jazzbo848

i use color blocks. the few times i used liquid dye, i tiedyed myself, the kitchen and my helper....................:tiptoe: :embarasse cheryl

sorrry if you got overwhelmed with info you did not really want........... i use only zinc wicks with my gel and that is a personal preference. there really is nothing that takes the place of experimenting and testing. what i may prefer, you may not like...... by the using the experimenting and testing process, you will learn what you like and the different properties of different wicks. cheryl

hope this helps as far as zinc..... 51-32-18 zinc coreLt Wax ~ Gel 8" 15mm 15mm tab 3" - 4" dia. 5.80 Containers, beeswax ~ gel 50 pk $4.75 100 pk $8.25 60-44-18 zinc core Lt Wax ~ Gel 8" 15mm 15mm. tab 4" - 5" dia. 6.63 Containers, beeswax ~ gel 50 pk $4.75 100 pk $8.25 62-52-18 zinc core Lt Wax ~ Gel 6" 20mm 10mm tab 4.5" - 5.5" dia. 7.24 Containers, beeswax ~ gel i tried to get the chart w/o the prices, but couldn't seem to do it. fwiw, this is from www.aromahaven.com. i use zinc for all of my gel candles. cheryl

are the oz. you are using WEIGHED oz. or MEASURED oz. (volume)? mL is a volume measurement. it is very difficult to convert weight to volume (except for water). i used this chart: http://www.onlineconversion.com/weight_common.htm and put in .06 oz. and converted it to grams (it came out like1.7 grams) does that help? cheryl

i second lindsey. jess makes a nice make up and is very customer oriented. cheryl

you can print instructions that say DO NOT use with dirty hands, DO NOT use with wet hands, DO NOT let water get into the butters, BUT you are deal with human beings who either cannot, will not or do not read. use a perservative that will work with a non water product. (anhydrosis ...sp?) cheryl

i make my own and they are a pita, but it allows me to be cuurent with what is being ordered. i was always bad at deciding what i would need for the next round of orders. i can see why sites charge what they do...the scenting, pouring and cleaning take time.....especially the cleaning.\ jmo, cheryl

do you have a michael's or a.c.moore near you? sometimes they hae really good sales on votive containers. cheryl

i found it easier to pick one product at a time and research it and test it until i was happy with it than to have a number of products in the research stage at the same time. hth, cheryl

http://www.kycandlewaxsupply.com/bathandbody.htm they show the 2 lb. blocks, but i am wondering if they might be able to supply you with much bigger batches. couldn't hurt to ask................... cheryl

you need to have your wick in a wick tab. you can anchor that to the bottom of the glass by several methods. i use a small bit of very hot gel, others use stickums or hot glue. do not plan on selling any candles until you have done a lot more research. you need to understand which fragrance oil to use (non-polar with a flash point greater than 170 degrees f.), which wick size goes with which size container open opening ( http://www.aromahaven.com/wicks.html ) is a good wick chart to start with........ http://www.silkytyme.com/Candlemaking-Info.html is another learning site to add to those that vicky gave you. i hope i am not coming off as harshbut to make a SAFE candle you need to research and test, test, test! cheryl

frosting seems to be characteristic of a pure soy wax candle. my customers like the effect, have not had one complaint about it. look at it as a good thing, it tells your customers that you are using straight soy! cheryl

i put the dental floss in a "U" shape and hang the fish by their side fins, and tape the floss to the side of the container as cathy does. then, just before the gel is completely set, i pull the floss out. but remember, i am pouring in layers also, so it is kind of a double set up............is that clear as mud? that is how i got my sharks to circle the treasure chest in one candle and the eagle mid flight in another......(www.picturetrail.com/candleheart48) i got the link fixed for those who had tried it unsuccessfully the last time i posted. hth, cheryl

they are frustrating, but i have found that by pouring hot over the back of a spoon, in layers, using UNWAXED dental floss to suspend fish that it does get better. good luck, cheryl

i put on a label that says "this is a candle and not to be eaten. remove from plastic container and place on heat proof surface before lighting." there are times when you CANNOT be subtle with the public! :eek: cheryl

i have found that when i am doing a scene candle and do not want bubbles, i have to pour hot, in thin layers. i pour a layer, put it in a warm oven, turn off oven and let candle cool down. when i take it out of the oven, if there are bubbles on surface, i zap it with the heat gun. i repeat this until the candle is finished. it takes time, but it works for me. you can see my scene candles at www.picturtrail.com/candleheart48 hth, cheryl

i have found that mixing (about) 1/3 gel (melted) with 2/3 paraffin (melted), letting it cool a bit and then whipping the heck out of it makes a very nice whipped topping look. and it also mounds nicely in the pie shell for a pudding look pie. hth, cheryl

how hot did you heat the melt and pour base? what and how much additives did you add? what base did you use? cheryl

i second kangarooblue. competitive pricing, quick shipping and excellent cstr service. cheryl

did the supplier mention the melt point of the embeds? when i do preserve candle, i do the swirling technique. i use high melt point embed wax for my embeds and rarely have a melting problem. cheryl

i would love the instructions, if you are still giving them out. that is one fantastic candle! jazzbo848@aol.com cheryl

i think that soy might give you problems when you pour the gel over it........melt temp wise. i use the embed wax that i get from www.candlesandsupples.com as far as color, i mix brown and yellow to get the color. i keep a white paper towel or paper plate next to where i am mixing color and keeping dropping wax blobs on it until i get the color i want. you could also use ivory, but you have to use a lot of it and it still needs some yellow or gold added. hth, cheryl

also: www.biomax1.com www.silkytyme.com cheryl

what about whipping your shea butter with soybean oil? cheryl

i have made milk bath with both whole milk powder and skim milk powder and have found no appreciable difference, except for the fact that the whole milk powdered baths seemed to go "funky" before the skim milk powdered baths. hth, cheryl