Lynn-Marie

Presto pot WITHOUT a spigot:

1. My pots don't have spigots because I couldn't wait to use them when I got them home, let alone wait for someone to help me install a spigot.

2. No I would not use one w/ an electric spigot.

3. It is no hassle at all w/o a spigot and I prefer it that way. I pour from the presto to the pouring pot over a cookie sheet, so I can reuse what ever wax drips.

That last contest was great! I HAVE to join in on this one! Great idea!!!!

Where can I find good pillar leveler? My work space is not entirely level some I am looking for one that will help me get a level pillar consistantly. Any ideas where I can find one?

I think that they all look great! I would be thrilled to receive anyone of those as a gift!

HI! Now I am curious too! I have to be in on this! Please send me directions too! lynn-marie@hotmail.com

I am in the midst of testing pillars and wicking, but I am curious to hear what the experience has been for others that have tested and compared these two wicks... I am testing just a 3x3 pillar made with Peak's pillar blend and I currently have the square braid. In my opinion, it looks ok, might have have to wick down abit or switch out the wick to the flat braid. But primarily I want to know if anyone thinks that the square braid burns hotter or just any thoughts about these two wicks to see if I am heading in the right direction for wicking pillars....

....tell them that yours is better than triple scented - it holds the maximum amount of fragrance it's able to hold for the type of wax!!!

What a great line!! I'm gonna use that one!!

Ok, I'm feeling better that I am not alone here! The difficulty comes in when you are trying to explain something to someone that has no idea. Last night when I was explaining to this lady that wax can only hold a certain %, I could just see that it went way over her head.. Much work to do to set the world straight on triple scenting!!!

Time and time again I run into people that ask me, "Are your candles triple scented?" I usually will respond that I can make a candle that has three different layers with three different fragrances. The response that I got yesterday was "No, no, no. These other folks that make their own candles use triple the amount of fragrance in their candles." I have heard people talk about this before, but how do you respond? We all know that wax can only hold a certain percentage of fo before it seeps and looks nasty, or becomes a fire hazard. How do I tactfully explain that triple scenting is not possible and is a marketing ploy? Or am I wrong and it IS possible to triple scent candles?

I have considered wickless candles for candle warmers, but I keep going back to the thought that tarts can serve the same purpose. Wouldn't placing a couple of tarts in a glass or tin caontainer on a warmer produce the exact same effect as the wickless candle? And not only that I am keeping my cost down because I already offer tarts. Does anyone else market their tarts this way too?

Very cute! The red sorta looks like Santa's sleigh over the green trees. It puts me in a christmas mood!!

I absolutely love the effect that the palm wax gives. The pics of the baby gift set in the gallery are great! But I can't find a place that sells Astorlite G. Does anyone know where I can find it or can suggest a different wax that gives the same effect?

You said that you secured your wick with the high temp glue, but did you secure the TOP of the wick with a wick bar or clothespin or something along those lines? I use a wax blend that I need to use a second pour, and when I don't secure the top of my wick secure enough, sometimes it becomes pulled off to the sides. Just a thought.

Ok, now I am confused. Two people, two different calculations, two different results with the same beginning numbers... So which one is right?? 11% fo or 7.2% fo? Or is it just a matter of opinion? I measure my wax by dry weight, and fo by fluid ounces. It works for me, or am I just making it too easy? Or is everyone else making it too hard? So many different perspectives!!!

I once asked this q on the old board, and Alan responded back to me that the fo by itself has the flashpoint of 106, but when you added to the wax, it was so dilute that the flashpoint is a none issue. I can't recall the exact science of Alan's answer. If you are concerned or want a more concrete answer, I would send an email to Peak's or to your supplier. Just a thought.

I am currently running a co-op for the Clean Cut wick trimmers. Here is a link to their website. www.cleancut.com

Thanks for the input all. I think that I am going to go with numbers that I would feel comfortable paying if I was the consumer. Now if only I wasn't a cheapskate! :rolleyes2

A good friend just asked me this very question last night! My face turned red and I had to whisper it to her. She just nodded her head.. Thank god she didn't go WHAT ARE ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING?!?!?! (Cuz I have many times!)

I figured up my price per ounce and including wax, color, fo, wick and warning label, my actual cost per ounce came up to .34 per ounce. Votives are 2 oz so .68 for actual cost and then 2.04 is the retail. Seems a bit high to me, but I know that you can always lower your prices, but it will be more difficult to raise the prices later.

I know the formulas for pricing (figure out your cost per ounce and then multiply times 3 for retail) but I am wondering what do most of you charge for tarts, votives and 9oz jars?

The prices that I am coming up with are:

Tarts 1.5oz $1.25

Votives 2oz $2.50

9oz Balmoral $14.00

Do these sound reasonable or not? I have my first show coming up and I am worried that I will not have sales due to overcharging and I don't know what to short myself. Thanks...

It's not that I am not happy with what I currently have, but always looking to see if I can improve. New products are always coming out, so I suppose that I want to play around and then be 110% sure that I am offering the best product that I can. Like all chandlers, right?!?

LOL, That testing will get ya! That's why I haven't played with it yet. I am itching to, but no sense in playing until after the holidays during the down time. I am not looking forward to retesting.... Not a bit..

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my presto pots!! I toyed with the idea of the spigot for a long time, but then I just placed a cookie sheet underneath the pour pot so when I poured it caught all of the excess. Works like a dream.. So I really am able to use every bit of wax. Very little waste..

I have to agree w/ candleman. I switched from blocks or chips to liquid dyes because of the sediment that was being left at the bottom of my pour pot. I would ALWAYS end up w/ a few specks in an otherwise good-looking candle. Now when I need a ligther color than the single drop, I scrape a toothpick along the eyedropper and mix it in the wax. I also poured plain wax into the bottom of a votive cup (about 1 ounce) and then added a single drop of the liquid dye. If I need an in-betweenie color I just scrape from the colored wax chunk. Because it was originally liquid, it blends very well. HTH

Oh and my dyes are Peak...

I am looking to try peak's new pillar wax (I have in it my shop, but have been to busy preparing for a show this Friday to try it). I usually blend ez soy flakes with a straight paraffin with a mp of 135. If I use the peak's pillar blend that has the mp of 145 with the soy, how will the 20 degree difference between the pillar and soy wax affect the burn of my candle? Oh I mean this for votive/tart applications... Will I just need to wick up? I am just curious if anyone has tried this type of blend yet..