silverm00n

That's really neat Larry! I imagine that you would need to use less paint, and the colors stand out/look more realistic if you color the candle brown first. But I think you should try without the color anyway to see the comparison.

I think we would all argue about style, product type, fo's, technique... well just about everything possible! That's the beauty of us little guys, we're all different .

How pretty! I'm sorry about Albert too .

I'm sorry Mizbizzyb, I hope I didn't sound harsh because that's not the way I typed it. None of my posts were typed with any animosity! Thought a few peoples posts read as if calling me a down right liar! Maybe I should have taken pictures as the candle burned down, but I honestly didn't think of it. I didn't discontinue use because it was for my testing purposes, and frankly I didn't want to dump $20 in the toilet (thought in it's own way I did). Besides all the soot, it smelt wonderful! Anyhow, I'll just keep my commercial testing to myself, no biggie. :tiptoe:

It tickles me so that some of you think that I would purposely sabotage a candle that I paid $20 for and bought for R&D purposes. No Miss Mary and Mizzbusy, there is no draft, and if the flame looks big, well that's because it is big. I believe the term is overwicked. Well to everyone on the forum, I apologize for causing any controversy, that certainly was not my intention. My wrist has been slapped, and the lesson has been learned. Thank you .

Go for it! You won't know till you try. I have not blended my own parasoy yet, so I'm sorry that I am not much help to you. I think the best way is to conjure up your own monstrosity and see what happens. Look at the descriptions of various additives and see what would suit your needs most and dive right in! Are you using a straight paraffin and soy?

I understand where you are coming from Top, though isn't a candle just a candle, whether it be commercial or not? Sure there are tons of crappy candles on both sides of the fence, but this is a candle forum so I don't think anyone is off base by posting one or the other. The results of test burning a commercial candle may be inconclusive but it does prove that the big dogs don't know it all either. Sure a Henryk or Top style thread showing procedure and documentation is most excellent, but I think that showing the burn of a million dollar candle company can be reassuring to chandlers like us as well. When I say that "most" of us make quality candles, I chop it up for one, to being a participant of a very knowledgeable forum like this. Being on here, researching and posting, to me, is a step in wanting to better your products. If not then there sure wouldn't be a point to all of this, correct? Now I'm not saying all forums members have this goal but I would include someone such as yourself and many others who do in fact strive to and make quality candles. As is the reason to buy a commercial candle in the first place, so since I have it, why not post it?

I've only had that happen to me when I tried making them with 4045 and vybar 103. For some reason I don't think the two like each other. What wax, additive(s) and at what %'s did you use?

I'd think you wouldn't need any additives in a pre-blended parasoy as they are already in there. If making your own then yes I would try, possibly vybar 260, UA, and maybe stearic. ~HTH

I've had this happen with 444. As I didn't add anything to it, I determined it was caused by the low PT. Try upping it even to 130. The heat gun is a temporary fix IMO, because once you start burning, it may very well set up that way again. I have never used your wax either, but make one with the CO and one without, up the PT and see what happens. Make sure all your additives are incorporated really well too. ~HTH

Why shouldn't good candle makers pat themselves on the back? I think most of us test the hell out of our candles, drive ourselves nuts making sure it's the best it can be. Then you have these huge corps who say they started at home but the end product is just beautiful packaging and $hitty candles. I always keep wicks trimmed. This candle is over wicked by about 2-3 sizes for this jar. Not only that but the wick was not centered at all when I received it. I bought this candle like other candles because I wanted to burn them in comparison to mine.

Not sure if you looked here yet: http://www.jarstore.com/GlassJars.html

http://www.paddywax.com/public/pag1.aspx

I do that too when I only have one or two candles to melt down. Another idea is: if you attach your wick crooked, instead on pulling it out, you can heat gun the base a little and slide it over with a skewer. Stella what's a water table?

Is this a better pic for you?

ummm... don't you see all the soot on top????

Well I absolutely love their fragrance (peony) and the throw is super. Except...

Nice job you guys! Bruce you're disqualified for showin us up!

Ugh you guys, thank you, but don't encourage the blisters!!!

I've taken to mixing my own FO's, so I wash out the bigger bottles really well, make sure they are super dry, and add my mixed FO for storing. The littles ones I recycle.

Sorry about that Scented. Forgot to charge the batteries. Here it is, they get worse as the days pass.

Thank you all! Just wish I knew what's up w/those blisters. I poke the air bubbles with a skewer like Scented said, so I don't know why I still get them.

I've been playing with these more, so I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I'm still getting some flippin blisters though . Anyhow, this one is a floral mix that I did, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. ~TFL

Ok not exactly what I had in mind, but none the less these are testers and kind of coincide with the challenge, thought I'd throw em in! Forgive the unleveled bottom... I'm lazy!

It's just one cane you guys, lol! I made all 4 sides look different. Thank you for the kind remarks. Wick, I used some of the 5055 + tacky wax and then a hot knife to get the flowers on. What Donita said.