liljean

Thanks Marilyn and Heather. I didn't see that other thread and I appreciate you letting me know. Well if I decide to go with this wax out goes my beeswax. I really love adding beeswax as it does smooth those tops. Darn. :undecided

It can be overwhelming, I know. I have been making soy candles for five years and I am STILL trying to find that "pefect" soy wax. I know it doesn't exist yet. I was using KySoy125 and now I am going to go with the GW464...I am really loving this wax! Funny thing is, five years ago my soy candles seemed so much nicer looking than they have been behaving the past year or so. I am convinced something changed with the soy. I know at one point there was no cottonseed in it and then they got the cottonseed back - but still, something is different than it was years ago, IMO. Have fun with the testing. It is time consuming, costly, frustrating, rewarding, and above all - it is FUN. So make sure to enjoy it.

Hi and Welcome, I too am new here. In fact, I never did an intro post, I need to do that. I just tested the 464 and I love it. I wish this forum would come in a book format I could print out so I could read it in bed (love to read in bed), lol ...there is SO much to read and I had eyestrain from reading it all, but oh so well worth it. See ya on the boards.

Here's one more picture comparing the 464/Crisco blend to the 464/Beeswax blend.

I am loving this wax! It sets up beautifully. I am finding too that I can wick down with this wax. I test burned my straight 464 with the 60 Cotton wick and one with the 62 Cotton wick and the 62C is too big - the 60 is fine if trimmed shorted than I normally trim my wick for its initial burn. The cold/hot throws are fantastic. I also made two more this morning - one with beeswax added, 7 oz 464 + 1 oz BW, little piece of spiced red color block, 3/4 oz FO - Carrot Cake from BC - yeah I know an odd colored Carrot Cake color - but I am testing with a scent I know throws WELL for me in my normal blend and a color that normally frosts really bad in my normal blend - and it frosted like mad...so, I will either add just 1/2 oz beeswax or omit the beeswax altogether. I also did one with 7 oz 464/1 oz Crisco, little piece of spiced red color block, 3/4 oz FO - Carrot Cake from BC. It is beautiful. I made a DARK red and so far - not one speck of frost!!!!!! I will attach some pictures. I am loving this wax so far.

Hi all, Thought I'd jump in on this result thread for the 464. I received my sample yesterday and poured this afternoon (wanted to pour them as soon as the UPS man brought it, but we were unfortunately busy with other stuff ) I did two batches - one with straight 464. I followed the directions that were on the bag - heat to 180, add color (a small piece of a rust color block), FO (Sweet Potato Spice from Ky) etc. and poured around 130 in a 16 oz Mason Jar with a 60C wick. I will post a pic of the way the candle looked right after it set up, and right after I hit it with the heatgun. So far NO frosting!!!!!! No wet spots yet either!!!! Very minor sinkholes I zapped with the heatgun...the tops look cottage-cheesy after I hit them with the heatgun...but that is the nature of soy. I will see tomorrow how she looks. For my second blend I just used 14 oz of 464 with the other 2 oz being my beeswax and other natural additive. I didn't take a pic of that but it came out really pretty. It had sinkholes, but nothing the heatgun didn't fix. And how much faster the sinkholes were repaired - I normally need to hit them 2-4 times - these I hit ONCE and it fixed them perfectly! I notice this wax seems to melt faster than my Ky125 soy. I cannot wait to burn these puppies tomorrow. :)

Hi, I too buy my Metro Jars from The Jar Store. I had one break when I put the lid back ON. It shocked me as I had been burning the candle and I let it cool for hours and when I went to put the lid on, it shattered. It made me uneasy about these jars and they are SOOOOOOO pretty. I still love The Jar Store and will order my jars from them, but I don't think I will be ordering the Metro Jars again. They are very thin, IMO. What a terrible reply you received from that supplier!!! Your email was FINE...his was nasty and uncalled for. I certainly won't be doing ANY business with that company!! Hang in there!

