artcwolf

Yeah CS suggested a wick and they only had them in 6 inch pretab, so i gut them in half for 200 wicks out of a 100 pack

candle shades like these?

http://shop.candlesandsupplies.com/candles/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Candles&category%5Fname=Jar+Accessories&product%5Fid=32%2D309&path=Containers%2FJars%23Jar+Accessories

don't quote me as i'm learning still to, but from what i've read on her, sometimes the first burn doesn't always look perfect, but they will catch up. I'd personally go with the best one after it's all said and done. That's what i've been doing, and so far no mater the combo i've used the wick that CS suggested on their wick guide has been the best with my wax/FO/Color combo

I've bought a few small nonstick loaf pans and brownie pans for my excess. I pour it in them. When they are cool i put the left over in a glad zip lock bag.

Thanks stella for clearing that up....when get to making bigger batches like those of you in business i'll ask again for more accuracy

Dana, the smartest thing you can do to make your life easier is to make 1 pound batches, then pour as far as that will take you. You can make tarts, more containers or simply reserve the excess for later melting and pouring.

I would have a cerebral hemorrhage if I tried to calculate ingredients for 5.8 ounces of wax. *faint*

That's what i said...woohoo some of my yule wish is coming true.

Nice deal, i bought one of the digital scales from CS since i wasn't thinking straight when i bought the old dial type from Linens and Things and it's working fine for the time being.

and make sure your surface is stable. If I use my dining room table - waves. Kitchen counter - no waves... (but also no cooking...)

my DW kicks me out of the kitchen for that same reason...I have claimed a small portion of the counter that i don't have to move from, but i pour everything on the stove top (yup i've made it a complete flat surface I did that the same way i know my candles are level using a level )

The same holds true with additives. Although many suppliers suggest X number of tablespoonfuls or teaspoonfuls per pound of wax, this is inaccurate and contributes to problems with larger batches of candles. For example: UV stabilizer is pretty light and not much is needed for a single pound of wax, so it requires a highly accurate scale to weigh the amount needed for a pound of wax. From one supplier's site:

Stella your whole post makes sense to me because my DD just learned the whole volume and weight stuff in class and we used my candles to help her understand.

I have noticed a huge difference with FOs once i started weighing, but the quote above raises a question for me.

I've been adding vybar to my wax using a volume amount not weight. In my testing i've learned i can use 3/4 teaspoon pp of vybar 103 and i get the smooth look i want, any less and it mottles a bit.

Should i be weighing my vybar or am i fine now that i've learned the volume measurement?

Thank you

the wax is IGI 1286 with a #36 flat braid wick in the bulb, and 51-32-18 zinc on the small jar.....I know the wicks are probably going to be my problem...and C&S is limited on the wax :undecided i'll be going with 1288 or 4627 when i'm done with the 30lbs i've got of it...back to the drawing board at that point.

I got the idea for the handle and lid when C&S had a picture of the jar and then the handle and lid as well...sadly i can't find the jars on C&S anymore thankfully i ordered 24 of them.

My wish is to wake up in the morning with all of your collective knowledge on candle making, so i'm not spending all the $ i am on candle testing.

That's a great find...i love the sleighs

These are sugar cookie, and i know it's yellow, the color didn't come out like i was hoping. and i figured out the attachments

larger jar is 18oz bulb jar smaller is 8oz hex locking jar....

I used to use the 1343 for both pillars and votives was able to get away with 6% FO, and 3/4 a teaspoon per pound of vybar 103 to make them smooth. I used CD-4 wicks

my testers said it had a nice melt pool, but a few FOs weren't to strong (Ginger lime and Vermont maple from C&S) it didn't tunnel, burned evenly the whole votive.

welcome to my world Dana, I bought one scale only to find out that's not what i need to buy another one praying it'll work....

I've learned to just make the pound of wax even if it's more then i need that way i've got extra to make a second or third or forth...It also helps with my math skills, i feel like a dummy asking my 8 year old to help with precents

Good luck

my office is having a craft fair starting on Wednesday, so i'm going to be wrapping, labeling, and such...also making a few more candles.

I've given them fair warning and lowered prices to make up for the potential of something going horrably wrong. I'm also going to make a little sign with the same disclaimer

Not going to use any of the funds i make from the sale just incase someone has a major issue...only candle i'm worried about are my rootbeers, the testing went well on those, but i'm going to have a lot more votives since that's the major learning area i'm working on.

Sounds very theraputic!!

Dana

uuuhhh very, my daughter on the other hand complains at the banging so i asked if she would rather me yell at her because i'm mad at something else or beat on the wax. She responded "beat up the mean ol wax daddy"

Also, one thing I haven't really read much about in all the "how to's" is how to clean up afterwards (pour pot, spoon, etc.)

I've bought the 4 pack of wooden spoons from the dollar tree and it one time for each wax/color/fo combo....since they are cheap i've bought a bunch of them.

Clean up, make a phone call to your local paper mill and place a huge order for paper towels Yup you will go through a lot of them. I use them to wipe out my pour pot right after i pour, wipe out the presto pot after i'm done with my wax, and i line my cookie sheet when i put my molds and such in the oven

Clean up of molds and the pour pot, i put them in the oven at 185 for roughly 20 minutes (depends on the amount of wax left) so that it melts off and usually runs onto the paper towels. then use paper towels to wipe out the remnents.

I've also bought lots of hand towels and a few bath towels from the dollar tree as well (cheap therefore disposable) I put one hand towel under the presto pot to catch drips from the spout and when i bull a brain fart and forget to close the spout. I put the bath towels under my cookie sheet where i set my molds for pouring, and one on the floor under where the spout of the presto pot is to catch drips....

That's my clean up, my wife thanks me for not coloring her floor and over

hammer and screw driver. small loaf backing pan under one sheet and a rubber mallet...depends on how mad i am at work

Thank you both.

That looks great...I'm jealous because i'm scared to do mine. I need to do the whipped experiment for my root beer. what color did you use for the whip?

I used 5 drops per pound of clover liquid dye from c&s for mine. I set the glass on my desk and many people thought it was a drink. It's pretty close to the old fountain style root beer i used to buy at the drug store years ago.

I use mold sealer and wick pins. Before i got wick pins I used mold sealer. I learned the hard way you have to make sure the wick is completely covered by the seal or it leaks. Also make sure it's flattened around the edges the slightest opening will leak.

where's the best place to get shrink bags? do local craft shops sell them or do we need to order them online?

what wax is it?