Tess

Thanks E. That sounds so much easier, just kind of squirt out. So the pourable soap should be say the consistency of maybe a creme? TIA

Great Thank You! I totally missed her instructions, I saw some of her posts though! Thanks!!

Hey all! Been busy lately playing with soaps again. However I made a boo boo last night. My batch over traced because I took too long . I was using some new pigments and had to mix colors and well the whole chemistry thing put me a little off. So when I unmold today, it is one not the swirl I was looking for. Two, it has some air pockets in it. I have seen rebatching and never had to do it before so just a few questions. 1. Can this be remelted in a microwave? (Thinking since I melted the hard oils in there, maybe I could do this) 2. I read where E did not need extra water in the soap, and since mine is pretty oily, I am thinking I may not have to add any extra liquid. 3. What temp do I melt to? 4. Do I just chunk the bars to melt or cut them into cubes to melt easier? (im thinking cubes) Sorry for acting like such a noob. I searched and read all the rebatching stuff I could find, and some I had saved. I did not see any of these questions mentioned. Thanks Oh yeah this is CP if that matters

Many DIY hosts are no longer compatible with the new FedEx upgrade. The only carts that I know ofthat it is compatible with are the big dog carts. You know the one that you pay 1,000's a year for. What I do is offer USPS and UPS, and ship FedEx. USPS is usually more expensive than Fed Ex, so you can pocket the extra few bucks for packaging or whatever.

Aside from being difficult to get out of the votive molds, using container wax could pose a problem when it comes to packaging, and storing them. I mean who wants to pick up and whiff a sticky votive? They will be messy. Even if you won't be selling these, it will be a mess handling them yourself.

Wouldn't pouring that slow leave the lines though? This would mean a lot of work but maybe you could use a funnel? Seems like it would be easier with a heat gun though.

I use a heat gun to clean up the sides after each layer is poured. Not major heat gun action just enough real quick to get that thin layer off. I do not use a water bath. It is cool enough in here where it is not neccessary. I have no problem getting my pillars out as long as they are completely cooled. You could use a thin layer of mold release if you have a problem with it.

I pretty much agree except that I do think scented wooden roses would not be considered buy sell. I mean so they bought the roses, what is the diffrence between buying a container to put wax in? Now if the roses are usecented and sold "as is", then that is consdidered buy/sell. As for the refresher oils, If you sell stuff like oil burners, then you would have to sell the oils too. That would only make sense. I have a show I do that in hand-crafted items only. Yet the do allow a 10% buy/sell fraction. Which means I can sell like the wick trimmers, along with my candles. I can sell hand-crafted tart burners to sell along with my tarts. It works out well for me without infringing "junk into the overall look of the show. It is jusried so they have a say as to what I put in though. Of course this show in particular allows people to sell items for other companies. EX "Circle E" candles. Our contract states item must be made by the vendor. HEr "Vendor name" is "The Candle Lady" (How original :rolleyes2 ), and she just resells. This doesn't seem fair to me.

What I really don't get abut CW is that they are such a huge biz, why can they not have auto generated UPS emails. Peaks does, BC does, everyone ELSE does, and they are a lot smaller. Seems like they would jump on the ball now. Hmmm maybe I will utilize the comments box on my next order. We all should, start a kind of petition. BTW it takes 10-14 days from the time I order til I get it.

No you are very wrong about that. You think Candlewic is the only one to make wick pins, and seamless molds? Candlewic gets them from somewhere too I am sure. I know Peaks does not get thier FO's from Candlewic. Positively.

Those are great Val! Gonna have to buy myself a Valentine lol...

If you let them set their own prices, they pay shipping. If you choose their prices you should include the shipping in the cost. For ex. find out how much it will cost to ship a case and include that price in the cost. when they are buying more products, make a tier and adjust the shipping prices.

Why name the name? The company did nothing wrong. If the wax comes from or you live in a warm climate, there will be condensation between each slab. The cases aren't airtight you know. Happens to me ALL the time. Especially during warmer months. I use 3 different waxes and all of them do this. The container, votive and pillar wax.

Thanks!!

I cannot find the post. Did it get removed?

Hey all. I am re-doing my cost, and making sure my prices arent going to need a hike up. In doing so I came across a little labor question, that will be especially important this year, since I am hiring employees. When figuring cost, do you add the labor % INTO the cost or Outside the cost? For ex, are you doing your cost $XX.xx * XX% (labor) then that total times 2 for wholesale or 4 for retail? OR are you doing $XX.xxcost times 2 for wholesale (or 4 for retail) plus 20%? Just wondering what the rule of thumb is. Oh and is 20% enough for labor/utilities? TIA

That is what I use. Probably either old or not sealed well, and it lost its adhesive properties. I use the huge tube and I go through that stuff every 3 months. I have never had this problem.

The wick setter just provides, a fool proof way of setting the tab in the middle. You have to make sure you set the wick straight during the cooling process. Like using a clothespin or wick holder. If you accidentally move the clothes pin after you have set it, yes your wick will be a little off. HTH.

Good Grief!

Are you dense? NEVER did I say all those who make/sell soy. OK let me get my crayons out for you. People who use SCARE tactics, and lies to sell thier products OBVIOUSLY have a piece of crap product. So much of a piece of crap that they cannot use the good points of their own concoction to sell their stuff Ex. great smelling, even burning, yadda yadda. So maybe you keep twisting thing around and reading that way if you are in this category. So keep pulling those quotes and show me where I categorize ALL soy makers. Because if I did I would be pissing of alot of my friends on this board. Not to mention the fact I would be insulting myself since I will be adding soy in the future. No I have no problem with soy nor do I think either wax is better. I have been around this biz long enough to know NO wax is perfect. What I do have a problem with (the main topic of this very post) is that people feel they have to lie, bash and scare to sell a product. I they would have concentrated on perfecting and learning this wonderful skill I call chandling, they would have some better legit means of marketing.

HA HA HA!! Now is that supposed to be you?

You need to check yourself. What *I* said was not that Soy candles were crappy. I was stating to a comment which was "soy candles look better than paraffin", which was stated as a fact not an opinion. I was pointing out that the soy candles "I" have seen are not appealing to the eye (as an opinion and not a fact). The "crap" was in reference to the "frost". So once again people, lets quote the whole thing not just bits and pieces.

YAY!! Someone else gets it!!! :highfive:

Yeah this not the FIRST time Alabastar has been called out for crap service. Weather or not the map was right, he could have been a little less of an A-Hole. To directly insult a customer like that (especially after they drove ALL day looking for them), is beyond crap. I do not care who they are or who was right. I would NEVER insult a customer. Especially after all of that. I would be happy they did not just give up and go home. It is called sympathy and consideration. It really bother me that this was a new customer and he was quick to throw the condescending attitude. Good grief so maybe she cannot read a map, maybe theirs was a piece of crap. It is the attitude that it boils down to. This is a prime example of what kind of business owner NOT to be. They will not be getting my money. Based on that sorry excuse for a board, and how they let the admins act like bullies, it is no surprise that the company acts like this. How embarassing for them.

Nope it will not end the debate, everyone will be partial to their own wax of course. But hopefully it will help quench those honest sellers who were taught otherwise, to just promote the honest qualities of their creation. Ex. Smells great, burns great, hand-poured, low soot (if applies). That is how I sell. Even when I do sell Soy (and I plan to), I am going to use the same technique.