PMed you too. Thanks.

Hi and Welcome, I am new here too. I just found the board and I have eyestrain from reading through so many topics in the various forums. There is a ton of info here. I LOVE this board and I am sure you will love it. I make soy candles too. Soy is quirky but if you stick with it and test the heck out of it, you can make some really awesome candles. Have fun!

Hi, I recently ordered a box of soy wax from a company I never ordered soy from before. I normally get my soy from KY, but since I was shopping for FO on this other supplier's web site, I thought I would just get my soy wax from her. Well, my soy/bw blend and my joy/soy blend are both not behaving! When I first light the candle - all is perfect - a beautiful melt pool and a strong scent throw. Well, the rest of the burns are all different - it is as if my meltpool will form and then 'disappear'. It goes down the sides of the jar in between the candle and the candle's container. I don't know WHY as I did nothing different except order soy from a different supplier. I assumed most 100% soy waxes were pretty much the same? :undecided Could this be what is happening to my meltpool? I am sad... Any opinions? Thanks so much. Editing in: Well duh to me - I just checked the web site and see it does NOT have cottonseed in it but the KY125 DOES and that is what I normally use. What does cottonseed have to do with this, if anything? Could it be killing me' meltpool? lol Ahhhh Calgon...

This jar gave me a headache, lol. I tested so many of these jars and FINALLY found my wick! I use a 62 C with a soy/bw blend, but I keep it LONG...if it is trimmed too short, it will NOT create the full melt pool. I did nothing different with wicking this jar than I do with my other jars, but for some odd reason it needs a super long wick to get going. It looks a bit odd, but it works. If you find a better wick, please let me know. The HTP1212 is WAAAAY too big, for me, in this jar. The 60 Cotton didn't cut it...I tried the HTP105, and a CD14 and a CD16. I think that is it. It is a lovely jar. The HTP105 may work well for you as if you are using just plain soy - you won't need to wick as hot as I do. I add BW to my soy so I have to wick hotter. HTH.

For Soy + BW, with a 3 1/8" wide jar, I would start with a 60 cotton and also try a 62 cotton and try an HTP1212. HTH,

Thank You Jennifer.

Hi, Can anyone recommend a supplier who has a good cold process soap starter kit? I would LOVE to try my hand at handmade soap. I LOVE SOAP! I love to see all of your pictures in the B&B Gallery. I am in awe of your work! Thanks.

Does anyone know where I could get a super strong Hillbilly Homebrew? I use NG now and it is an awesome fragrance, but I want it STRONGER. Thanks!

I get my jars from The Jar Store and I saw their FO's but have been hesitant to order as I have never seen an FO of theirs reviewed (good or bad). Love their prices on their jars though.

Thank You.

Hi, I am so happy I found this board! I would love to chat with you all about candlemaking! I have been making candles for a few years. I normally use soy with beeswax for my blend. I decided I am sick of the appearance (frosting mainly), so I tried a parasoy blend. KY's Perfect Blend. I could not get it to throw a scent to save my life! Right now I am experimenting with a new blend - I am using KY soy wax and I add a little beeswax, crisco, and joy wax in. Well the appearance is so much better, however, I cannot wick this blend to save my life! I think adding the joy wax in causes the candle to pull away from the container and when I get a decent melt pool going on, the darn pool drains between the candle and the container glass, and this ruins my wick! My wick just won't perform anymore once the melt pool 'falls' between the candle and the container's glass. Has anyone tried a similar blend? What the heck do I do?? lol I wicked up, down, changed wicks - tried the CD's, HTP and Cotton. I normally prefer the HTP and Cotton wicks but I was desperate to get this blend to work as it made my candles look so much better so I tried the CD's. I like the CD's. Has anyone tried the Golden Brand GW444? I saw this on Millcreek's web site and it sounds wonderful. Sorry so long. Have a great day! LilJean