Tizimarezie

UNREAL!! :undecided I made a whole new candle yesterday and dropped the FO (JackFrost) down to 6% thinking this would solve the problem. Today, I used a CD18 to see if it would burn and the flame was too weak. So I replaced the wick with a CD20 and it seemed fine at first BUT within the hour, the flame is weak and drowning out. I can't believe it! I have other tins with other scents that are burning fine...so I know it's not the wax. I'd try an RRD or an HTP but I don't have any. I have the Premier...so I'll give that a try. I can't believe I'm about to spend MORE money on wick sample kits. My sister loves this scent...said it reminds her of Ande's Mints and she wants it for Christmas. I dont' want to think that I can't use this FO.

Research suggests that the highest level of FO that wax can effectively hold is 1.5oz pp of wax. SO, does that mean that, in order to achieve the most fragrant candle, a full 1.5oz pp wax should be used? I've read that some only use 6% (1oz pp wax) while others take it to the max. What's the maximum FO YOU use pp of wax? TIA

Thanks all. The candle is 9% FO and 91% EZsoy (=1.5oz FO pp wax). The dye is RediGlo chip (1/2 chip used). I agree that it might be the FO itself. I made 4 other scents (using same 9%/91% ratio)...same size tin, same wax and a CD18 works great in them. I've got an Eco14 stuck in the problem child now. May as well go the distance with the Eco's so I'll know for sure they're not going to work in this FO. I like the Eco's...I think they throw really well and if I could use them, I would. But the CD's are working better in the tins for some reason....just not with the Jack Frost FO. How much FO do most of you use? I thought most people used the 1.5oz pp wax. No? Can you share the ratio's you use? Thanks!

I've wicked up to a CD20 and after 30 minutes burn time, the wick is drowning out again. What to do?...what to do? I don't get it! Okay, so I went as high as an Eco10 (using Eco8 and 10) and as high as a CD20 (using CD14, 16, 18, 20) and all of them have drowned out. What does that mean and how can I fix this problem? TIA

Thanks, Islandgirl !! I was just researching CD wicks in considering going that direction because I have a sample pack. I'll try them next. I pulled out the Eco10 and melted the top of the candle back down with heat gun. Waiting for it to get solid again....... I thought I was going to have this all figured out by the end of today.

And here we are at the 3 hour mark with Eco10 drowning itself out. See photo below. Unbelievable! Shall I go to Eco12?? Top, you use Eco's in 6oz tins with great success so I know they should work. My FO load is 1.5oz pp EZsoy (4.7oz EZsoy and .4oz FO). I didn't get one bit of hot throw! I don't ever remember a flame ruining my day but this one comes close!!

Okay, my head is spinning. I absolutely do NOT know which wick line to try next. CD's?...what size to start with? HTP's? (I don't have any)...but what size to start with? The candle has been burning with Eco10 for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The flame is somewhat stronger than the Eco8. The melt pool measures 1/2" even though it hasn't reached the diameter of the container. I'm getting little hot throw if ANY. Even my son says he smelled the cold throw just fine but can't smell anything coming from this candle now that it's burning. Why would it not be giving a hot throw? Can you take a look at this photo and tell me what you think? This is Eco10 after 1 hour 45 minutes: Thanks again!

I'm using EZsoy wax. I'll wick up to the Eco10 after the candle solidifies again. Thanks for your input! I appreciate the response.

Well, I was going to blow this puppy out but decided that it would be interesting to watch it extinquish itself. SO...3 hours and 15 minutes into burn time, the wick drowned out. Larger wick? Um...I think so. But if anyone has any suggestions, please jump on in!

After 3 hours, shouldn't the melt pool have reached the diameter of the container? (This being a 2.75" diameter tin). There's not much progress, the flame is even weaker and I still don't have much of a hot throw. I understand the the flame gets larger and more lively as the candle burns down but...for starters, I wouldn't even call this a candle :embarasse . Can anyone help? I'm going to blow this thing out, let it set up again before lighting it again. But I'd like to know if I should wick up. TIA Photo of candle after 3 hours burn time:

I'm testing 6oz tin that measures 2.75 across....using JackFrost (BCN) FO and Eco8 wick. I poured the candle two days ago and the cold throw is awesome! Please see my photo below which shows what the flame and melt pool look like after burning for two hours. I'm going to burn at 3 hour intervals. When I initially trimmed my wick, it was more than 1/4" but just less than 1/2" long. I'm concerned with the tiny flame, deep melt pool...and I have very little hot throw. Can anyone tell me, based on the photo (flame size) if I should wick up? TIA

Thanks again, Top. I tossed the candle and will start over. Since I didn't have the measurements right in the first place, even if I did end up wicking this one to where it seemed okay, it wouldn't be a good 'model' for any others like it (er...any similar ones made with accurate measurements :rolleyes2 ). Might as well do it right from the get go! Your info regarding the Eco6 and Eco8 was very helpful! :highfive:

Thanks for the replies. Top, I like your idea of testing two at a time and will do that next time I test. I'll definitely burn to the bottom with this candle to see how this wick is performing. So far, the Eco10 isn't doing to badly. I'm marathon burning the candle today with the Eco10. At first the flame was weak (for about the first hour) and I think the Eco8 would have drowned out. The Eco10 took off after the hour and though it isn't as big a flame as last night, it's burning steady and strong now...but I sure have a lot of wax hangup on the sides of the tin! That's the only drawback I see so far. The hot throw is about the same as last night (noticeable but light). Would wicking up to an Eco12 be a good idea? The candle is half gone now and I don't know if wicking up at this point will give me any accurate answers. Should I be overly concerned with the wax hangup along the walls of the tin? TIA

I'm going to go with Eco10. The size of the flame is strong but not torching, the melt pool is spread out nicely and not tunneling like the Eco8, and I'm getting a fairly good hot throw. No mushrooming and the tin isn't too hot to the touch. This is a nice wick!

Thanks for responding, Carrie. I'm using an Escali scale which only gives one digit behind the decimal....so when my calculations came out to .44 oz FO (.09375oz FO X 4.7oz wax = .44), I have to round up or down. So, I rounded up. Bad move? I'm pretty good at math but all these calculations are head spinning! I made the candle yesterday and began testing today...not a good idea? I read so many different opinions varying from one day cure time to one week but that the soy cure time is less. Maybe give it a TWO day cure? What would you suggest? By the way, I love your avatar! Thanks again.

I'm using EZsoy and "Vanilla Velvet" FO from BCN in a 6oz tin. I used 4.7oz wax and .5 FO. Not too keen on the FO because the cold throw seemed pretty weak to me to begin with. I've tried 3 different wicks (first CD12, then Eco8, then CD14). I'm not getting much of a hot throw with the CD's...in fact, I'm an hour into burning with the CD14 and I can't smell a thing until I get within a foot of it. The Eco8 gave a better hot throw but wasn't anything to rave about and there was some wax hangup on the edges after 4 hours of burn time. I don't think I should add more FO because I'm already at the high end of the ratio (1.5oz FO to 1lb wax)....but what do you think?...add more? Any suggestions? Wick higher? CD16?...CD18? No CD's at all? Stick with the Eco8? The wicks I have to work with are CD's, Premier 700 series, and Eco's. TIA

I just did some figuring tonight and for someone who isn't buying skids (aka humongo quantities) there isn't much profit in making a candle. (My cost is approx $2.50 to $3.00 depending on the type of container used for an 8 ounce...and that's adding in the shipping). The FO alone consumes HALF the cost! So, unless someone buys supplies in high volume, there's not a big margin for profit. It would take a lot of candles to even turn this into a subsidiary income. WHEW!! I sure give you all a TON of credit! You all have to love what you're doing....(AND have room for all the supplies! ) My admiration for what you do grows daily.......... :highfive:

I have a wee bit of confusion about testing. In reading these forums, it seems that a "memory" is formed during the first couple of hours of burning....so: If trying out wick #1 finds that it doesn't have a good melt pool and is causing tunneling, I therefore remove wick #1 and insert wick #2 to test. But...now that the "memory" is more than likely set in the wax, how can wick #2 effectively be tested? How will I know whether wick #2 isn't causing tunneling when there's already a tunnel? How will I know whether wick #2 is achieving a good melt pool when wick #1 already caused a lopsided top (wax along one side of jar and not the other)? Do you melt down the candle after using wick #1 and let it set up again in order to insert and test wick #2? On the other hand, if wick #1 is doing everything right except that I'm not happy with the large mushrooming...and I want to try a different wick, how can I effectively test wick #2 when wick #1 already achieved a perfect melt pool and has already 'set the memory' of the burn? Won't wick #2 test be a bit deceiving if some of the positives have already been done for it by wick #1? TIA for any input.

I use Eco 8's in my JJ's also because that's what came with the starter kit. I get a nice hot throw but with specific scents, my wick flickers and mushrooms....even though I had a nice melt pool, no wax hangup and no soot. I've ordered the CD's from BCN to try them out in my 8oz JJ's. I want to try other wicks because I'm not totally convinced that the Eco 8 is what I'll use in the JJ's with every scent. HTH Editing to throw in the fact that I'm also eyeballing the Premier 700's, too.

I ordered and received their samples (they're very generous!). I haven't tested mine yet, either, but hear good things about them. It's GREAT to know there's a place I can order them in lesser quantities than 1000 per pack. Whoa...that's a lot. Thanks for the info!

:rolleyes2 Oh duh! I just now found my answer. Just wasn't looking in the right place. Here's some info for anyone else who is curious:

I ordered "Leather" FO from BCN and I'm planning on using it in a 6oz tin using EZsoy. BCN website description indicates that the flash point of Leather is 130. I heat EZsoy to 175F to add FO. Should I expect a fire???? *faint* TIA

Where? Where? Oh please share! I was looking for the same thing the other day (a place that sold them in smaller quantities). At which place did you locate them?

Thanks, Reese! And Carole Thank you! I appreciate the help.

Thanks, Braveheart I think the larger one would look best and wanted to make sure it fits. As for centering....would you recommend the Avery "White Removable/Repositionable" labels (just in case I don't get it centered right the first time)? Opinions please. TIA