DanaE

Angela, they do give off less smoke, but they still mushroom. In fact, they give off little to no smoke in the candles I put them in. I used to LOVE my CD wicks, and still occasionally use them, but they would smoke if I didn't wick the candle perfectly because I max out the FO load in my candles. I don't think they mushroom as much as the original zincs, but it could be my opinion. I like them mostly because they burn a little hotter than regular zincs and there are enough sizes that I can usually find the correct one for any application. (sizes go 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29,31 plus 1 for votives and 1 for tealights) It really is a matter of opinion though, since some people hate zincs and some love them DanaE

So far only one supplier carries low smoke zincs - wholesalessuppliesplus.com. I use these wicks almost exclusively now, and I'm currently testing them in my baked goods (cinnamon buns, apple pies, pumpkins, etc.). DanaE

I take candles with me everywhere I go, including airplanes . I've taken containers, votives, pillars, etc. and always checked them in. No way I want to carry those heavy things through the airport! I just pack them securely in my luggage so they don't move about, and usually stuff towels or a pillow on top to prevent them from hitting each other. DanaE

I ended up throwing out all my plastic molds because of that problem! Now I use all silicone or metal and thank goodness the problem is gone. I love silicone molds...... DanaE

I use color chips called Cantaloupe. They are a perfect peach shade. When I don't have those I mix pink and orange and hope for the best . It's so hard to get that perfect peach shade without going over into the 'really orange' category. I'd make a small amount and pour it on a white sheet of paper to see if you have the color you're looking for... DanaE

I don't know about all colors, but blue candles will change to a funky brown shade over time, even when using UV inhibitor. I also have 2 sweet scents, Creme Brulee and Coconut Cream Pie, that'll change from a light beige to a bright yellow over time. Unfortunately UV inhibitor can't completely stop the color change forever - it only inhibits it for a period of time. (I keep all my finished candles stored in a set of shelves in a corner in the basement to keep light from hitting them). DanaE

If it's obvious to me that I've used the wrong wick (way too hot, or dying out) I have a tendency to just throw them away. If it's burning great I burn it to the end, or at least close enough that I know there won't be any changes. When I get sick of a certain scent, but need to finish burning it, I put it in the bathroom, or in the basement and let it finish. Since my workroom is in the basement I can see/watch what they're doing. I know it's hard to throw them away if they've failed, but go ahead. At least you won't have 15 containers that you know you won't burn sitting around taking up space! (some people remelt the wax and repour; I usually make batches and use 4 or 5 different sized wicks, so I throw away the ones that failed and keep burning the ones that are doing okay). DanaE

Here are a few suggestions. Spiced Cranberry Asian Plum Pomegrante Mandarin Plum Cherry Cheesecake (I know, no sweet scents! but just in case..I make this one red, orange and brown) Birds of Paradise Now's a good time to buy some of those uniquely named scents that don't imply any color (like Satin Sheets - I make it a different color everytime). DanaE

Whenever I have scents like Jamaica Me Crazy or Fruit Slices I have a ball! I think I do them different every time. The fun part of these types of scents is that you can pick several colors and make cool pillars/candles. I usually do them in shades of yellow, orange, red, blue, coral and light purple. Just whatever urge hits me Just choose a shade that you like and go for it - my last batch of Fruit Slices was three shades of fruit; yellow, orange and red. DanaE

I'll be doing: Sweet Pumpkin Pie Grandma's Kitchen Harvest Apple Jack 'N Peel Caramel Apple Blackberry Sage another apple (either Hot Baked Apple Pie or Apple Strudel) Spiced Cranberry Plus I'm adding 3-5 new scents - just haven't narrowed it to down to which ones yet! I'm looking to add a Dirt scent or a Fall Leaves scent. I smelled one at the drugstore last year that was great and I'd love to dupe it DanaE

