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JenC

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Everything posted by JenC

  1. Hello! Do you ever decide to wick down because the glass is feeling too hot? What is your definition of "too hot"? I have a small glass container, nothing fancy, the diameter is the same throughout with the exception of the top coming in a bit for the screw cap. The diameter is 2.75" and height 3.5" and I'm using the RRD wick size 40 and cb 135 wax. I'm trying to determine if I need to drop down to a 37. I'm still trying to determine if I'm getting a good throw, but my concern is the glass temperature. I have done a few burns for 3-4 hours and the glass above the wax is quite hot - hot enough that you wouldn't pick the candle up by that part to move it. I've wicked down from what I had already tried and thought was too hot. There isn't really any hang-up and it's not tunneling. Do you have a rule of thumb for what you do in this case or do you not worry so much about the heat? Thanks! Jennifer
  2. Hi Flicker - thanks. It's funny how many factors there are in this whole thing. As for your questions... As for scent. Just because it says it will throw in soy does not always make it so. A few thoughts on this though...first did you cure the candles? If so for how long? -- I did cure them, some for four days some for a bit longer. I have a few that I haven't tested yet that have been curing for a few weeks. Secondly did you weigh both the wax and fo on a digital scale you are sure is accurate and thirdly what size room were you originally burning in and do you have an air exchanger or ac/central heat running as you are testing? -- I did use a digital scale. For a couple of my first candles I used 1 fl oz of FO but then switched over to using net weight. The heat has been on (thanks to living in the good ole Pacific NW which appears to be the coldest place around right now!). I've been burning in my family room which is around 15X15, but it is open to our kitchen nook and kitchen, making the whole area more than double that. When I burn in my small bathroom, which is only 4X4 I do get a throw. I've found those things can make a huge impact on if I can smell my candles...oops forgot another! lol What temp did you add the fo to the wax? Can make a difference too. -- I've been adding the FO at 165 degrees. I haven't burned any of the candles for 4 hours though, mostly around 2-2.5 hours. I'll try a long burn and see if that makes a difference and check the melt pool again. I need to try to burn one in a bedroom where the floor plan isn't open as well. I haven't made any new candles in a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping maybe I'll have an easier time smelling them too! Thanks for your thoughts!! Jen
  3. Thanks Henry. You confimed what I was thinking. I've got an assortment of RRD andn HTP wicks so I'll wick down with them and probably order some smaller LX wicks as well. Thanks again!
  4. I am new to making candles and am looking for your help in troubleshooting my issue. I am using cb135 and some fragrances (1oz per lb of wax) that should throw in wax, from CS and from Peaks. I am using 6oz and 9oz containers. I have a great cold throw but not a very good hot throw. With the LX wicks I get a great melt pool (though much too fast - edge to edge in less than 2 hours for the 9oz). I thought it was the size of the room I was burning the candle in, as if I put one in the bathroom I get a bit more throw., but I've found that if I waft or sniff above the candle there is hot throw there it's just going straight up. Does this mean I am wicking up too much? My HTP and RRD wicks are having a similar issue, though I thought they'd be better since I was able to use smaller wicks (I have to get some smaller LX wicks). The melt pool for these is slower to reach the edge and generally reaches the same depth as the LX. Due to the RRD and HTP wicks curling I do end up with a bit on the sides remaining after burning, not too bad though. Here are the diameter to wick combos I'm testing and having little luck with. 6oz - 2.5"d by 3.25h - 24LX, 40RRD, 83HTP 9oz - 2.75"d by 3.5"h - 24LX, 26LX, 47RRD, 104HTP Should I wick down on any of these? Thanks for your help! Jennifer
  5. Hello! How do you test to find the color you want? I am just starting out - I've made one eggnog candle that has been curing for 3 days, a few plain tealights, and just poured a couple of apple jack & peel containers along with tealights. For the eggnog, I used 1 drop of ivory dye in 8 oz of ecosoya wax and I'm pretty happy with the color. Today, I used 5 drops of burgundy in 16 fl oz and my color is much more pink than I was hoping for. I think it'll be a great color for other FOs but not an apple one. Do you test dyes in non FO candles to find the general color you want and then just fix as needed if the FO changes the color at all? Do you just pour a new scent like I did and guess and then tweak from there? I assume the more you play with color the better idea you have of how many drops will give you certain colors. I'm making notes so I know that'll help, I'm just curious what your methodology is to help prevent candles that play color/smell mind games! Thanks! Jen
  6. The thread about wickless candles has me wondering... Although the tins may not be the prettiest, do you see a difference in how the candles burn when the candle is in tin versus glass - considering all other factors (FO %, dye, wax, wicks, etc) remain the same? Jen
  7. Ok great - thanks for the additional advice! I would definitely like to make decent candles for gifts but would also like to keep all of the hair connected to my head! Jen
  8. Thanks for all of your advice - I sure appreciate it!!! I will definitely start with your suggestions and then move to other options if all goes well. I'm thinking I'll start with some 3 x 3 or so diameter round containers, and will start experimenting with the wicks I've ordered. If those wicks don't work I'll order a sample pack or two and try, try again. I'm crossing my fingers for some success and I have to admit am quite excited to work through the puzzle that this will be :smiley2: . Thanks again! Jen
  9. Hello! So, I've been trying to track down soy candles, especially tealights, and I've been surprised at how hard it is to find them (in-store not online). So, I ended up coming across a site that mentioned making your own soy candles and that it's not hard - ha!! maybe not to make a candle but to get one that burns well and smells good might be another story! Regardless, I'm intruiged by the thought of making my own! I haven't started making my first candle yet, I just ordered the majority of my supplies yesterday after two long days of research using the advice off of this site! (Thanks!!) I am understanding that the type of wax, the specific FO, the wick, the container, using dyes, etc are all factors in a successful candle outcome. I'll note that at this point, the plan is to make candles for myself, my family and my friends for Christmas gifts, so they don't have to be completely perfect, just close I am looking to figure out what containers to use and could use your recommendations. I had an idea of what I wanted and ordered wicks using those thoughts, but after more thinking I'm not so sure. So... more specifically, I'm hoping to hear what you recommend based on what I have coming my way, to help me be a bit more successful at my attempt. I'm expecting a handful of fragrances from Peaks and CS, Ecosoy 135, LX wicks in sizes 24, 26, and 28, along with some dyes from CS for use in some of the candles I'm hoping to make. I was planning on going with a 6oz Oval Hex (2.5 x 3.5), a 9.5oz Multi-faceted (3 x 3.75) and a 10oz flat top jar (3 x 3.13). After additional thinking, I was thinking it might be nicer if I had a 6oz, 8oz and 10oz jar though I'm not sure about what shape to go with to get the best burn for the wicks I've ordered. Since I have already dropped a load on other supplies, I'm hoping to get some advice before ordering jars (not a ton, relatively 50 or so). I can always get more wicks, but I'm hoping to try to use what I have coming to me first. I'm not limited to those three container sizes if you think the wicks will work with other sizes, and I'm not closed to pouring some candles in containers without lids. I know I'll have a lot of testing to get to what I envision for a final product and before I need to have candles done for Christmas presents I may not have them to that level. Any recommendations you have will be incredibly helpful! I research pretty heavily before committing to jump into anything, and I feel good about the FOs and wax, just unsure about the jars. Thanks in advance and sorry if this was a bit winded!! Jen
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