logcabinmomma

I can get by with a CD 5 with 464, so I would start with a CD 8 with C-3 and go from there...

-Kristi

In addition, I'll tell you that there is a quick link search feature available at the end of posts and if you scroll down you can see them and that may broaden any of your searches or help you find additional answers.

I do wish that the new forum had the same searching abilities as the old one... it's unfortunate that it isn't quite as easy to search now... the other unfortunate thing is that in order to see the listing at the bottom, one has to post first... sad, but true . If you keep at it and sift through the posts that weren't what you were looking for, you should be able to eventually find what you want!

-Kristi

ETA- I challenge some of you "oldies but goodies" to try to search for some of this stuff the way you're recommending... I just tried and was surprised at the results. I searched using google's site search (indexes the entire page without highlighting the results- great fun and liable to make you blind and no real answers show anyway). Then I tried the good old fashioned "search" button- tried "rectangle jars" and sure enough, only the words seperately showed. Rectangle soap molds and hex jars aplenty, but no rectangular jars. Tried "rectangle+jars" and got the same results. So just a word of warning before you jump on someone for not searching- beware of the poorly functioning search function!!!

I've been around the block for a while now, and things are very hard for *me* to find now...

Candles are meant to be stored at room temperature. Extreme temperature changes can destroy a candle. Next time, bring them inside with you! You wouldn't want to stay out there, would you? Don't make the candles either!

-Kristi

When all else fails, chock it up to the wax gremlins... kinda like soaping faeries, but different!!! Sad, but true!!!

-Kristi

Very interesting... yes, soy requires a bigger wick than paraffin, but that's funny. It also depends how cold/hot your room is you're burning in...

-Kristi

I never could get a single wick to work in a 4" apothecary with 464 so I've been double wicking all this time.

Hmmmm, interesting development....

Well, if a person doesn't really trim the wick to 1/4 in EVERY burn, you WILL get sooting. So perfect use has great results, but typical use may not. Of course, even double wicked, that jar will soot unless the wicks are trimmed.

-Kristi

I use 464 and NEVER get hangup on the jar walls. I use cd wicks.

How odd... even when I have an overwicked container I end up with light, super thin wax residue on the jar. Not necessarily hangup, more of a residue that light shines through. Not ever on tins, just on glass (or maybe I can only see in with glass?).

-Kristi

Well, chocolate is a lot like wax, actually.

Don't I know it! No wonder candles and chocolate go so well together...

-Kristi

I am NOT a GF 444 or 464 user, so you can ignore this post. But what I am seeing is CHANGES in the crystal structure of the candles over time that is quite similar to frosting, cauliflowering, etc. - all due to changes in the crystal structure. The candle isn't "drying out" - the structure of the newly forming crystals is not as orderly as the rest - they lump, crack and don't "stick" together well because they are not as well bonded to one another. The texture becomes more grainy and crumbly. The aforementioned waxes are not the only ones which suffer from this phenomenon.

What I'm fascinated with is the LACK of graniness in the crystal structure of the clamshell melts... looks pretty good to me! And I had the dreaded cauliflower late last year with a C-3 candle- it was impressive! This is more of a crumbliness than anything else (at least mine). It's not noticeable when being used normally (only affects the appearance). Very much like chocolate over time.

-Kristi

Again, the Apoth was 4 inches, not 5! Duh... next time I will LOOK where I START on the tape measure!

-Kristi

I think flickers and just scent carry that scent as well

Thanks! I found Just Scent's right away... Flicker's is called "Patchouli Raspberry" so that one threw me a bit!

-Kristi

Kristi:

What is the diameter of the jar?

I just measured- 4 inches exactly... (I just edited this- I had written 5 inches not remembering that I started at 1 inch on the tape measure! Blonde moment, I'm sure).

Have alot of HTP wicks...any thoughts on how they will perform in this wax?

I can't remember... I HAVE used them briefly when I switched to this wax, but I started with CDs and never looked back. I couldn't take the extreme curl of the HTPs... I do use htp 52s and 41s in votive sized cups still though and they work fine. I just prefer the burn of CDs... you'll have to play around with them and see what you think!

-Kristi

RE carries raspberry patchouli

Do you have a link for this? I looked for it and it wasn't in the R's with the other raspberries...

Thanks!

-Kristi

Yeah - the clamshells hold up VERY well, and they're SOOOOOO much easier to pour. I will never go back to molded tarts. Even though you can make some really cute ones, like your hearts.

Also - I just edited a previous post, but you probably didn't get to read that part - your counter tops are beautiful! LOL. Are they slate?

We're crossposting back and forth... nope- cheap Formica! But they *do* look nice anyway!

I would much prefer clamshells if people around here would ever get into melts vs candles, but so far no. I rarely am even asked about melts. Not worth buying the clamshell molds... I save my "pretty" melts for repours or firestarter wax... someday my area will catch up- probably in another year or two....

-Kristi

P.S...logcabinmamma - Your countertops are beautiful!!!!

LOL... they're formica... they were here when me moved in. Funny thing is they're the exact ones that we picked when we built a house 4 years earlier!

-Kristi

Yes, my graininess is most likely cause by poor storage conditions! I really don't sell melts, so this is just the extra wax I have hanging around (why, I don't know lol). If I was planning to EVER sell these, I'd use clamshells instead. I'm impressed by how nice they still look!

