was 1343A, but thanks to you, I know to make sure it's not 1343N) Thanks so much!

I'm just using wax I bought in a craft store with a MP of 145. I ordered some 1343 and it should be here this week. I also ordered Stearic Acid, so I'll try these two things when they arrive. For now, I think tonight I'm going to melt down the candle, add more fo (although I hate the fo I'm using...French Vanilla...sickeningly sweet) and try again.

And the towel around the mold is a great idea. I did read that it needs to cool slowly, but didn't know what to do to make it slow down.

Thanks...y'all are so friendly and helpful.

I'm trying to make a mottled candle, and it's just not working. I've read from different website how to achieve the mottled look, and I've learned that I need to use at least 1 oz of fo per pound (or 1 oz of mineral oil for unscented), and heat the wax to at least 190, and pour it at that temp. But everytime, the candles comes out as smooth and clear as a baby's butt. One website said to heat the wax to 190, and let it simmer at 190 for 30 minutes. That seemed strange to me, so I didn't do that. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I need more fo. Any suggestions?

Thanks for posting that pic of the scale. I might head to Wal Mart tonight.

Love it...looks great. I've actually seen some candles similar to that around. Very nice! Do you pour the layers at different temps? Or the same?

Well, I used a hair dryer to warm up cold doughnuts when I was in college...so maybe I'll try the "cooking with a heat gun" thing.

I do have a scale, but a fairly standard one. Not digital. It only goes up to 1 lb. I may invest in a good digital one soon.

And THANKS SO MUCH for the answers.

Whenever I see someone say "use 1 ounce of fo", I don't know how much 1 ounce is. (stop rolling your eyes at me) I've been just guessing because the fo I have is in 2 ounce bottles, so I've been estimating it. Does 1 ounce equal a tablespoon? Maybe a teaspoon? Is there an easy way to convert ounces to actually measurements that I can use?

(I'm normally a bright guy...but this one makes me feel dumb)

Did your overpour wax have any dye in it? Most chunks I've seen, you can't see as far into the candle as you can with yours. How did you do that? Love them.

Thanks scented, and everyone else. I think I'm understanding mottling a little better. Apparently the reason I haven't seen any mottling is because I don't use much fo. I might increase it and see what I come up with. (I'm loving the creative aspects of candle making...SOOOOOO many different combinations create SOOOOOO many different things)

Just wax I bought in a craft store with a MP of 145. (I have ordered some better quality wax and should receive it this week) And I'm pouring them around 175 or so. So I shouldn't get any mineral oil? Just use more fo?

I don't use much fo...maybe 1/2 oz per pound. Could this be why I haven't seen any mottling? I'm not using any other additives...I'm still just experimenting with colors and shapes.

I was looking through the gallery, and someone had posted a pic of a mottled candle. She said she got the look by adding mineral oil, dye, and fo to the wax. (and I read somewhere else that mineral oil is how you get mottling) Someone posted saying that she didn't need the mineral oil to get the mottling because she used fo. I don't understand...with the few candles I've made, I've almost always used fo, and have never seen mottling. Can anyone explain what she meant by not needing mineral oil since she was using fo? (I would post this question in that thread, but it would take me forever to find it again)

I'm trying to make a candle with a Palmetto tree on it, and so far only tried painting a tree using a stencil. It didn't look very good, so I'm trying to figure some other way. What do you think about using a palmetto tree cookie cutter with about 1/2 inches of wax in a pan...then attaching it to the outside of a pillar candle. Would using a heat gun to warm the tree and the area of the candle where I'm going to put it work? Or maybe use sticky wax to attach it? Mod podge glue? Etc...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I assume you can still burn the candle even if you have something attached to it with sticky wax?

Thanks so much for the nice posts. That makes me want to make some really nice candles just to show everyone.

mtngrl...I used a process called "draped layers". I got the instructions from this site, but kinda did my own thing with it.

Those are great. I tried a few marbled candles this week, and didn't even come close to the marble look. I followed the instructions from this site also. Wonder what you did differently. Hmmm...

Aw, thanks Sheila. I just started messing around with candle making last week. And I've made about 10 ugly candles, and this "interesting" one. It's the first one that even came CLOSE to the look I was going for. (even though the colors didn't come out exactly right)

I'm VERY new to candle making, but thought I'd post a pic of this one. I had lots of scraps left over, and made this. FAR from perfect, but my first "interesting" candle.

Right now, I'm just making pillars. I'm in the experimental stage right now...just learning. But I'd love to try mottled and rustic looks. I guess I need to buy some stearic acid and vybar and see what happens. I still don't know what UA is for though.

Ok, the fingernail joke just went WAY over my head...have no clue what y'all are talking about.