kandlekrazy

And just about the time I think I might be actually making some of my investment back...I order more fo's, wicks, etc!! I think I need to go back to work, to support my candle business. I love it and won't give it up!!

I did double wick it, haven't done a 3rd burn yet...2nd started to get weak toward the 4 hour mark. I can't get any wick, except the LX26 to work in this container and I really hate that wick its way too messy. Haven't tried RRD's, but I think Nattty had problems getting them to work. If you go back in the post and look at Henry's pics, he had to use an LX 30 to wick the straight sided round 3". This one is just a tad bigger than 3"...it's a bugger!

3rd burn it drown out after about 1 1/2 hours...back to the drawing board on this one...have to use those 3 cases of glass and I'm never buying these again unless I find that perfect wick. Maybe I'll just use the LX and tell everyone that they need to keep these trimmed every couple of hours.

For soy containers I've been using 51C to 62C from http://www.kycandlewaxsupply.com/wick.htm

Though I have always gotten good service from KY - I am going to start getting the wicks from Candlewic as I order other things from there and can consolidate my ordering http://www.candlewic.com/candle-wicks/standard-wick-assembly.asp .

I do have extra bases so when I cut the wicks I can reuse what is left. The flat and square braids are the only wicks I prime myself, which I only do if I use wick pins in pillars, otherwise, I do not prime them if prewicking the mold - and I only really do that with beeswax.

Its hard to gauge things when a supplier does the "small - medium - large - xlarge" thing" so I usually stay away from them because IMO you really need to know exactly what wick size you are actually using for testing. For instance, I wish I knew what size zinc the "Yaley Small Wire Wick" is because its working really great in my soy tea lights

Thanks tons Henryk! I'm pretty frustrated with that small, medium also, but I tell you the wicks are really nice in the right container. I'll try CS since I buy from them regularly. Oh gosh, more wicks to order? My husband thinks I'm having an affair with the UPS man and the Mailman!

I have a good cust requesting Mint Jubilee (I think she means Julep) and I could only find 2 sites on the scent forum that carry it, one says not tested in soy and the other doesn't state. Wondering if anyone has tried this fo yet in soy and what the results are. This lady buys 10+ candles at a time...so worth my effort to find this. Maybe someone has a recipe for the fo?

Ditto on the magnetic plug...love it! I don't usually move my pot too much during production and mine has never come out on it's own....YET!!

I like the 3" square frosted 9 oz tumbler the best. I think you'll find most people have a different answer. My thought was to go with something different from the normal round so the candles would stand out as being different. All the customers I have pick that square before any others I have so I guess I'm thinking on the right track.

Gotta tell you Angie...look forward to your posts...always make my day..you are so funny!

This was fate or something that this happened cuz I was at the grocery store last night and they had soy candles on an endcap in the pharmacy section! I went to open one up to smell it and monster blisters were on top. I think I opened 20 candles before I found 1 that didn't either have blisters, really bad tops or the wick wasn't off center. This is not meant to put down those candles...merely to make us realize that a MAJOR retailer is carrying what we would all not even consider selling the way they look. In the makers defense: the blisters could have appeared after they were shipped to the stores. By the way...bought the best one I could find, 7.5 oz of wax on sale for $7.99 (I think reg $8.99.) They smelled great and just had to see how they burn. I picked cinnamon roll, figured out of 5 frag. avail that one would be hardest to wick. Gonna burn it today!! Oh, it also looked like several had been sold already, unless they stocked the rack with empty spots!

Ditto what Meridith said

Do this:

• Go down one size on your wick. (and/or)
  
• Cut back on the oil percentage. (FO)

If the FO doesn't work in soy at 6% I would personally would not use it. When I use FOs I do not use them above 6%. I use only plain old cotton wicks in plain 100% soy now - and honestly, if its wicked right, you should only get the smallest of mushrooms even with power burns - most definitely nothing that should interfere with burns. (Yes, even with cottons).

Also want to say, one will almost always get a larger mushroom on the very first burn then on subsequent ones. Finally, (most won't like this), let your candles sit a couple weeks before burning to make a final judgement - 24 hours is not enough. Not saying this for throw - its something about the wax - they really do burn better IMO.

HTH

HenryK are you making your own wicks? I bought some med cotton that I love, but they aren't quite large enough for some of my containers and the supplier I got them from doesn't make a larger. I usually buy pre-tabbed. Your posts are always so helpful!

