Leesters

Hi folks! How ya'll been? Although the candle bug didn't really bite me, there is a United Way charity function for work that I'm going to make some container candles for. I still have tons of the yummy wax and FO's, so I'll make them a batch. Could someone please type out the verbage used for a legal warning label? I'd much appreciate it. TIA

If you're making candles without a heat gun, you are missing out. Just for cleaning up alone, its worth it. Especially for that high melt point wax thats such a pain to work with. I got mine at Big Lots for 12 bucks, Wagner. You don't need to buy the most expensive one, unless you're welding metal on the side. Don't worry about the fact that it says it can reach 3000 degrees, or whatever. It doesn't take long of playing with it to see how to use the distance between heat and object. Even over a foot away, it will still slowly melt the stuff out of your mold. Watch your fingers. Its not a hairdryer. And if you want to make hurricanes? You just can't do it without a heat gun.

Here's a new perspective. I was also new, and found this board, and wanted to try everything. So, I went gung ho on it, read everything I could get my hands on, and bought a bunch of stuff for hurricanes and container candles. About a 300 dollar order to last me for a long time. And then I found out. I do NOT have the candle making bug. It just didn't keep me going. I made a few candles, it was fun, made some very quality scent throwing candles, but I just don't have the urge to make more. The only thing that makes me think about it is the fact that I haven't done a successful hurricane yet, and I don't quit on things till I get a success. So, try a little. Like they said, buy a small kit of whatever type you think you'd enjoy. (I suggest the container kit to start) But don't do what I did, and spend hundreds of dollars on supplies before you realize that its something for you. Good luck, and have fun!

Peaks was great. I was happy with my order, and they get good feedback from the pros on here, as well. Peaks is in Denver, so its not like shipping from Kalamazoo or somewhere. They ship same day - Ship it ground, at your door in three days. They give you a free sample of a FO you've never heard of before. FO's are not diluted. Wax prices are fair. Mold prices are excellent, but limited selection. FO prices are high, but they give discounts if you buy buckets of it. Disclaimer: It was my first and only order from a candle supplier. I have no experience to compare with.

I was definately thinking 3 wicks would make this candle phenom. The mold is great, especially what was done with it. How do you add 3 wicks to a mold that just has one hole? Hehe. One day I'll make a post without a How-do-you-do-THAT?? question in it.

Looks great Donita! The one thing that got me on the pics on his website was the dual color. How do you think he did that? The outside of the candle is rustic and lighter in color, and you can see the indented imbed goes into a much darker color. Looks fantastic that way. How did he do that?

Goodness. Ow? So, plunging your hand into 190 degrees does what kind of damage? How badly does that burn? I'm curious because I see myself doing this. lol.

I really am hoping for a post on how this was done. The leapord spots are awesome. How the heck did you do that??

I disagree, I think its easy to clean up. Since its so soft, it never needs scraping. You can wipe it off everything after fully cooled. You can't "stick your finger through it" unless you were very determined to do so. If you press hard enough, you can make a fingerprint in it, though. Like said before, its like really hard vaseline.

Sorry about the lack of entertainment here. Hehe. Life hasn't been all that bloggable here in Phoenix. No travels, No dating... and no candles. I have a book deadline zooming in fast, and procrastination and deadlines don't like each other. I know. I've introduced them many times. They just don't get along. But first draft is just about done, and I have till June 30th, so this weekend I shall play. - Last night, I went to Big Lots and found an $18.00 heat gun. - Then I organized some closets (exciting stuff) and made a few shelfs for candle equipment. - I have raided my son's toys and stole a lego box that is the perfect water bath for my kitchen sink. I am ready for another attempt on my hurricane project. I even got the black electrical tape to give a good border between the two pieces of the wrap-around picture imbed. - I have learned that 4 pounds of hurricane wax into a brand new metal mold desperately needs mold release. - I have learned that de-molding a big candle requires the ultimate patience, and "banging" the candle out of the mold is a big no-no. - I have learned that working with this stuff without a heat gun is a wax scraping plateful of PITA. - I have learned making a hurricane without a water bath leaves a horrible finish on the inside, expands the mold too big for the picture imbed, takes too long to set up, and leaves an undesirable thick top film of hardened wax leaving you guessing where the inside wall stops at. As silly of a newbie I am, I have high hopes of a successful hurricane just on my second try with this wrap around. I have visions of the perfect picture imbed. Wrapped 360 degrees around. Seamless. Borderless. Perfectly positioned. I'll be very happy if I make this work. Looking forward to melting some wax again, too. To offset the challenge with some mindless fun, I'll probably pour some containers too with choco-wax-wafers. That wax is so much more fun. ~~~~~~~ I have tested all my prior candles, and really need to wick up on the half pint containers. Will try the same size on the pints. Will test with HTP wicks this time until I get the right size for these guys, then test other wicks. Had some sooting when one of the votives got down to the bottom. Wick was not trimmed, but I don't know if untrimmed wicks cause sooting, because I'm a newbie goober. Pictures will be posted this weekend, no matter what disasters I create.

My first wax ever was/is 4627, and I love it. Single pour for smaller containers, and the scent throw is intense. Plus its so easy to work with. To me, its the anti-messy wax. This stuff is like cleaning up pudding. And you can cut the wax blocks like carrots. Except from it being close to the consistency of vaseline, its great to work with. It melts fast, pours at any temp, and never needs to be scraped for cleanup. I love the ooey gooey 4627 too! I hate hurricane wax. lol. Now THATS messy, especially without a heat gun.

The insert just keeps imbeds in place and is not watertight. You're supposed to let the wax flow underneath when you pour, and raise it as it cools. And yes, that mold is going to make you sling alot of wax. But you'll only use about 80 percent of the wax you melt. So, you'll ALWAYS have about 4 pounds of wax left over. Thats alot. Just give these guys their own pouring pot, so you can always save the leftover wax in it. But you'll never get under 4 pounds of leftover wax as you make these, unless you figure out another use. Hehe

I think the easiest to get started with is container candles. The wax is easy to work with, (easy to clean up, one-pour technique) and the scent throw is so much better with the softer wax. No molds, no additives, very easy to do. Great way to get your feet waxed! Try a Peaks Container Kit set, and you'll get a free fragrance oil sample. The kit at Michaels includes wax best suited for pillars, unless you can find a "container candle kit".

And there is a marble candle. Hehe. You folks have done everything. lol. Original ideas must be a challenge. Great pic, I was imagining smaller marbles so they'd be more compact. But you can see the neat glow. Might try that one day.

PS. Thanks Stella for the fantastic post, and the kick back to daydream land with this ending. *imagines putting the artists huge signature at the top corner* *imagines making a big "warning label" on the bottom is all about the artist and advertises his website* *imagines making the perfect wraparound hurricane and sending it to him as a gift* *imagines a 1000 a month order of western wraparound hurricanes* Yeah, I'm there now... thanks.