Oh-MYo

Actually I started using the straw method as an answer to having to poke holes several times as the wax cooled so that the wick would stay straight. To me that was just too labor intensive. I was looking for something easier and less labor intensive. I wanted to pour it and walk away from it without having to babysit it and poke holes for the next hour or so. Some people dont repour, some of us do, mostly because the center is lower than the outsides once the candle cools, no matter what we do to center the wick. I even pour much cooler than most so the plastic straw hasnt melted on me. I use paraffin BTW I have found that even using the plastic straw, that since it seems to help the center cool more rapidly the center depression is much less. You bring up an interesting point, that copper is a great heat conductor---so that would/should help the center cool even more quickly. And I would suggest that as long as the copper tubing is still hot, so is the candle--which would not be a good time to pull it anyway. Of course if youre happy doing things the way youre doing them and they work for you---well thats always a good thing. This is the original thread--so you know where I'm coming from. http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22398

Just a thought on the "straw" method to keep a wick centered as the candle cures. While plastic straws may not be the best combination with hot wax, copper tubing would have no problems with heat...and BTW does not bind to wax. Many plumbing supply stores sell 1/8" and 3/16" copper tubing for refrigeration and water filtration uses.

Hi Six. The only one I can tell you about is Micheals, since it is where I buy my stuff. They are a franchise so shouldnt be too hard to find, in my corner of Canada anyway. http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?sid=445f1f8ee5c43&pageNumber=1&channel=0&search=yes&keywords=candle+making&type=0 Store Locator here: http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?template=search&client=michaels They are somewhat limited as they sell such a wide varety of craft stuff. But they do have about 3 aisles of candles AND equipment. I dont know where your co-worker is coming to in Canada but I found this interesting store on the web http://www.villagecraftandcandle.com/Default.asp?c=81929 in St Mary's Ontario which is about a 4 hr drive from where I am. Good Luck and have fun:-)

Yes Candle Man I did see the videa. I have in fact bought many container candles that did not have the wick secured to the bottom. And often, since I only make candles for myself dont bother securing the wick to the bottom. And "safety" as it pertains to candles is a relative term. Many candle warning labels say to burn it to the last half inch of wax in the bottom and stop. Now many of us burn till it wont burn any more. Which may result in getting hot wax on ourselves, the furniture or whatever if we happen to pick it up or something without being aware that the wick is not secured. But is that really any more dangerous than say a pillar which by it's own design is not terribly stable. Or for that matter a crooked wick that heats one side of the glass too much? Just my thoughts.

WTG girl! Snickerdoodle....mmmmm

Yes, sorry Hibiscus, didnt mean to ignore you. I have been burning my candle, votive is almost burned down ---nice centering. And just to whine some more that someone else beat me to the punch: "Durable wax release poly construction" STILL sounds like a plastic drink straw to me. Okay, Ill drop it, chocolate---I'm cominggggg!

Doh! Thanks for sharing that Top. So much for going into the wick straw business MeAndMyPuppy.....Just think of the profit margin on a dollar box of 500 straws at $2 a pop! In the Tips section it says to make sure your wax is below 160 degrees when you insert the "wickstick" !! Sounds like my drink straws--but maybe thats just sour grapes on my part....lol "Unique composition" indeed! Oh well, I will still use my idea and wickstick.com can bite me!!....lol

Bean; yep, it does keep the wick straight all the way down. The straw fits right over the wick--goes right to the bottom of the container. And it fits perfect, loose enough that it still slides but tight enough that it cant bend. So long as the straw is in place---wick cant go anywhere.

Andreah! <gasp!>....lol Anyway, ty ty all. I was sorta expecting that some of the longtime pros here would say you-cant-do-that-because.....well...I dunno really. The only concern might be that if youre pouring at a higher temperature it might just compromise the plastic straw--which fits so nicely over the wick. In which case you can buy harder plastic tubing at, say an aquarium supply store. Even glass tubing is a possibility, depending on how hard it is to get. At some point you might even need to....put something on it so it will be slipperier---oh heck I cant think of a way to say it that wont have andrea's dirty little mind goin again...lol....sorry hon...just teasing.

