sugarysweet95

Well melted wax weighs the same as it does in slab form, it just takes up a different amount of space. So you can melt loads of wax, and just weigh what you actually use specifically for each candle/scent. If you use the same container to measure in, just zero your scales before you start with that container on it. You can always add more /less wax to get the weight you want.

I've recently started making votives and i think they're very cool. They look very cute and are great for testing out colours and scents (so i can get an idea on if i actually like the scent/colour before i start testing!) Anyway i got the clear votive moulds from candle wic which are a bit bigger than ordinary votives and am having a hard time trying to find some wicks for them. There seems to be loads of different types of votive wicks and no explanation of how their different, apart from whether they're zinc/cotton cored etc. Anyway I was wandering if people could help me with three things, so i don't waste my money buying lots of unsuitable things. 1. Does anyone else use the clear candlewic votive moulds and if so, what wick do you use? 2. What type of core do people find better for votives? 3. Does anyone know what all the numbers mean after the votive wick, like 34-40 or 36-24-24? Thanks in advance Oh and i'm just using straight paraffin, no additives

Well to continue my point on the wax issue. Ok, there is always some error when it comes to making them and yes water can get in the wax from a double boiler, but if i bought a case of wax that ad water in/a big hollow in i'd be pretty darn cross!!! It costs enough, if the place u bought it from don't make sure they have a good supplier for their wax, are they really a good place to use? Ok, every now and then the supplier can make a mistake, but i hate the idea of only giving back store credit! You paid for it with cash! You should get cash back!!! (If its an expensive item, like i'm guessing a case of wax is). After all, your forced to buy more from the place!!!! Imagine you'd just bought a lovely candle and found it had lots of hollows / water in. Do you think you'd go back and buy more candles from this person? No!!!! Hence why candle makers test sooo much, but if the suppliers mess you around, well then why should we use them! I'm not saying anything againts natures garden as such, i've never used them, but if your not happy with how you've been treated somewhere, why should you keep using them? I'm stopping using a UK company because i was really annoyed at their customer service, even though i liked their wax. The reason - well the principle of it and secondly, how do you know you're not gonna get shoddy service again So to the poor person who's been slated on here for saying they weren't happy with the wax and customer service they received, well fair enough! We all have a right to rant (Which yes i am doing) and so why do ppl criticise other ppl so! I think you only need mention the fact that your a newbie and some ppl's eyes start rolling and they get patronising and condescending! Anyway my rant is over, hopefully you'll see my points and not just rant back!!!

Yeah i think i must, but then I have tried (even in my early days) to go with good sellers and i tend to buy a lot at once!!! Anyway guess that means that its mostly from the same ppl, so maybe thats why there's not as much variation. And believe me, I am a perfectionist!!!! As for the water in the wax issue, surely its Narture's Garden's responsibility to make sure they sell wax that doesn't contain water? That they be more careful and check, after all if you sold accidentally sold a candle with water in you would be to blame! I just think if that is the problem, they were being sloppy with their storage/suppliers whatever!

I made the same mistake when i start candle making. All the shaped moulds/ colours and fragrances all looked so cool, i bought loads. Tried out lots of different things straight away and some worked and some didnt. Luckily i'm blessed with a good memory and so can remember the way i did the ones which didn't go so well! Anyway i decided to start testing way before i found out about this board and decided to choose a few of my moulds and only a few colours and fragrances. I used the LX Wicks because they looked good and now know lots of ppl use them which is great. I liked them too because they have good guidelines on the type of candle they are for. So i tried the LX Wick for that diameter plus one up and one down from it and got some good results. When i'd decided on the wick, i then tried several different dyes then fragrances to see what affect they had too. Then you just keep trying a new thing, get it right and then try something else! (Though to be honest, I wouldn't be soo afraid of this testing malarky! I find if i stick to the same wax and wick, the fragrance/dye and additives don't really change how well it burns much at all!!!!)

Hi, was just wandering what everyones favourite type of dye is? I've used dye sticks/blocks/chips/liquid dyes and recently powder and so far i like the dye sticks and chips the best. However still beginning on this whole candlemaking business so am maybe going to focus on one or two types so was wandering what everyon else prefers and their merits and downsides! I make mainly pillar candles, in layers or chunk forms and just use straight paraffin!

