darlascandles

I've also had luck with taking things out while still a LITTLE warm.......(if you don't want to cut the mold)......but timing is everything with this method.....I have pulled many heads off, and squished many more!! lol

I was wondering if anybody knows which candle supply has a good Coffee FO. I tried Nature's Garden and did not like it. It smelled like day old coffee.

I have tried several, and my very favorite is BCN Fresh Brewed Coffee....I just LOVE it!

Any idea if soap or candle liquid colorant would work in this recipe? (I'm food coloring mixing illiterate) lol

Thanks so much for sharing.....what a wonderful idea!

I haven't dipped any critters in the last couple of years, but I've noticed "Ove Gloves" at Walgreen's and thought if I ever go back to dipping, I want to get some of them. They're silicone gloves and suppoed to be heatproof--the description has them used instead of potholders, so they should definitely be heatproof enough for dipping critters!

Jane

I wondered about the Ove Gloves too, but I read on the package where it says something to the effect that they WILL NOT WORK WHEN WET.......so I decided not to try them since I figured as soon as the wet wax hit them, they wouldn't be worth a doodle until they dried again, so kinda defeated my intent.

Hi Chandlers! I need some help! I have added 1 oz. of Gold Metallic pigment block dye from BCN to 2 lbs of 4611 wax at 160 degrees! It is coming out bronzy brown with very few specks of metallic gold showing through! No additives to the wax. Dipping at 160 degrees per recommended temp instructions.

Tried making a tart, just to see how the color would be and the shiny gold floated to the top! (bottom of tart) Just specks of it! In the melt pot, after stirring, it looks nice and shiny but also looks like there is oil in it!

This is my first time using metallic pigment wax dye for my cut-n-curl candles so I don't know what I am doing wrong! I don't know if I should add more and don't want to waste the dye till I asked the board!

Thanks All!

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks all!

Well....thats the same problem I had, when I asked BC about it, I was told the pigment dyes are made for dipping the candle in only....never could get it right or really understand I don't think.......maybe someone could clarify better.

here too..pace pace pace........lol

The ceramics themselves, yes you could use as a mold as long as it's glazed. It would be just like using a glass mold.

But the ceramic mold itself, I can't see how that would work since they are made with very porous plaster type stuff. And I would also think you wouldn't want to seal it with anything, unless you would turn it into an exclusively wax mold. I'm thinking once sealed it would be ruined for ceramic slip, because it's the porous properties that make the slip dry and harden into bisque.

Thanks, thats exactly what I was thinking, and why I hadn't used them.....darn it......that would have just been toooo easy! lol

Honey, you could soooooooooooo many things as a mold. Just don't want one that's weak when hot or porous. Heck Just look at Donita & others who use balloons to make 'cane shells.

I have used alot of things for molds.....just didn't think the ceramic molds would work, (since I thought they were porous) thats why I wondered if anyone had been able to do it, with the key word....."succesfully"! LOL

HOLY COW........are you guys saying I can actually USE my ceramic molds for wax?!? I've put my ceramic hobby on hold as of about 6 years ago..have some brand new ceramic molds (at the time) I never used (we won't mention the huge brand new kiln that was used ONCE to make sure it worked, and never again - since thats not important right now). I can't WAIT to try this!! I have silicone spray release........has anyone actually DONE this successfully?

In my experience with electric candle making, there are two different kinds of cords with sockets used for electric candles. I've found the ones with the "spread apart" parts do not fit near as well as the ones with the "gasket". (at least in the molds I have, from different suppliers), I've found that some holes are more perfect than others too. On the more uneven ones, I have added a small amount of wax to help hold the socket in perfectly straight. You also will need to trim a rut into the finished product, so the cord will lay in a groove and the candle will remain flat. They do take a little working with at times. I test burn each of mine for at least 3 hours to make sure all is well with the cord/bulb too. HTH

I have never gotten a "bad" fo from them, they have always been good and strong, and the price is certainly right!

I'm really sorry....I don't think my reply to her post was exactly clear......the problem that the fire chief(s) had was NOT with wax...but with PINECONE firestarters. (the pinecones being the problem, not the wax)

I emailed them and asked them if real food was used in these jars.....and here is the reply I received. HTH

"Yes, it is actual ingredients used to make the recipe. The top is sealed with a candle insert."

If you are looking for the electric warmers, Michael's has the Candlsense™ Candle Warmers on sale this week for 3.33 each thru the 25th I believe. (regularly 4.99)

Sorry, the "rude" part was from a long time ago, when I posted what I was told by the fire chief....that isn't important.

The sawdust mixed with wax was what I asked him about to mix together, to make firestarter "cupcakes".

