Ollivander

Ok - now I have read that other people have had this problem - but really didn't seem to get a good answer to why. I am using a 100% Soy votive wax with a 6.5% FO load in the 6 cavity clamshell container (1x1x1 per piece). So what I did was take one piece and place it in the tart burner. After about 20-30 minutes I saw smoke coming from the wax. Kind of scared me a little. So I tried a different tart burner same thing - then I put in 2 pieces of the clamshells and no smoke. So then I realized that one piece probably doesn't have enough wax - which is making the wax to hot (doesn't meet the 1/2" of wax criteria). Each piece of a clamshell is about .5 oz - the other companies tarts are .8 oz. What I am going to do is pour out some wax from the other company and make it so there is .5 oz in the tart burner. Then burn it and see what happens. Has anyone else only used 1 piece of a clamshell without a problem. I am thinking that I would have to put into the directions and warnings to use 2 pieces. Anyone who has had some of the same experiences I would like to know what you did. Thanks everyone!

I'll second greenleafs 70/30 blend - If you want to use a blend.

I almost ordered the 6 from there and then found millcreek which had them much cheaper.

Actually I didn't even notice that. The only problem is that its a font and it might be hard to change that. I guess if I have a major problem with people thinking that the last letter is an R I will have to change it.

That would have been such a great name. As for the jars I am doing 8 oz jelly jars - might not match the name but could always change at a later point. Jelly jars were the easiest for me to wick so I went with them.

They are a 70/30 blend. I am using greenleafs 70/30

Wow - what great responses. Thank you everyone for the great compliments.:smiley2:

I thought that too about the food - and also maybe giving people the idea of maybe thinking they could eat the candle.

I was going to have some design my logo. Last night I figured what the heck let me give it a shot - So my wife and I sat down and this is what we came up with. Just so you know the name came from the nickname of my son who is 5 (munchie) and my daughter who is 2 (bean). When my daughter was born my wife said she looks like a little bean, so now we call her beanie.

I had first bought the glue dots and heard that they were horrible. I didn't even try them just bought the wick stickems and they work great - haven't had a problem

I think it looks great. I like the press release idea - that was cool. One thing I think you might want to change is the google ads you have on the side of the 'about us'. To me when I browse a web site and I see ads like that it changes my mind about shopping there.

I have been using this wax and I really like it and am going to use it. I have only tried 2 other waxes though so I am probably not the best opinion. It is a lot easier to work with then the other 2 I tried. Probably the best customer service your gonna get - Brenda is great. I am pretty new to this and Brenda has helped me out a lot. The way I look at it is if you find out you don't like it, I am sure you will have no problem selling it. Try out her message board - lots of info there. http://www.greenleafcandlesupply.com/invboard/

Thanks all. This puts my mind at ease. I have become insane with trying to be perfect. Anyway just gave out my first to family members the other day - so far I have gotten really good feedback. I am using greenleaf 70/30 blend and they have never burned soy or soy blended candles. They are loving how they burn - they said most of their candles that they have bought always gave off black smoke. I can't wait to see what their jars look like when they are done. I also did not give them any instructions on how to burn - figured let them burn candles they way they normally do and not the way I want them to.

Ok this might be a stupid question but.. When I am burning my candles they do not have any soot coming from the flame and the jar is clean. Then at some point half way down the jar there will be a time when I blow out the candle and I can see the smoke hit and start lightly sooting the top rim of the jar. I would believe most people blow their candles out and wouldn't bother dipping the wick. It doesn't seem like I am getting soot during burning at all. So should I not be worried about soot that comes from people blowing out the candle?

The 8 oz status jars are 2.5 inches wide like the 8 oz jj correct? I am currently using an eco 6 sometimes a 4 in most of my jj with the greenleaf 70/30. I get very slight bit of wax left on the sides very thin and not all over. So my question is that does your jar get hot with a 10 in it? I would love to go up a wick size but I think it might be to much.

I am starting to find out the hard way that candle making is not an exact science. - Henryk thanks for the link now I understand a little better.

I made 2 candles and one of them had a little frosting on the side (looks like snowflakes). Now since both were poured at about the same time and both jars were pre-heated with a heat gun and cooled in the same place (under a styrofoam cooler). Why would one get it and not another? I used 2 red reddi-glo dye chips. So what really does cause frosting?

Thanks for all of your help. What program do you use to make your own lables and brochures?

Cool thanks - Love your website it looks great. Did you have someone design your business cards or did you do it yourself?

Does anyone get theirs professionally done? If so can you suggest someone for me?

Since I am a beginner it seemed like that jar was a little to "advanced" for me. I switched over to jelly jars and have been testing those like crazy. I have been posting in the greenleaf board and some other messages here. I am having trouble with slight hangup on the 8 oz jj. Thanks for you compliments on the pictures. Any way here are some links to the other messages that I have posted, that have some more pictures and my results so far. http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28381 http://www.greenleafcandlesupply.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=1205

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if thats the problem. It is driving me insane especially since I don't see alot of other people with this problem (I have done a lot of searching). And if they did have a problem there wasn't really a solution.

Thanks everyone, I will clean them and knock down my fo % to 6%. I feel like I am so close to getting this right.

I am having trouble with wax sticking to the side of the jar (not hangup but blotches of wax, like a slight film). I have tried multiple series of wicks and sizes with the same problems. So I was wondering if it might be something other then wick size. I do get a full side to side melt pool in the correct amount of time, scent throw is great it just leaves this ugly residue that is really bothering me. I have heard that this would catch up, but it never does. So I want to try and clean the jars before I pour. I usually just wipe them out. Is there anything specific cleaning solution I should use. Just want to see if this would solve my problem I am using an 8 oz jj, 7% fo, reddi-glo dye chips, greenleaf 70/30. I have tried eco, LX and HTP wicks. Eco 6 and Eco 8, LX 20 and LX 22, HTP 104 and HTP 105. The best burning wick that I have found and like is the Eco 6. The LX's didn't cut it (to much hangup) and the HTP 104 and 105 seemed to be very similar in performance with the Eco 6 and Eco 8 Here is a finished picture of hot baked apple pie with an Eco 6. It is not burned all of the way because the wick fell over (wasn't attached to the jar because I pulled the prior wick and put in a new one). This jar started 3/4 full. I have also tried this with an ECO 4 (to small) and a full burn with an ECO 8 (seemed to hot but still had the same type of hangup) http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/Ollivander912/DSC01545.jpg http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/Ollivander912/DSC01544.jpg Hope someone can help

Anyone figure out a solution?