I started candle making and that led me into making soaps too. I like making both, but personally prefer making candles, as i find i can play about with colour and effects more with candles! Oh and i like to watch them burn too!!!!!! Also theres loads more involved in selling bath products, in the UK anyway, not sure about the US. You have to have all the ingredients properly externally tested and have a special license. This is far too much trouble with me, so i just make nice pretty soaps for friends and family. My mum likes it cause she gets soaps and candles for free, but then i do take up all her kitchen whenever i make them!!!!!!!! On a side note i also love making bead jewellery, so i guess i just like making things (I cant draw to save my life so it must be my creative outlet!!! LOL!)

Oooh, that sounds exciting. Let me know if it works, then i can have fun tryin to track down glitter spray!!!!!

Oh, what pigments were you using? I've tried using the reddi glo ones and the candle seems to burn fine, but then i didn want quite pale colours so didn't put too much dye in. Maybe thats why.

Thanks for all your help. I'll track down my dads heat gun and have a go!

In terms of the it's better if it's more expensive, I've had mixed results. I bought some cheap FOs of ebay when i was only really beginning (don't do any more!!!!). Anyway within this same set, there were some ones which were better than more expensive ones i've bought since and some which were worse! I suppose i'd say, if it's a lot cheaper, what's the harm in tryin a bit! If you don't like it, you've not wasted much money (if you only buy enough to test). If you do like it and it compares well to more expensive makes, then you can carry on buying it!!!!! (I've also found that my best paraffin wax is really cheap from a random craft shop I found on the net!!!!) In terms of startin out as newbie, I'd go with paraffin. I'm quite a newbie myself and have only ever used paraffin. There seems to be loads more info on paraffin and it's easier (in the UK at least) to buy paraffin wax, FOs, dyes and wicks that are all designed for paraffin.

I found candle chem on ebay, but the first quote they gave me for postage was way to high! So i've decreased the items i want and asked for another one! I hate having to keep asking people how much postage to the UK is and then having to ask again whenever i make any changes! Shame theres no easier way to find out! Every time i get a quote, even for the same items, it's always different with different people. I'm use to standard postage rates via royal mail in the UK!!!! Also got to be careful of import duty, sometimes they charge you, sometimes they don't (I think i'll avoid any parcels that go through UPS!!!!) Anyway i've got some things from the candlewic website, i found them brilliant! Shame they don't do the dye chips! Oh well! - Can't find them on ebay though, maybe they don't select worldwide postage and so it doesn't appear on ebay.co.uk. Thanks for the help

Hi Thanks for the help I did try pourette but you have to place your order by phone and i hate to think how much it would cost me to call the US!!! They also charge you extra for international orders!!! No Fair!!! Think i'll just go with ebay!!!!! Thanks

Hi I really like use the reddi glo dye chips, especially the flourescent/pigment ones. However i can't get them very cheaply over here (I live in the uk). I've searched for suppliers on the forum and tried a few of the bigger names. Peak do them, but they haven't bothered to reply to give me a quote and bittercreek and rustic essentials have ridiculous postage to the UK So does anyone know where i can get these reddi glo flourescent/pigment chips from, with colours such as shocking yellow and baby blue, which also ships to the UK at a reasonable cost? Thanks in advance

I've never gotten very big air bubbles, just little ones really. Even when i am careful, pour the wax at the right temp (about 80 c w straight paraffin) am very careful when i pour it and tap the sides of the mould after pouring and poke, i still get air bubbles! Oh well, they do always burn fine!