-Kristi

OK, you asked for it!

I retested with a heavy FO and TONS of liquid dye (see this thread- http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64676&highlight=464+apothecary). Finally got about to the bottom. The first couple burns didn't go to the edge (normal), but about 4 burns in or so it was burning to the edges. This was an average of a 5 hour burn per session, so a couple were shorter and a few were longer... using 464, famous for never cleaning the sides and leaving a hangup coat on the glass (normal for any size container and even happens on overwicked glass). Notice the light sooting just beginning around the top of the glass. This container hasn't been cleaned and I'm actually happy with the amount of soot for this particular container... also notice the frosting at the bottom of the container... that's better than I thought it would be too. This was a heavily dyed candle that lived in a chilly place...

Notice the mushrooming... this was, again, heavily dyed, a heavy FO and a 5-6 hour burn...

And a slightly different, closer pic of the hangup and mushroom... (which was more of a frayed wick look vs heavy mushrooms).

Tada!

-Kristi

OK, here are some pics- the first are the melts (which have been abused in a freezer bag for a year). They have scratches and dents and have faded in color from their original (despite being in a dark cupboard all year).

The second pic is after I cut into a couple. The texture is different on the inside after time- grainier for sure, a little crumbly even. But equally faded in color to the outside...

I've never cut up a melt before (these are from the Target silicone ice cube trays, so they're mini sized). I don't have any candles leftover to compare at this point, but from the outside they all DID look just like when I'd poured them (I sold them all discounted at Christmastime). This is straight 464 (hence the scratches and dents- soft wax).

-Kristi

I use 464 and have some tarts leftover from last Valentine's Day... I haven't checked them out in a while, but I can go look... They HAVE been sealed in freezer bags though if it makes a difference?

-Kristi

I've used Carribean Fruit (customer request) and it smelled GREAT. I tried Black Currant Vanilla (BBW type) and it seemed too perfumey to me, but I don't like that scent anyway, so hard to tell how good it was!!!

-Kristi

Ok... so you just pour a very thin layer, just enough to make it barely touch the edges on the container and no more....

YES!!! You're only pouring to get a smooth top. Your first pour should be all the way to however high you're wanting the candle to reach. The second is purely for looks. Try it, it's the only thing that worked for me with C-3. The ones that weren't too bad I did the warm finger rubbed over the crack. Then I started saving back a little wax just in case. Works like a charm. Of course, then I switched to 464 and haven't looked back!!!

-Kristi

I've been burned before adding fragrances that someone had said "oh, you HAVE to have this, everyone will LOVE it" :rolleyes2 so now I only stock what I KNOW is an awesome seller or that I absolutely love and wouldn't mind keeping all of it. This said, for candles, I love:

Cranberry Marmalade (CS) - although Blackberry Marmalade is a great one too, just not OOB... it stinks til it's in something...

Wildberry Zinger Tea (BCN)- I love this one. I have Wildberry Mousse since I was trying to narrow down on suppliers, but I really prefer the tea scent.

Amish Harvest (TCS)- Yum. It's like cinnamon bread pudding out of the oven. Gooey and yummy.

This Old House (TCS)- OK, I can't eat this one, but it's so layered and interesting and has a cold throw to die for. Very good.

Pumpkin Souffle (CS)- I have tried lots of pumpkins, and I really like the richness and creaminess of this one. Not super spicey or cinnamony, just pumpkin and butter and cream and sugar.

OK. That's my top 5. I have more I love, but if I could only have 5 these would be mine. Of course, candles have seasons and I sell the most during fall until Christmas, so I'm sticking with these above. I love Spicy Apples and Peaches from TCS for something spiced. I also love Mistletoe for a green Christmasy scent. I've GOT to smell Raspberry Patchouli as I LOVE earthy berry combos...

-Kristi

Yes, only repour the sunken area (or cracked area). This is barely any wax at all. What I do is save some wax from my first pour (if you're only doing a couple candles at a time, pour into the silicone ice cube molds from Target- they're perfect). Then when I want to top off the candle tops, I pop whatever amount I'll need out of the mold and into the pour pot to melt on a double boiler. Drizzle that out all over the top, just barely covering it. Two things happen at this point- that wax is EXACTLY the same color/ etc as the original pour AND it's been "tempered" by hardening and remelting and is less likely to have any frosting on it, making the tops a perfect color. Since you're only putting JUST enough to cover the original pour, there should be no "lines" and it will cover the cracks and sunken spots without needing any additional babying...

-Kristi

I'm so glad I read your post. I'm going to be testing 464 with CD wicks and have been eyeballin CS very vanilla since it came out. How well do you like 464? I've been working with 415 and it's been a total PITA to wick...grrr...hopefully I'll have better luck with CD's in the 464.

I have used CS's Very Vanilla in 464 with CD wicks... it's been the best straight vanilla I've tried throw wise. It's NOT an vanilla extract scent (which I think I like better), but is almost like a vanilla frosting scent. It's definitely sweet. I have a vanilla freak friend who is head over heels for that one.

-Kristi

I use GB 464. I started soy with C-3 and couldn't take the cracking. Heat gunning made the frosting terrible and so I tried 464. I've gone through many cases, and so far the wicking has always been easy and consistant.

-Kristi