StickyWick

I am using straight store bought parrafin. I am coloring with wax dye. No other additives or anything. I use a waterbath and the refrigerator to get it out of the mold. No polishing, no sprays. Just straight out of the mold, well, expect for a little trimming around the seam line. Still working on that part.

This is my first ball, and only my fourth pour ever. I told my wife that it was too late...I'm hooked on candle making. So, whatcha think?

Ok, that I can't answer. I think it's air bubbles, but I'm not sure what mottling is.

I am not using any mold release. I wash the mold and dry it completely before I start the prep and melting.

Oddly enough, through no planning of my own (LOL), that is what happened. I didn't have the water bath ready when I poured it, so it was 5 minutes before I got it in the water.

An excellent suggestion, and I do it. In fact, I also look into the mold with a flashlight and I see no bubbles at all while the wax is still a liquid.

I am not using a seamless mold, so there is a solder line right where the bubbles are. I wonder if that could have something to do with it?

I posted this in a General Discussion thread that I started, but wanted to get a lot of input on this. As you can see I still have some bubbles just at the top corner there. Not sure about those. I am using general paraffin, no additives, wax dye color. I heated the was to 195 in the pouring pot and went straight to the mold. I also poked air holes during the setting time, and used the water bath method of cooling. I think that will answer everyones questions. If not, ask away. Oh, the candle size is 4.5" X 2.75".

The forum would not let me do the attachement. Guess you have to bribe someone. LOL. Anyway, here is my third ever pour!

Yes, it is straight paraffin. It's odd that you mention cooling too fast. I put the basic book that I had bought (and stomped on it repeatedly) and looked at the Basic Instructions here on CandleTech. There were three things that I picked up from those instructions. 1. I was using a normal double boiler to melt the wax, then transfering that to a pouring pot, and then pouring that into the mold. They say to use a cookie cutter in the bottom of the boiler pot and to put the pouring pot in the boiler pot, on the cookie cutter. I did that last night. 2. As Rob had mentioned, the relief holes. The book said nothing about that. So, after the wax started to setup, I made four holes in the candle. 3. I also had seen in the General Information area a process called the water bath. I also did that as well. So, I made a candle last night, a nice deep blue, and added all three of the above to my candle making process. The candle turned out AWESOME!!! I am soo happy with its looks. I will try to post a picture of it later today. The only air bubbles I have are at the very top of the candle and those are right on the corner going from the flat top surface to the sides. I figure I can knock those off with a little chamfering of that corner.

Hello Scented. I am not using any additives, other than color. I am using a wax color dye. I do tap the mold and check it with a flashlight to make sure that I don't have any air bubbles at that time. It always happens during the setting timeframe.

Thanks, AlohaGirl

Rob, thanks for all the great advice. One more question if I might. Is the temperature range that I am use (190-200) ok? Should it be lower or higher?

Ok. Now I understand. I am using a flat bottom mold not a concave bottom mold. *Makes note to find a concave bottom mold* Does the mold also do the chamfered edge or do you do that after it is released from the mold?

I am slightly confused. You mean when I take the candle out of the mold, the bottom is the top?

Relief holes? No poking going on here. How would I do this?

Yep, I'm a newbie, but I do learn fast I am working with straight parafin wax and a seamed metal pillar container. My problem is air bubbles, or what seems like air bubbles. At least that is what it looks like. My first pour was interesting, but not entirely bad. I got the wax up to 180, per the basic book's instructions. Lots of bubbles, espaecially at the base of the candle. They were on the outside of the candle. Now, on this one I did use a mold release of a cooking spray, again per the book's instructions. My second candle enjoyed a VERY clean container and no mold release. I brought the wax up to 195 and did what I would think would be a slow pour. The results were greatly improved, but again I still have air bubbles. The biggest concern I have is the bubbles that are deep in the candle and look like clouds in the wax. I can include a picture is that will make it easier for someone to direct me in the right direction. Thanks!