Just tried somethin. I HATE all that hole poking and I HATE crooked wicks if I dont poke enough. So I thought there-has-gotta-be-a-better-way! So here is what I tried: Put a small straw over the wick before I poured. They are drink straws--I got like 500 at the dollar store for a buck. Once it's cool the straw slides right off. And...tada!!..the wick stays perfectly straight....way cool. I was concerned that hot wax might melt the straw. Personally I have always poured my wax at whatever temperature it is once my candle warmer has melted it. I dont even have a wax thermometer. Of course I'm just an amatuer. The candle on the right has been poured and cooled. And yes, I repoured the top with the straw removed.

Lovely to meet you glitter! I'm pretty new here too. These guys are awesome! Your name and your candle glitter idea reminds me of the very first candle I ever noticed MANY years ago, well I was 8 and I am on the slippery side of 50 now, my Mom recieved a candle as a birthday present. It was a white pillar with whipped wax and glitter on the outside. Watching it burn, the glitter sparkling through was just something so new and wonderful for my tiny 8 yr old brain that I was hooked for life! I doubt that anyone at the time knew what a big impression it made on me. Life is just like that sometimes. Thanks for jogging my memory. You'll love it here. Personally I am pretty humble in my candle creations as I just make my own(sorry--without glitter) but you will get lots of help from the pros here. Welcome:yay:

I'm sure you'll do great dear. I was just making the point that there is so much to love about candles. For many of us, it's not why-would-I-buy-a-candle? but what-kind-of-candle-do-I-want-to-buy/make-next? Candles are visually appealing and aromatically appealing. People burn candles for many reasons. You have a beautiful product and passion for your product. Ya just cant lose hon:highfive: The world wants what you have to offer.

Quote: Hi Mozzie, thanks, you're too kind as always! Now I have to find a way to convert people!!! Gosh, how hard can that be? Pretty candles, sumptuos scents. Just put'em on display, burn a few and they will be beating a path to your door. But then I'm as nutz about candles as ya'll are:p

Another option would be to buy small ceramic ramekins. My dollar store has them for a buck and my grocery store recently had them on sale for 2/$1.00. They come in different colors too.

I have burned many container candles(duh:rolleyes: ..havent we all?) I have burned dollar store candles, expensive candles and candles that I have repoured myself. It seems that they all need some attention somewhere along the way. Whether it's pouring a little wax off---in the situation you mentioned or manually pushing some hangup from the sides down into the melt pool if the flame is too high and there is still lots of hangup. I like my flame to be 1/2' to 1'--no more, no less. So the only thing I can say that seems "normal" is that I am going to be messing with it somewhere along the way. Hey, I dont mind; its just part of the fun. And I want to come to your dollar store and get some 16 OZ candles for a buck.

Pistachio Muffin 23 OZ Peach Pie 16 OZ

Hi again all. Hope you're up to your ears in wax, soap and teddy bears....well..if thats what you want to be doing....lol Just wanted to say that I bought a Betty Crocker candle last week and was quite impressed. It was the shape of the jar that first caught my eye, then the price. Literally a THIRD of what I would have paid for a Yankme. Not that I would even bother to pay Yankme prices. Persoanlly I loved the Betty Crocker. Good scent throw, melt pool almost to the edge at the very top, and then reaching the edge as it burned lower. Just thought I'd give a good review to a department store candle, especially in light of Yankme's high price/low performance record. Oh yah, and that old Wood Wick topic just wont die: http://www.candlefind.com/candle-reviews/christina-reviews/old-virginia-candle/old-virginia-candle.html

I just thought it was a very cool idea. A different way to burn wax. I am often inspired by new ideas. And the "machine" is simple enough that one can experiment with it without wrecking it. I was awake for several hours last night thinking how I could duplicate it...approximately. Since I have at least a dozen fiberglass wicks from parrafin oil lamps which I bought at my local grocery store last January for a buck apiece. Fiberglass cloth is also available at local hardware stores at very reasonable prices. I dont ever mean to market them, just thought it was a cool idea. Many equipment manufacturers say that only THEIR replacement parts are suitable but that doesnt stop us from buying/trying after market parts or department store clones; vacuum cleaner bags etc. Candles have evolved from devises used primarily to supply light to devices which offer esthetic beauty and aroma. Why stop there? Just wanted to share a new idea. Thats all.

Hi all. Not suggesting that you would want to make one of these...just thought, if you hadnt seen these before, they might get those creative energies surging. I really really want one, just to try it...pyrophile that I am. Anyone have any experience here with these? http://www.ffandf.com/~alawac/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/gchm600.html

What's a stain stick?

