DT98

I have to agree with Michael, Here in Tennessee we have Cracker Barrel restaurants and if you have been in one, you know they have a fairly large store area where they sell all kinds of items. On the candle display, they had Y-kee candles and Wooden Wick candles. From what I have read, WW candles purchased the right to use the wick developed/invented by this well to do lady. The Y-kee candles were not selling very well but the WW candles were moving. I purchased one large and one small. My experience is very similar to Michael's. If you like crackling sound, its there and pretty loud. The throw is good. My wick is about to the narrow of the container and I'm waiting to see what happens as the wick is a little off center. I might buy one again but I would let WW know that I would prefer a thicker glass container. I tried balsa wood, no go. I tried wooden coffee stir sticks, much like popsicle sticks and they worked great, just no snap crackle pop. I found another website making wooden wick candles from maple wood. Crying Creek candles. The 16oz Kerr jar was double wicked, the 8oz Kerr jar single wicked. Dangerous IMO. The 16 oz jar got sooo hot it would burn a blister if touched. When nearing the bottom of the jar, the wick fell over. It did not appear to be mounted to the bottom of the jar with any anchor unless it was hot glue and it melted too. For the time being, I would not order again from CCreek. It looks like to me the WW brand is the wooden wick candle of the moment. I would give them a 6 or 7 on a scale of 1 - 10. Just my opinion :-) DT

Robin, When you mix FOs with oils, do you just mix at room temp or do you heat the oil before adding the FO? I'm just wondering if it makes a difference mixing hot or at room temp? Thanks... Dennis

Please don't flame me for asking (no pun intended ) but I'm needing put several of those plastic floating veg oil candle things together for a night event. I know everyone has seen these things...put colored water in a container of your choice, pour enough veg oil to get about 1/2 inch on top of the water, get the little plastic float thing that holds a short wick and they burn for three to six hours. My question, can an FO be mixed with the veg oil to give a little scent to these types of candles? If so, any safe guess to the mix ratio and should the veg oil be warmed or heated when mixing the FO? I've got some FOs I'm not going to use in candles and thought this might be a good use for them. Thank you all ! DT

I'm a newbie and just read the article in the link on candle manufacturing. One statement caught my eye.... "Often, wire-core wicks are used. These wicks have a wire center that allows them to burn slightly hotter than cotton and remain erect in the melted wax." I thought wire core wicks burned cooler than cotton or non wire wicks... Somebody help a newbie...which is it?

Hello, I'm a newbie and I'm just finishing up a fifty pound first time'er batch of IGI 4627. Everybody said 4627 was hard to work with and they weren't kidding. It's like super thick sticky lard. Anyway, from this thread, I've decided to order a ten pound block of JS123 and one of JS 50/50 for containers. Containers is all I am doing since in my opinion its the easiest for newbie to try. If I understand correctly, both of these waxes are good for containers. (I got tired of paying high prices for so so candles at the usual retail outlets...knowhatImean?) Can someone with experience with the waxes above give me some input for the temp to add liquid dye and FO and in what order, and the best temp to pour for these waxes? I've been adding FO first then dye but from what I've been reading it seems most add dye first then FO. And finally, as I said, I'm a newbie and the 4627 was my first attempt. Does the bb allow posts to tell your experience with candle making, you know, posts to make you laugh or cry where you're not asking or answering a post. I learned one lesson the silly unnecessary harrrrd way :-) Thanks, DT98

thank you topofmurrayhill !! I try and prepare containers for just what I'm pouring and I was allowing a pound of wax for a 16oz container and wondering why I had so much melted wax left over. I'm all straightened out now. Well, at least that part...

I want to ask about FO to wax ratio again...just to be sure I'm doing this right..I'm one of those people who prefer someone draw them a picture..anyway.. I read in the FAQ where 1 lb. of unmelted wax yields 20 oz. of melted wax (and I was wondering why I had more wax than container capacity and was rushing around for more containers at the end of my pour)...am I understanding this right.. 16 oz of unmelted way turns into 20 oz of melted wax... So...when I weigh wax to calculate the FO mix, should I use the pre-melted wax weight? About the IGI 4627...I read comments on the board about how difficult it is to deal with and I'm thinking...yaaaa yaaaa right... Me, I'm 6'1 big guy yadda yadda and today I'm recouperating because I used a heavy metal long handled really big spoon to scoop eight pounds of 4627 outa the box. I love the results of this wax but I'm totally exhausted. All you all who work with 4627 have my respect!!! If I ever get a tattoo, it's going to be IGI4627 with barb wire around it!!

:highfive: Thank all you all for the replies. YES!!! OK, I have at least three or more sets of containers. I'm defining a set as three containers of the exact same size/type. If I understand the advise in all the posts, I'll melt a batch of wax, use one FO, go light on one dye, and pour three containers the same size using differnet wicks in each one and document, document, document. :-) One set is 3.5" across and opens up to 4", 6" tall. Another set is 3" across and opens up to 3.5", 4" tall. My favorite set is 4" across, straight down, 6" tall. This is the White Barn containers I've emptied. They use three wicks in these 22oz containers. I'm wondering whether to use one hotter wick or three medium wicks in these containers. One last question if all you all can give me some more advise...regarding the IGI 4627 wax, one website says it can handle 10% (and I learned from this site that is 1.6oz FO, not 1 oz) and another website says the same wax can handle can handle 2 oz FO. That's a little more than 10%. What are some of the results of using too much FO in the 4627 wax? What would be the indicators I've used too much. (I will get close as possible when mixing.) Thank all you all again!!! (All you all....that's the plural of you all down here in the south...) DT

Do you weigh the wax before melting or estimate the weight by the number of squares you cut from the package? Thanks so much, DT

I've been reading where quite a few people like the IGI 4627 wax but that it is hard to handle...kinda like thick vaseline. Would it damage the wax to put in the fridge for a few hours to see if the cold will make it a little stiffer and easier to handle? Thanks... DT

I love this bb and love burning great smelling candles. I've burned partylite, yankee, and white barn. The scent I love and that throws the best to date is white barn passion fruit w/guava. I wish I could find that FO...anyway.. The white barn passion fruit w/guava is a soft looking wax and the 22oz container is a three wicker. I have problems with wick drowning and even took one candle back and they exchanged it for me. Anyway, I'm going to try my hand at container candles, I have lots of containers from purchased candles.. My question, will some experienced makers give me your thoughts on the items I've purchased and any advise will be welcome. I know we all learn from experience but I don't want to totally re-invent the wheel... I purchased: IGI-4627 wax 5 scents, Mango Mandarin, Mango Papaya, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate, and Rose Petals. 3 liquid dyes, red, yellow, and coral. Wicks, I got some 60-44-18 zinc, 60-44-18 paper, and HTP 1212 paper. The wax reads that it will hold 6 to 10%. I think 10% is 1 oz FO to one pound of wax. My containers will be 8 oz to 22 oz. I would like to end up with a candle that throws hot as well as the white barn passion fruit/guava. If things so pretty well, I may stay at this but time is tight for me. If things do not go well, I've seen some on the bb say their candles are great and cost less. I may be emailing some of you all soon I'll read all advise you all can give... I'm sure this bb is not like some I've seen such as which oil is the best to use in your car....oh my!! Thanks for letting me run on and on :-) DT