artcwolf

That's the understatement of the year I went with cheap dollar store hand towels and then placed an order with the paper mill in Richmond to keep the trucks rolling in. The towels have helped a lot, and they are cheaper then a roll of paper towels, because i can't stand the el cheapo towels

Thought of another tip. Dollar store hand and bath towels and lots of them. I put one hand towel under my presto pot and i've got enough open space to wipe my thermometer, mixxing spoon and a place to put my FO and dye while waiting for the wax to melt. Bath towl on the floor to catch drips from the pot, bath towl on the stove under my non stick cookie sheet to catch the drips the sheet doesn't catch(saved me from the wrath of my wife) I bought about 15 hand towel and have thrown 3 away so far from the exess wax build up. Oh yeah and Check the spout on the pot to make sure it's closed before melting wax, covered my floor and counter with wax lost 4 lbs of wax in the process

For wicks i'm using primed 2/0 and 4/0 square braide, and primed 36 ply flat braid for pillars and containers, and Heinz Pretabbed 2 1/2" CD-4 for votives from Candle and Supplies. I called and asked what they thought would be the better wicks to use, and went with that they suggested. Scents that i've used so far are root beer(no vybar smells absolutly wonderful) Vermont Maple, Cranberry chutney, peppermint, pumpkin spice, last night i did my test batches with ginger lime. All are from candle and supplies. With the pumkin spice i made a batch with no vybar, had left overs and re-melted it down and added vybar per the weight of the left over, and according to my guinea pig at the office the no vybar batch had more scent then the vybar batch. She likes the cold throw, but the hot throw is mild and like my wickless below you had to stand on top of them to smell them from the vybar batches. She's also tested my vermont maple, and peppermint with the same results as the vybar pumpkin spice. I made a wickless cranberry chutney and peppermint and put both of them on my warming plate just for throw testing and i had to be on top of them to smell them. However while making them they smelled wonderful, the peppermint will clean out the sinuses I'm going to test the warm throw from my testing batches made last night tommorrow after they have another day to cure. I still haven't tried the 1286 as i want to use up the 1343 first. Sorry for the lack of information, it wasn't until the last 3 or 4 batches that i started taking notes...I'm slow that way, took me making several different rubs and such for my grill and not being able to recreate them before i started taking notes for them as well...:undecided I can take some pictures of the candles before vybar and after vybar if that'll help as well....

I'm still a newbie, but i have learned to use the thermometer sleeve to hold the thermometer. Got my fingers in the wax at 200 degrees, and it hurts.

Okay i'm able to use 1/4 teaspoon of vybar pp and it looks great, the throw is stronger then the 1/2 teaspoon, but still not as strong as before for the vybar. Going to try less vybar tommorrow and see what happens. Going to burn the tests from last night tomorrow while making the next test batch

oops this is why i need to read my posts before i submit them...that was suppose to be 2oz pp, or about 1.5oz pp. I'm going to make a couple of 1 pound runs making votives and try less vybar and see what happens. Just need to kick the wife out of the kitchen first:laugh2:

welcome, I've been making candles since about June, I make them as a hobby to unplug from the TV, PC, and Any other electronic piece of equipment that my life puts in front of me as a PC/Network Tech. Lately i'm starting to make them to sell some as many of my co-workers have learned i make them.

Thanks Grama, I've also got some 1286 because it does state containers and votives and pillars, but i just havent got around to using it yet, because i want ot use up the other first. Here's the specs on the 1286, I do use the vybar 103, which is what CS suggested for the 1343 This is a great versatile wax and useful for tealights, votives, containers, tarts, pillars and refill candles. Without addtives, it produces a mottled candle with a nice shiny finish. A smooth creamy candle can be acheived by adding 1 tsp. of Vybar 103 or 1/4 oz. Microsere per lb. Type: Paraffin Meltpoint: 130 degrees Primary Use: tealights, containers, votives, tarts, electric candles, pillars, grubby candles, pies etc. Wick Suggestion: compatible with any wick Recommended Pouring Temperature: 180-190 degrees Instructions for Use: Melt wax to 180 degrees, add color and scent and additives if desired. Pouring cooler at 160 degrees or below will produce a nice mottle and pouring warmer will give a more sporatic mottled appearance. I'll give the 1286 a try tonight and see what happens....I'll keep you posted

C&S also sells wick pins that sick into the mold not sit in the mold designed for the silicon molds. I'd call them and ask, they are quite helpful...they are my main supplier because i started with them before i found CT and learned of the many other nifty places to buy.

Okay so i've learned a lot from you all I was using to much vybar, was using 1 teaspoon per pound of wax, and not weighing my scent instead i was measuing with a shot glass (now weighting at 1oz per lb). So with what i learned i broke out a new batch of candles last night (learned to start small once it works then make more after last night 6lbs not smelling like i want) and after spending a few hours making votives and a couple of containers i'm still not getting the throw i was getting before i started using the vybar. I'm using IGI 1343 - 138mp All Purpose Paraffin from C&S and their scents as well. So the question is can i use less vybar to get more throw and still retain the smooth finish? I'm thinking 1/2 teaspoon per 2 lbs of wax, and maybe increasing the scent a bit to about 3oz per pound?

They are glass, and will be here on Tuesday rekarns you are right they can be used either way...

People at the office have found out i make candles and have been placing orders. I'm going to be making orders all weekend, and going to the Williamsburg Pottery Outlet to find some containers for candles =) It's nice to have an answer to my wife now when she asks me what i'm going t odo with all the candles i'm making. =) Sell them!!!!!

Thanks, I'm going to be calling them this morning to put in my order and i'll ask if they are glass, the picture is just not giving me a good view, it looks plastic to me. I'll keep you posted

I'm looking at the 3.5oz voitive jars on Candles and Supplies and i'm not wure exactly what they do. Do you pour the wax straight into the cup with wick, or use a mold and place the candle into the cup? Here's the link http://shop.candlesandsupplies.com/candles/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Candles&category%5Fname=%2A%2A%2ASPECIALS%2A%2A%2A&product%5Fid=WV&path=%2A%2A%2ASPECIALS%2A%2A%2A

That's what i was doing Karen when i was trying to get my black candles black, I figured the removal was because it had been over a coupe of days. But then i did it after making some maple candles and same thing, I used less sealer, and still had a fight.

I'm using wick pins on my molds, and i'm using them on the outside threaded into the mold. I've got mold seal around the base and squished tight and flat, now the question is probably ignorant, but i'm a bit daft at times. Can i leave the pin squished to the mold once i'm done with the candle? I ask because i spent 10 minutes last night trying to dislodge the pin from the mold, and cleaning up the mold sealer. Aaron

I'll keep you posted, i'm giving my poor finger some rest with lots of aloe for the burn (trust me when i say a third degree burn doth suck much), before i try conquering the top pouring area.....Once i get it done i'll post a picture if it works =) Love your name and sig, my wife's name is vickie and she loves Tink as well.....

I'm looking for some help. I'm wanting to make 4 inch taper/chime candles. I can't find any molds anywhere and i'm trying to make one myself but so far i've ended up with 6 pieces of copper pipe to a bent piece of cheet metal and 1 third degree burn from bumping the hot pipe after sidering it to the metal... Help please, i've learned a lot just from reading, now i'm hoping someone can help. =) Here's a link to the place i buy them at to show what i'm looking for. http://www.azuregreen.com/Candles/Tapers,_Pillars,_Figure,__&_Jar_candles/Candle_tapers/C4CG:Chime:_4inchx_1.2inchdia_Lt_Green/Page_1/C4CG.html