My thoughts on this. Wood is just plain inconsistent. Some of the fibers grow very close together, some, not so close, all within the same tree and within the same half inch. Outer wood; sap wood is the part of the tree that has the best wicking properties because this is the part of the tree that sucks up moisture to the leaves. A veneer making machine slices a roll off the tree similar to peeling an apple. So, depending where the slice of veneer has come from in the tree you will get a different burn. Possibly why Ms Decker's candles use something called Ecowood, which is defined as "reclaimed wood fibers". Sounds like wood composite to me. I have experienced the same inconsistency in my experiments, although never a smoking or soot problem. Nor any large flame. Mine manifested as too rapid self consumption....but clearly not all. I would suggest Micheal that you contact OVC and tell them of your experience with their candles. It would be interesting to hear what they have to say. Personally my next experiment will be with cedar twigs which came off Christmas cedar that has been drying outside of my house since December. This should have not only the wicking properties of sapwood but the denser, lower self consumption of heartwood.....Hopefully. Not sure about peeling the bark off or not...will try both. It would be interesting to hear what your repeat customers have to say about them CandleCouture.

ROFL granny. As a dumb human I applaud your update and cheer for the survival of that poor little guy. Big Red however sees it differently. Hey lady! This is Big Red here. Ya gotta stop throwing us in hot wax okay? Or me and my pack are gonna be all over you like flies on...well uknow. It aint right lady and youre making me MAAAAAD! Kisses and hugs aint gonna make it better. We smell fine just the way we are. Just a whiff of baby spit and peanut butter cookie crumbs is all the perfume we need. We just might have ta re-ha-bil-it-ATE you!!!!!

Love that jar Donita! When is a flame in a pot no longer a candle...lol. But its nice to see others trying. Trial and error is half the fun. And many of our greatest accomplishments have been errors. Ya gotta love serendipity. Despite Donitas lovely campfire, I dont see any more of a safety issue with wood wick candles than I do with traditional candles. The basic guidelines of candle safety still apply. The only difference that I have seen in wood wick candles...that I have been playing with...is that the flame is wider and the crackling gives off mini flames within the flame. I cant say that I have seen any sparks at all. Now using spruce might be different because spruce tends to have bigger pockets of sap within the fibers. I think the marketing by suggesting it mimics a fireplace is way too much of a stretch. Personally I only burn container candles anyway because of the safety issue. I have cats and dogs and like the fact that a container is much more stable and less susceptible to waving tails and poofy fur(I have Poms). And I dont burn candles any bigger than 4 ounces...but thats just me. I am still testing my popsicle stick candle this morning...getting down to the bottom and am finding that it burns nicely if I occasionaly pour off some of the melt pool. The "wick" seems more self-consuming than I would like. The melt pool extends right to the edge of the votive holder. For what it's worth I have had no visible smoke at all except when I extinguish it. Oh, further info. Votive candle/ pillar wax blend. Dont know how much scent, it was part of a pillar melted down.

Okay, now you've really gone and done it! Lady, Big Red, Ritchie Rich, Edddy, Teddy Grandpa and the Valentinos are comin to your house right NOW!......lol Birdie and Kittie too! They say if someone would wax a bunny they just might be next! I guess Easter Bunny wont be bringing you any eggs this Easter Scent....lolol

LMAO hugs right back atcha Top:-) Heh heh. I'm just old enough to remember when they used to say that the Personal Computer would never be very popular. In the verrrry old days, before woven cotton wicking a lot of candles were made with rush reeds as the wick. They were porous and stiff...so....wood just isnt that new of an idea. The upshot is that NO ONE at this point has a patent on wood wicks, although Ms Decker has certainly applied for one. A deeper "googling" revealed that Ms Deckers patent application for lamp oil was turned down. The wood wick patent is still somewhere hidden deep in the halls of the judicial system. And yes those OVC WoodWick candles seem to be turning up everywhere. It might be just me but I think trying to patent a wood wick candle would be like trying to patent a zinc wick candle...or chicken soup for that matter. A specific patent on a specific type of wood wick maybe. Anyone remember the story of the Beta video tape players? You know the guys who wanted to hog the market and shot themselves in the foot for being too greedy? I couldnt even sell my Beta tapes at a garage sale!....lolol Hey, I think it's a great idea all the same. My popsicle stick candle is burning very nicely at this point...waiting for my double cedar veneer candle to cure. Bite me Danadecker!!