Wow.......I sure am glad to see the answers so far to this post. I'm sure I will get slammed again, but this subject was brought up awhile back, and I asked my cousin (who is also a fire chief in a small town) about the safety of firestarters. I asked about the safety of the pinecone firestarters and he said BIG NO NO, don't do them!! The creosote builds up in your chimney VERY quickly and sticks to the sides, making it very dangerous. Now I realize (as was pointed out rather rudely) than ANY candle or ANY fire requires common sense and "using them wisely". According to MORE THAN ONE fire chief, there IS no safe way or "using wisely" way to use them, since you don't KNOW how much build up is up in the chimney! They convinced me not to use them at all. I then asked about the sawdust mix with wax (after all, I figured, hey, it's wood) and was told these would be SLIGHTLY better IF I insisted on using them at all, but no more than one a week, and ONLY if the chimney was checked regularly. Instead of taking any chances, I've only made them for using on campfires when we go camping. Altho pretty.....who really wants to take the chance, after talking to several fire chiefs, I don't. Please don't shoot the messenger.

Hi Nona,

I make electric candles and have around 10 molds (each a little different as far as the opening). What problem are you having.....finding the cords or making them work? I'll try to help if you can be a little more specific.

Darla

I've always used BCN, but had NO problems with the coffee/caramel or honey/vanilla at all........i agree, maybe a bad batch.....did you contact them yet?

ahhhhhhhhhhh, perfectionanalist? giggle........thats funny, sounds like something I would do.

I have never met the lady who wrote me the email below but do make candles for her SIL. She emailed me a week or so ago and I sent her the suppliers by state link and suggested she choose a supplier close to her, get a sample kit to start with and TEST TEST TEST. Then I got this email yesterday and still haven't found the choice words for a reply yet. I am appauled at some people.

"I just brought a bunch of your candles to my sister-in-law in Pittsburgh. She and her daughters loved all of them. They had emailed you once a week or so ago about getting info on how to start their own candle business. The oldest daughter just graduated college and is job hunting but needs some income now! There is no real competition back here in this area so she would love to start her own business. Problem is that they are real unsure about the technical aspect of your business. They would love it if you could provide the web addresses of your suppliers. They would like to stick with your exact product type and smell since they are of such great quality! They are really interested in the candles and the smellie jellies. They had never seen a smellie jellie and fell in love with them. Could you tell them how to make a smellie jellie? They printed off basic candle making instructions from the internet but need someone to mentor them telling them how much scent to use to how much wax, how to tell the correct time to pour, what type of wax (all soy or a mix), how to tell the correct wick to use, how much wax makes each candle. How do we figure the cost versus pricing how much does a single candle cost you so she can figure her profit margin. Where do you get the jars and special jellie lids? The college grad obviously has limited funding currently and wants to use your scents since she knows they would be a hot seller around here. Could you tell her if you have mixed the scents or did they come in that scent? They can find craft stores back here but I thought you maybe were buying your supplies from the internet which would be easier for them so they could buy in bulk versus all the small quantity purchases. We would really appreciate your help on this. The job market is so bad back here but amazingly nobody is handmaking candles. Everybody buys store bought ones so we know she could make a go of the business but we really need your guidance. I realize you are very busy but if you could find time to help my niece out we would really appreciate it. Thank you so much for all the help! And trust me this won't effect me buying from you because I am not driving 5 hours for a candle even if it is made by a family member! Thanks again for helping her!"

Crazy huh?

EVEN MORE CRAZY....is the fact that I received almost the SAME letter over a year ago !! .....same references to the college student with limited funds, no competition in her area, and craft stores didn't carry the things they wanted....even right down to the last line of "it won't effect me buying from you".....I will try to find the email, since I DID keep it. I gave her some links and suggested she do the same thing I have done, spend years perfecting by trial and error....never heard from her again.

i love snc and i love angie to death.....but she IS slow, I can't wait, since I already wait till the last minute to realize I needed it yesterday!:whistle:

talk mean to it and threaten it...

there are many days that a candle won't come outfor me but once it sees me comin at it with my wax hammer...they usually get more cooperative.

Never let the candle mold sense your fear...

and don't look it in the eye. thats a sign of agression.

ROFLMAO

any chance you'd consider renting out your handy hubby? lol

OMG....they are beautiful!! You should be so proud, those are spectacular!!

I actually BOUGHT the jack-o-lantern electric from them.....when I GOT the mold and poured one...i didn't how they did it either.....so I wrote them.....what I was TOLD was that the way they took the picture....thats NOT white but is the light shining thru the thinner (cut out) part. Now.....MINE doesn't DO that, so I basically put the mold away, and gave up. This was a year ago Halloween, so I haven't gone back to it again since. I tried the double pour method, but with the electrics, it just doesn't look right to me.