Candles by Lisa

Polythene and polypropylene are two different plastics. Polythene is used in plastic shopping bags (although does come in various thicknesses though). Polypropylene is clearer (polythene can be quite opaque), and it has that sort of a crinkly gift wrap feel and sound to it (polythene bags are softer more like what are used in hospital for transporting blood samples). It doesn't leech the smell out of the candle as much as polythene does. I stored some candles in a polythene bag waiting for my new supply of cello bags to arrive. They didn't smell nearly as strong coming out of the polythene bag as they did going in. HTH. Lisa

Hi Vicky, Do you melt the wax directly on the heat? I use the double boiler (which I agree makes one god almighty mess). And Yvette I might just head down to the charity shops and see what I get. I know you can't control the heat but I suppose you can't control the heat when you are making them on the cooker either! Cheers Lisa

Yep they are plug in was thinking of getting an adapter for one but then got to thinking would a slow cooker not work similar to the double boiler method. Just want something that will melt more wax so I can pour more than a pound or 2 of wax. And yes if someone in the UK could supply them yippeeeeeee!!!!!!! Cheers Lisa

Hi Vicky, How much wax do you get in them. I am looking for something that will melt more than a couple of pounds at a time! All the best. Lisa

I have been searching and searching for Presto Pot in the UK but can't see anything like it. Need to get something bigger than a double boiler but don't want to spend hundres on melters. Does anyone know of anything similar to a Presto Pot in the UK. Can a slow cooker be used? A very confused Lisa

I did something really silly too not so long ago. I had washed out a whole load of polycarbonate moulds, dried them and I put them in the oven to get ride of any left over wax. Put them in at 50, left them, forgot about them, went to make the dinner turned the over up to 180 and only remembered the moulds where still in them when I smelled the burning plastic. I had a round mould in there and honestly when I took them out they looked like a couple of silicone breast implants!! The pillars just turned into blobs - needless to say I haven't done that again. And good luck with the estate agents. Lisa

I've got a couple of those rocket moulds too. I have only made about a dozen or so candles and I found that the LX8 worked fine. I hardly got any dripping at all but again formulas vary so give it a try. All the best. Lisa

Thanks everyone. I have never bothered about people using my name - I am actually quite flattered that they have bothered to pay attention and read what I have signed. Still really surprised but what can I say but thanks to you all. All the best. Lisa

Thanks all, To tell you the truth I was totally gobsmacked. At a time when little Maddy has been abducted in Portugal someone has got time to be so concerned about something so trivial beggers belief. All the best. Lisa (and yes you can use my name!!)

Hi Cabin Creek, Very sorry if I have offended you. I thought this was a public forum so as a member of the public I have the right to call a person by their name if I so choose as other people have the right to call me by my name if they choose. If the person is unhappy with me using their name they can tell me not someone with too much time on their hands to nit pick!!!

Hi Yvette, I have looked and I can't find anybody in the UK that sells the auto wick pins. Maybe ask Jo from Sensory or Keith from Candlelights if they know or if they can get their hands on them. I just have to improvise. Cheers. Lisa

Hi Yvette, Not too sure. I use small cello bags for tealights and I get 8 tealights in them side by side so you could probably get 4 votives side my side in them (I use the gusetted bags though). Just tape up any excess on the bottom and cover with a warning label. Hope this helps. Cheers. Lisa:grin2:

Hi Yvette, I have to agree I have had pretty good results with the LX16 and sometimes even the LX14 on a 3 inch candle. All the best. Lisa

I've pretty much given up the ghost and just push the wick in as far as it goes so the votive stands level. Nobody has complained so far - but that's not surprising when you go and have a look at the bottom of a votive you can buy in the shop (it is like the surface of the moon - full of craters and bumps) we are definately too hard on ourselves. Lisa

Did Jo get back to you? She was quoted $157 for 3 moulds!!!! Pick me up off the floor!!! :bump:

I have to agree with that. I work full time but I have to admit that my candle making takes up almost every spare minute of my time. It is like an addiction though, you must have this fragrance or that fragrance and don't get me started on the molds. If you can pull in the reins (which I unfortunately cannot do:laugh2: ) you will save a lot of money. Lisa

Just got in touch with Jo at Sensory Perfection and she is trying to sort out moulds for us. She is such a lovely person. Lisa:yay:

He'll end up losing his false teeth hehe. Good luck with wicking. Would probably use a wick and sustainer, makes it a lot easier - a bit more pricey but not as much work. Cheers. Lisa

I think we can make de-moulding a word. I leave it until the candle feels cool to the touch. I don't want to leave it in too long just in case the scent from the candle starts to attack the silicone. Your muffin is gorgeous. Hope you manage to wick okay. Cheers. Lisa

Hi Yvette, I have been looking for them too and the only place I have found is the US. Peak seems to have the exact ones I am looking for. Just need to get the funds together to order them though. Cheers. Lisa

Hi Yvette, That is lovely - did you start with the yellow? What colour did you add it is a really lovely light colour but just darker than a sponge. Now where is the Jam and Cream!!!! Lisa

I just pull slightly at the edges to release and then sort of a push up from the bottom if you know what I mean. But I take it really gently as you don't want to tear it. Good luck. Lisa

It depends on your formula but you can use that as a rough guide. Before lighting the candle, use a scale to weigh it and find it's total weight. Then light and let burn for 3 hours (assuming it's a 3 inch diameter candle). Weigh the candle again. Now you can calculate the burn rate. i.e, if you have a 16 oz candle to begin with, and after 3 hours of burning it weighs 15.5 oz, then that means that .5 oz burned in 3 hours. Divide that by 3, so in 1 hour .16 oz burned away. Now take your original total weight and divide that by your per hour burn rate. This would give you a total burn time of approximately 100 hours. Hope this helps. Lisa

Hi Yvette, Metal skewars work quite well too. Just remember to put a little lubricant on them or you will never get them out (I have lost quite a few candles that way if the metal is stuck solid to the candle it will just crack it). Good luck. Lisa