shine

I'd like to add an unique touch to my natural colored container candles by adding cosmetic grade glitter to the tops. Does anyone do this? If so how much do you use? Does it affect your burn? Can it clogged your wick? Any input is greatly appreciated . Shine

When I first started pouring candles about 6 months ago with a presto pot I got nice smooth tops but did have quite a few wet spots. When the presto heated up and the wax melted it would get to about 190 degrees max. I would add FO any where between 160 and 175 degrees and pour any where between 110 and 130 degrees. Then I got my turkey fryer. Even when I have it set at the lowest setting of 150 degrees, when the fryer is heating up the wax can reach over 200 degrees. And since I've been using the fryer I've struggled with ugly, lumpy, crator tops. Has anyone else experienced this? If so any solutions? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. BTW I'm using GW444. Thanks, Shine

What company do you buy the most of your FO's for soy from. I've ordered from AH, BCN, Candle Science, JBN, Pourette, ST and the Candle Source. After invatory, I noticed that AH and BCN are my top 2 companies. Just curious about what everyone else likes:smiley2: . Shine

One of my first FO orders was from Pourette. Since then I have tried several other companies but Pourette's Baby Powder FO is the best I have found. I tried their french vanilla and got no hot or cold throw and tried their columbian roast and thought it smelled awful. My question is does anyone else use any of Pourettes FO's in soy? If so, what FO's have worked for you? I want to order more baby powder from them but I'd like to purchase more than one FO with my order. Any suggustions would be greatly appreciated . Shine

I've been testing almost nonstop for 3 months and have spent oodles on all different types and sizes of wicks. The only wick that seems to work in the wax I'm using are RRD's but they mushroom awful. Wicksunlimited asks for 3 of your scents a hard to wick FO, a normal FO and an easy to wick FO. They have access to almost every wick and size. I see their testing as a good starting point and a way to save some money on purchasing wicks that just won't work in my wax. I will always have to be testing with each new FO and each new shipment of wax. Thanks for your opinion and concern, Shine

Update: I called Wicks Unlimited again today. They assured me their testing is free. If you do decide to order from them there is a 10,000 wick minimum. I asked for a general price for 10,000 wicks and for a 6 inch RRD with a shot neck 15mm base it would be approximately 28.70/10,000. HTH. Shine

Chris, Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to call before I mail my candles. I wouldn't mind buying from them but I'm not sure about 10,000:shocked2: . There's always a catch:sad2: . I'll keep you all updated. Shine

www.wicksunlimited.com will test your candles and suggest the proper wick for your candle at no cost. Then they will send you samples of the wicks that they found in your candle at no cost. Sounds too good to be true. They ask for 3 candles of each scent you want tested. I called them last week and am getting ready to ship them a few candles. We'll see how it works out. Shine

This is the most positive and constructive thread I've read. Sometimes I'm afraid of posting for fear of being judged. It feels like a tide is turning:yay: . Shine

I was wondering if anyone has ever used seedling heat mats (used to propagate plants) to help cool their candles slowly? The product info states it warms the rooting area 10-20F above ambient room temp. They look like heating pads. I'm looking for better ways to cool my candles. My DH gets a little annoyed as I keep increasing our house themostat :undecided .

I haven't "officaially" sold any candles yet but... just before Christmas a friend of mine that encouraged me to get started making candles invited me to put some candles in her home craft show for friends and family. I sold the 2oz jar for 3.00 and the 8oz for $7.00 (I hadn't tested enough wicks in the 12 oz to sell then). I know I under priced them but it was for friends and family. I'd like to sell the 2oz for 3.00, 8oz for 10.00 and the 12oz for 14.00. I won't make much on the 2oz but thought it would be an economic way for people to try my candles. People loved them for teacher's gifts and stocking stuffers. I took in $200. That was great to me but it didn't make much of a dent in my start up costs. I'm still testing and tweeking. I hope to be up and running this fall.

Susan, The cost of Jars including shipping: 2oz metro= 1.68, 8oz metro= 2.08, 12oz metro= 2.58. The Jar Store has really good turn around time for me. I usually recieve my order in 3 days. Shine

I love the look of the Metro jars I'm using from the Jar Store. I've been testing the 2oz, 8oz and 12 oz sizes since October and am close to wicking these jars correctly. My husband, the business man finally forced me to determine my cost for each candle. I was shocked at how much the jar cost was in relation to the other products. I really want to keep the Metro jar look but the only way I can do that is to try to reduce shipping. Has anyone ordered pallets from the Jar store? Does it significantly reduce your cost? If I can't reduce shipping I'm reluctantantly thinking about changing the jar I'm using:undecided . I really don't want to go through all that wick testing from scratch again. I'm very close now to getting the right wicks and sizes plus I really like the Metro's appearence. If I have to change jars, I looking into WSP they are located very close to my parents in Ohio. I could buy direct from them when I visit. There's nothing close that I could find in northern IL. Any help in ways to reduce costs for Metro jars would be gREATly appreciated:yay: .

