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Jimbo2

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  1. I've looked through the forum and can't find the answer to question I have on display boxes. I am a real "part time" candle maker that has a few accounts. Most of my sales are direct to individuals. I often bring in 30 or 40 sample candles to various locations (offices, salons, etc). I usually just haul the candles in with a sturdy cardboard box (like the ones that bananas and tomatoes are shipped in). I would like to find a reusable compartmentalized box that I can use to bring in my candles. This will make the display more attractive and will keep candles of various scents separated. I make mostly 3" x 4" and 3" x 6" rustic layered candles. If anyone can recommend a supplier that might offer something like this, please let me know. Thanks.
  2. I use Candlescience Sand dye chips for several of my layered rustic candles. It really looks nice as a neutral color between two layers of blue or burgundy. When it is melting in my wax, it looks like it a combination of green and brown or green and ivory, but I am not sure. I always try to have a supply of the chips on hand, but in case I were to run out, I would have to experiment to try to get the same color. Have any of you tried to make a sand dye? If so, what colors/proportions did you use. Thanks.
  3. Well, I was surprised as well. The Candlescience Wick Guide for IGI 4625 for candles 4" in diameter suggests the LX-24. I tried it in a 4" pillar using the IGI 1343 and Candle Science FO and color and it made not even a 3" pool after 4 hours. Like you, I am surprised the LX-24 works so well. On my 3" pillars it makes a really nice wax pool, and leaves about a 1/4 inch wall. What I like about the wick is the lovely flame. It has a nice white color. As long as I keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch, I get no flickering or soot. So, I guess the main reason it works that way is the way that the Candlescience wicks and dyes work with the wax and Universal Additive. I will probably try the LX-28 in the 4" pillars. If this doesn't work, guess I will just stick to a square braided wick which works well. Thanks for your comments.
  4. I've been drilling holes in my candles since ordering some molds off ebay. They were nice, heavy aluminum molds from a commercial candle operation. I have had very good luck with drilling holes using a Dewalt cordless drill. I have found out it works the best if you can get the candle out of the mold before it is completely cool. That way the wax is still soft enough that you can almost "push" the drill through the candle. You have to eyeball the angle of the drill bit, but I find the results are much better than threading a wick through a hole and then trying to keep it straight. I know lots of folks use the centering tools, but I think I get good results drilling the holes and inserting the wick.
  5. I purchased some LX-24 wick for my pillar candles. Most of the suppliers indicate the wick can be used for a 3.5 - 4 inch pillar. I make 3" and 4" rustic pillars using IGI 1343 wax. I add 3% FO, color and Universal Additive to the wax. The wick works great in the the 3" pillars but does not burn out far enough in the 4" pillars. I believe they make the LX wick up to a -30 size. Anyone else out there making 4" pillars using IGI 1343 wax that has used any of the larger LX wicks and has had good results? If so I would appreciate any suggestions you have. Thanks.
  6. Thanks to everyone for your excellent advice. A couple of quick follow-up questions. In addition to making sure my property is covered in case of a fire or accident while I am making my product, a separate policy is needed to cover this. The policy would also protect me in case a customer started a fire with one of my candles and decided to sue. Am I correct here? I have checked out the RLI website to look at coverage. Since I would be a small operation and plan on getting a quote from them, but would anyone like to hazard a guess as to how much the premiums would be for a policy covering a small operation? I know it varies from state to state as well. I am in Missouri. Thanks
  7. I started a small, at home candle business this November. Right now, I am selling almost all the candles directly to friends and associates but also have a couple of beauty salons in town that are carrying my candles. I hope to expand this to about five or six salons that will carry my products. As you can tell, this is a small operation which suits me fine in retirement. I've read a few posts on insurance but would like to get some good suggestions from the veterans out there on what I should do about it given the type of operation I am running. I make my candles in my basement using two Presto pots. I put warning labels on the candles and provide a "candles do's and don'ts document. For a small operation like I have, do I really have to be worried about it at this time? I should also point out that I have not yet registered my business. I intend to do this if it takes off a bit more, but with current gross sales estimated at $2,000 or so a year, I am thinking that I am too small to bother with it. If I expand more and if I decide to try marketing the candles through a web site I will definitely do this. Right now, my goal is to make some nice candles that people enjoy burning and giving as gifts and making enough money to support my golf habit! Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.
  8. I see several of you have read my initial question, but no one has responded. If you have suggestions, please send them to me as I need to pour all three colors this weekend. Thanks!
  9. I am running low on maize color chips and am out of fuschia and peach. I could use some suggestions for making these colors. I have a few liquid dyes (red, yellow, hunter green, and blue) and several other chips and blocks including violet, burgundy, various colors of green and ivory. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
  10. I am a newbie part time candle maker taking it up after I retired. I was able to buy some very nice, heavy duty aluminum molds on ebay from CDN Systems. Got 10 6 1/2" x 4" molds for about $45, including shipping. The molds were used by a commercial candle maker. Some have some nicks, but I make rustic pillars so it is no big deal. The molds are very heavy and work well either using the "freezer" method to make the rustics or the way that is noted often on this forum. You get a really good frost with them. NOTE: the molds do NOT have a hole on the bottom. This may be a problem for some of you, but since I drill a hole to install my wicks, it works out much better for me. They must have bought a ton of these molds as I bought my first ones in late October and just recently bought 20 more 6 1/2" x 3". This lot was a little over $50 for the 20 molds. Just thought I would pass this on.
  11. Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you all know that the advice on adding just a little black worked out very well. I made the light tan then melted just a bit of the black chunk color I had and added it to the wax just before pouring. I mixed it a little and poured it into my 4" x 6" pillar mold. It turned out beautifully; a perfect molded candle.
  12. Thanks for your advice. If I'm careful with the black, it should work out o.k.
  13. I have a customer that wants me to make a rustic taupe candle for her. I know taupe means different things to different people, but in her case it would mean something that has a slight grey hue to it. I've make a lot of cream/ivory candles, but have never made taupe. What color dyes would you use to make this color. I have Ivory, Brown, Vanilla and Black available. Any suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks.
  14. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice. I really had planned on buying labels, but needed to have some in a hurry so I printed up a template on my card program. Worked slick, but I certainly can see the advantage of having labels designed for the job.
  15. I'm new to this forum, so please bear with me. I am getting into the candle business after retirement. I'm making my own labels for my candles, using various colors of cardstock I have on hand. The labels look great and don't smear but I do have a question on the best glue to use to attach the labels to the bottom of the candle. I am using a glue stick and it seems to work pretty well, but I'm wondering if there is a specialized glue to use that might be available at craft stores. Thanks.
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