Thanks for the suggestions. What is modge podge? I've never heard of it before and where can i get it from in the UK. I was thinking if i had glitter on the outside it would be more like shell which didnt burn, and the light of the candle would shine through and make it all shiny! I did try the dipping candle and rolling it in glitter and it was just too messy! Thanks again for the help :smiley2:

Had a look at the old threads, but only one method seemed to be suitable for my pillars, that was sprinkling on some glitter and getting your heat gun to melt the wax and absorb the glitter. Has anyone tried this? How glittery are the candles after? I want really glittery candles and i'm still tryin to convince my dad to lend me his heat gun, so does anyone know any other ways? Thanks :smiley2:

Hello Does anyone know how you can put glitter in candles? I've tried several ways already. When i added glitter to the wax itself, it either all sank to the bottom, or when it did stay suspended in the wax (when i used finer candle glitter) it clogged the wick and the candle didn't burn as well. I also tried adding glitter to wax as an overdip, but the glitter all clumped together and went on the candle in a very messy clumpy way. When i tried just dipping the candle in wax and then rolling it in glitter, it didn't go on very evenly and looked a bit messy! I tried the overdipping at lots of temperatures and just used ordinary paraffin wax mixed with the glitter. Am I doing summit wrong? Or is there any other ways of having glittery candles? Thanks

Ok, i know they're best to be avoided, but what is the real harm of air bubbles in candles? I'm still a kinda newbie and to be honest i've not tried very hard to get rid of air bubbles in my candles (pillars using standard paraffin). I know air bubbles on the egde of the candle can make it not look as nice, but whenever i've come to burn them, even with quite air pockets, they've always burned fine. The air bubbles just float to the top of the melt pool and make it look kinda pretty. Anyway am i missing summit hear? Are air bubbles really that bad for your candles? Thanks

Hi I've never tried it, but got a list of instructions in a candle making book for making your own latex rubber moulds. Basically what you do is get a model u want a mould of (so you could make your own in clay, or use summit with a nice shape, say a nice rock or pear!) and paint latex over it. You'll need 8 - 10 layers (allowing each to dry) to make it thick and will need to smooth out any air bubbles that may form between each layer. Then leave it to dry fully overnight and then you can take it off the shape and hey presto! A rubber mould! Anyway found a very in depth instruction thing. Not read it, but might be useful: http://www.craftwiseuk.com/acatalog/latex.pdf And in the uk you can get some latex from http://www.craftwiseuk.com/acatalog/casting.html Hope that helps :smiley2:

Hi Thanks for the help, i'll try different amounts of both stearin and vybar. I don't mind the extra opacity as its for chunks, i use straight paraffin, no additives for the overpour. Thanks

Hi everyone I use microcrystalline hard in my chunks for pillars as it helps the chunk colour to not bleed as much. I read on this board that both stearine and vybar help increase the fragrance capacity of the wax. I was therefore wandering if i can mix stearine or vybar with microcrystalline hard in straight paraffin wax. I don't mind testing it out, but thought i better check with all u experts before i possibly waste a load of supplies! Also would i melt both the stearine or vybar with the microcrystaline hard and dye, before i add the paraffin wax? Thanks

I tried my hair dryer and it didn't work at all! I think the wax may have been too hard, for it just melted the wax at the side and it all ran down the candle inside the mould (it was a pillar mould) and looked awful! Nor tried it again! Anyway does anyone know where i can get a heat gun from in the UK? Never seen one anywhere! Thanks

This happened to me a few times, when i was too impatient to wait ovenight for the wax to set properly! I found a stick metal stick (i used a wicking needle, but a thin knitting needle or a metal skewer might work, don't want it too big). I heated it very carefully over a flame and pushed it thru the hole the wick had left. The heat from the metal helps melt the wax, and if you twiddle it around the hole a bit, you'll make it bigger. I found i needed to repeat this lots of times! I then primed the wick to go in, it has to be really hard and straight though. When the hole i'd made was just big enough, i fed the wick through. I then filled up the hole with a bit of melted wax (top and bottom), though this sadly doesn't seal all the way through, just enough to hold the wick in place and as you burn it, the new melted wax should fill in the hole as it goes along. Probably not suitable for selling or testing, but a nice candle to light and enjoy yourself!

Yeah, i like sensory perfection. She's the only person i've found who sells aniseed and liquorice FO, two scents which i adore! I've been comparing loads of prices but at the mo i don't make enough candles to get through 200ml, let alone 50! I've emailed candlescience for a quote for some FO, so fingers crossed the postage isn't too much! Sensory perfections does have a great range though, too many to chose from!