Did a little research on the web. The last bit of info I came across was from the National Candle Association, "When a candle burns, the wax is drawn into the wick, where it is 'consumed' by the candle flame to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide. The only difference with a scented candle is that a small amount of fragrance is released as well." From their statement the only products that are released into the air are water and CO2 which are not toxic or harmful to your health. Here are some benefits of eating soy: It is a healthier alternative to meat, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, helps reduce the risk of heart disease and may help decrease the risk of breast, prostate, colon and lung cancers. "Over 90% of soy consumption is likely to be a health benefit to Americans," says William Helferich, PhD., Associate professor of nutrition in The University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. The controversy of soy's benefits verses risks lie here:Soy contains several photochemicals called isofavones, plant estrogens or phytoestrogens which act like weak forms of estrogen. These weak forms of estrogen may block cells from using other forms of estrogen which could result in a DECREASE of cancer growth (For certain breast cancer that are fueled by estrogen).Other researchers suggest this estragenic activity could cause these estrogen fueled cancers to grow faster. This is the controversy that links the consumption of soy to cancer. For the breast cancer survivor, current research suggests neither specific benefits or harmful effects when soy is consumed in moderate amounts (3 servings per day). But higher doses of soy may have estrogen like effects, and higher levels of estrogen clearly increase the risk for progression of some breast cancers. For breast cancer survivors it is recommended that they avoid high doses of soy that are found in concentrated forms such as soy powder and isoflavone supplements. My motto is "everything in moderation." It is still IMO that burning soy candles is safe and eating whole soy products in moderate amounts is safe and beneficial to your health. Sorry for being so long winded. HTH. I haven't worked clinically as a nurse since I had my 3 year old. I guess I kind of miss it but staying at home making candles proves to be a lot of fun:yay:(Research from NCA, www.cancer.org, American Cancer Society)

I am a RN. I have NOT researched this topic yet reguarding soy and candles. But what I know about soy is that for estrogen related cancers, consuming soy may increase your risk for cancer (especially if you have a strong family history for breast CA) but conversley there are many positive heath benefits from soy too. If you go to a health food store there are many products that contain soy and for infants with milk allegies soy based formulas are often recommended. IMO I don't think there is a concern for soy candles causing or increasing a person's risk for cancer. If I find any good research on this topic I'll pass it on. BTW my best friend died of breast CA last November. Cancer sucks Shine

Thanks geek:) I'll give your method a try. Shine

I just bought my first heat gun yesturday. Tried it on a few candles wasn't that impressed with the results:cry2: . I've heard how everyone loves them. What am I doing wrong? I had a few tiny air bubbles after zapping. Tried zapping farther away, still tiny air bubbles escaping. What do you mean by poke and zap? Am I missing something? Thanks for all your help, Shine

When I first started pouring GB 444 I poured at the recommended pour temps of 130 -145F. At those temps I got tons of wet spots and cracking so I started pouring at the slushy stage 110-118F. At those temps I had smooth tops, no cracks and little to no wet spots but pouring slushy was very time consuming. After reading posts from Geek and Jason I decided to try again pouring at the recommended temp of 130F, increasing my house temp to 73-75F and placing my candles underneath the under cabinet lights (80F) to cool. With those variables I had no wet spots, no cracking but with most of the FO's I used the tops were very rough. I have two questions:#1) Is pouring at the recommended temps important for appearance, performance or both? #2) Is really a request for advice recommendations,suggestions for getting a great looking candle using GB444.(BTW I am not adding color yet). Thanks!

I've tried several different baby powder scents and the truest I've found was from Pourette. I just love the scent!

I couldn't believe how much pour pots cost. I bought 3 at Michaels for $15 each. I could have gotten some cheaper online but once shipping was figured in I just decided to buy from Michaels. Then I went to Old Time Pottery and found 2 liter glass pitchers for $1.99 each. I bought a case of 6. They weigh almost 2 pounds each which is too heavy for my 3 pound scale so I pour and weigh my melted wax in the alluminum pitcher first then pour into the glass pitchers. I poured 6 different FO's today without having to clean the pitcher after each FO. Saved oodles of time:yay: . Any other creative ideas for pour pots?

I don't know what kind of wax you're using but in IL, Gateway carries Golden Brand waxes. It's a food company so they only carry the wax. They don't have a web site. I contact them by phone 877-220 1963. They have the best prices on wax and shipping that I have found in my area. I'm located in Northern IL. I have experienced good costumer service with them too.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice. It's great to have this forum. I'm pretty computer illiterate (I don't understand binary:confused: ). As soon as I can figure out how to post a pic, I will. I'd love opinions. Right now I'm not adding dye to my candles but eventually I'd like to have a colored line and natural color line. I am taking a day off (to take down Christmas decorations). Thanks again. Shine

You can try using a heat gun up and down on the outside of the jar but if they get cold again the wet spots will reappear. About shipping I don't know. Congrats on your great candles!

What is the average time before a juried show that applications are required to be turned in? Thanks, Shine

Hi experinced chadlers. I really could use your expertise. I started pouring/testing candles this past October with the thought of making candles as a hobby and if I could produce a quality product possibly selling candles. I started with a starter kit from Just By Nature and Jars from The Jar Store. Since then I have found a local supplier for my wax (thanks from info on this forum), ordered almost every different type of wick (almost went crazy trying to find a wick that would work in my unscented wax),spent oodles on FO's, upgraded from my Presto to a turkey fryer, enlisted 3 friends as candle testers and have registered my business name. I'm addicted now and would really like to be able to sell my candles so I can buy and make more. When the addiction took hold, I had the dream of being able to do a show this spring but now I don't even know if I'll be ready to do a show by fall 2007. I'm still working on a safe quality product. That's a task in it's self but that's the fun part:yay: . The part that is overwhelming is the business side (Insurance, taxes, legal issues, juried show requirements, etc.). I could use some encouragement:highfive: , bits of wisdom and advise. I really, really want to be ready to do a show this fall. Shine