Just want to make sure I haven't gotten lost here...you are double wicking a 3inch diameter container?

I did double wick it, haven't done a 3rd burn yet...2nd started to get weak toward the 4 hour mark. I can't get any wick, except the LX26 to work in this container and I really hate that wick its way too messy. Haven't tried RRD's, but I think Nattty had problems getting them to work. If you go back in the post and look at Henry's pics, he had to use an LX 30 to wick the straight sided round 3". This one is just a tad bigger than 3"...it's a bugger!

I don't use ammonia because of my asthma, but I've used Dawn's dishing washing detergent with super hot water... wash really good, dry really good, take the guts out of the box they came in, lay a clean dish towel down, put back the guts of the box and then repack the glassware upside down in the box they came in. If all goes well, I never have to touch the inside of that jar again.

Kimberly

Thanks for the great tip Kimberly...I cleaned a whole case of glass, put down the towel and left them alone...all week I've been using my clean glass and it has really saved time in the long run!

Thanks...I have both vanilla and almond and I'll try mixing next time.

Those are them! I got them on the sides of the wick not around the whole thing...but boy never saw anything like it before. I guess it happens. I torched the tops to see what will happen and I'm not going to cover them for a day or so just to be sure.

Double wicked with 2 HTP 52's... 1 1/2 hours into the burn...almost full MP and is not burning too hot...this might be the ticket on this stubborn tumber...I hate to double wick, but if that's what it takes to get this one to burn right, so be it.

I bought some black cherry fo from CS and it is pretty overwhelming. Has anyone tried mixing it with another scent to tone it down a bit? Gives me and my husband a headache when I make the candles...not as bad burning...but still pretty strong. Or would you just try using less? Using 1 oz pp.

Doesn't sound dumb at all...it's hard to figure these thing out unless you are a math wizzard and a scientist!

You would use 3/4 oz (.75) in a 12 oz container to get 6%

Thanks for the info. I have tried massage candles and I love them. My insurance carrier won't insure us for them, but I might try to make some for myself and close friends/family that won't sue me!! It just takes some common sense and caution when you use these, but they are sooo much nicer than just massage oil and surprisingly absorb into the skin better.

I opened up a box of candles that has been curing for at least 3 weeks and 2 of the candles had huge blisters on top. I used:

1# C-3

1/2 Tablespoon Coconut Oil

1 oz Lotus Blossom (GW)

2- 9 oz square tumblers

Eco 12 wicks

These are the only 2 this happened to. I made a bunch the same day...according to my notes, Lotus Blossom was the first made. Next morning covered and put into storage late that night. Could it be the fragrance? or the fragrance/coconut oil mix? Maybe I've just been lucky, but this has never happened before...lot's of other surprises...but not this one. I was pretty:embarasse as I was showing the candles to a customer.

You can try Wicks Unlimited, they have alot of info about many wicks on their site.

If you want to save on shipping, go to a health food store. I got 30 oz jar of organic coconut oil (I use it for cooking also) for under $7.00 on sale at Henry's. Most of the health food stores carry it and it's not as badly priced as you would imagine.

Look for self-trimming wicks. HTP's are also "self-trimming" which basically means the wick curls so the flame doesn't get huge. There are quite a few, you can look on the suppliers websites and they usually describe the wicks. You still have to either pull off the burned wick with your fingers or trim it with a wick trimmer or scissors. I use my fingers alot, but it's messy and hard to get the correct 1/4" length...but I'm lazy!!

HTP 105 is still 1/4-1/2 in from sides after 2nd 4 hour burn...tested that one myself. I gave the medium cotton wick to my sister-in-law to test and she hasn't reported back, but I'm thinking NOT if the 105 didn't make it. I'm gonna double wick this puppy today. I bought several cases of these tumblers and they've gotta work with something!

Tender Heart used to sell those, but I can't find it on their website now...although they do have some really cute ones.

Certain fo's frost even in uncolored candles, but you don't see it as badly on a creamy candle as you do on colors, especially dark colors. I always had the worst frosting on Brown...and I love coffee candles!

Good luck! The LX 22 didn't make it to the side of mine, I had to use the 24, but you are right...shrooms terrible and the flame does get large, but that doesn't bother me as much as the shrooms and mess.