You didn't say the type of wax you're using (some are harder to wick and of course soy requires a larger wick) but I'd definitely double wick with something like 2 HTP 73's, 2 51Z's (or 2 low smoke zinc 21s) or maybe 2 CD6's or CD7's. DanaE

For me it's the 16 oz apoth. jar with black handled lids. I also get a lot of compliments on the 8 ounce square mason jar. DanaE

Okay, I find that really weird. 4794 should NOT weep, especially at 3%! I've gone through many cases of it and it's never weeped on me. You shouldn't need any additives as it's a preblend....hmmmm. I've never had a preblend like 4794, 4625, OK6228, etc. weep, even when I overload them with FO (1-1/2ounces pp). It sounds to me like that particular batch may have something different going on with it. Definitely try putting them in a cool place to see what happens. You can add some vybar to it to try to absorb the excess FO, but I wouldn't use more than 1/4 teaspoon per lb since it already has some. If that doesn't stop the problem, I'd use that wax for some other purpose or mix it with other waxes. Hopefully the next case will be back to normal! The bad thing is that manufacturers will never admit that one batch is way different than another. Instead they leave us confused and frustrated as we try to deal with huge differences! Good luck - and mix some soy or container wax into your blend if it doesn't stop. That'll absorb any excess and allow you to add more FO. DanaE

Fern, that's one of the reasons I went with 4045H instead of 1343A. I can get the 4045 much cheaper per case, my shipping is incredibly cheap because they are 1 State away, and it does everything I need it to do (mottled, rustic, whatever). I was going broke trying to find a supplier who could ship the 1274 to me for a decent price. Now my OK6228 has gotten so expensive that I'm considering dropping it. I don't know if it's worth the high shipping and high price per case. I can get 2 cases of 4045H for the price of 1 case of OK6228 *sigh*. What I'd do to have a couple of big suppliers within driving distance! DanaE

You don't have to have the stearic to get a mottled candle with that wax, but at the same time, adding stearic won't change the mottling effect at all. I use 2-3 tablespoons of stearic acid per lb of wax. It helps a little with the seepage problem that these types of waxes tend to have. So to answer the question short and sweet? No, stearic is not necessary to make a mottled candle with 1343. DanaE

I'm the lone dissenter I guess I tried the 1343A and it is a nice wax and it's very versatile, but at the same time I couldn't get the rocking scent throw that I get from OK6228. So I use the 6228 to make smooth, creamy pillars, and I use IGI 1274 or Candlewic's 4045H to make mottled and rustic pillars (you can't get a rustic out of the 4625 or 6228). I don't get the scent throw with my mottled pillars that I do with the OK6228, but I can make such beautiful pillars with it that I've decided it's okay! lol I also use the 6228 for my whipped toppings and for bakery candles and grubbies. It has a higher meltpoint so it's easier/quicker to whip DanaE

Have you tried the low smoke zinc wicks? I switched to those and they mushroom less and don't smoke like the other zincs occasionally would. As for other wicks? I prefer not to use cotton, because they smoke like crazy in container candles. They worked great in pillars but they were a bear in containers. Their advantage is they burn hot, so if you can't find a wick hot enough in your collection, try a cotton. I used HTP for probably 2 years and they are good wicks. Again, they tend to smoke in some waxes and I had to test extensively to get the wicks perfect. I think if they had more sizes I probably would have kept using them, but for some applications one wick was too small but the next size up was too large. I tried the LX for a while, but wasn't impressed - LX wicks I thought should work in certain combinations never worked and I often had to wick WAY up to get them to burn the wax completely. I currently have probably 500 LX wicks in all sizes that I never use. They were just.....puny....to me. LOL! My 2 favorite wicks would be the low smoke zinc and CD wicks. With those 2 types of wicks I can wick everything I make. I make bakery candles, pillars, votives, containers, etc. and never fail to find the proper wick size. CDs burn hot, which is an advantage to me, but they also have so many sizes that you're sure to find the one you need. Just my .02 - we all love different wicks for different reasons DanaE