DatCandleMaker

NO suggestions on the wicking, but where do you get these jars from? I am looking for a supplier in or near Texas. TIA! Dat

I like the monochromatic and it will be much less expensive when printing labels and business cards. I would change the rectangle to an oval to soften it up some. You could try doing it in reverse though - that would add some zip. Just in case you don't know what reverse means. Everything that is white would be black and everything that is black would be white. If the black rectangle/oval was too strong you could go down to a grayscale. Good Luck Dat

You can use any size you want. But you MUST buy fittings the same size. Go to a small hardware store and get help. The guy that works in the plumbing area should be able to help you out. The sizes listed on the instruction page are just a guideline, not the absolute must have size. Good Luck. Dat

Try the small tube that looks like toothpaste. It is a smidge more expensive but it is much easier to work with. Also, don't cut a hole in the plastic pointed tip, just unscrew it to use. No dried out gloop that way. Washing jars takes too much time. Come on people TIME = MONEY! Dat

Did you poke relief holes? If you don't do the relief holes, as the wax cools it pulls away from the sides of the mold in a fashion similar to this. It is called dimpling. Dat eta: It is a very nice looking candle. Great 1st time!

I disagree with the concept that all candle business names must SOUND like a candle from the name. "yankme" did not make people think of candles before they got big. One day MunchieBean could be synonous with great candles. IMO names that are unique and stand out from the crowd are remembered better than mainstream type names. I love the logo and the name. You better used to explaining it though, cause EVERYONE is going to ask what that means! Dat

Ok here are some ideas. I did not check any out, but these words are appealling to me! I think TRUE has a very unique ring to it. Dat Naturalites Nature's Recipe Naturerific (dorky?) Ignite Spark Elements TRUE Zen Essential Charmed

does anyone else hear that sucking noise? or is it just me? Dat

Woohooo best news I have heard yet. If the small shops keep dropping Yankme then there will be MORE shops for my candles. How do you figure that Yankme has good candles? They tunnel, they leave hang up, they smoke, they don't throw. Once upon a time they were a quality candle company. To quote Mr Poe - NEVERMORE! Dat

Oh PLEEEAAAASE! Yankme is a North American candle company and they suck like a piglet on it's momma. Most companies are good when the come on the market, but it is not long before they are horrible. Has to be a dollar and cents issue. And the fact that most tunnel or leave a lot of hang up tells me they are afraid of a full melt pool. JMO Dat

My personal opinion on the biggies is that they are AFRAID to get a full melt pool. They are afraid that the idiots out there will not burn the candle correctly and then jars will burst or something will catch on fire. When that happens the idiots always sue. It is of course the idiots fault, but the big companies have to much too loose. I think their insurance provider are as much to blame as anything else. I have not seen a commercial candle that burns as well as my "bad" candles do. I am shocked everytime. When I bought candles I was always disgusted with how they burned. Between the left over wax, smoke stack, and lack of any scent I just couldn't stand it. I quit burning candles at all until I made my own. Just my thoughts on the matter. Dat

I wonder if stacking them straight out of the oven caused it? The heat would make them expand then when they cooled they would contract. Not sure how much contraction you would get, but it is a thought. Maybe they are just in love and can't bear to be separated?????? Dat

Those wicks look to big to me. That could be what is causing the flare up. It could also be the customer. I wonder how LONG those 9 people burned the candle for? Dat

Just to put a different spin on it. You were correct and so was Top, but it took me a really long time to figure out the %'s because I am math-challenged. An example - I'll use 10% FO because it is easy. If you want to make a 7 oz candle that is your starting point and you go backwards from there. wax 7.0 oz = 100% less 0.7 oz FO = 10% equals 6.3 oz wax = 90% If you include other additves they would still be taken from the total. So if you add vybar at 6% then you formula would be. wax 7.0 oz = 100% less 0.7 oz FO = 10% less .42 oz Vybar = 6% equals 5.88 oz wax = 84% The more additves you add the lower the % of wax. Hope that helps! Dat

Cet, personally I love it when you get ON your soap box. An intellectual argument is a rare thing! Thanks for the links, they are great Dat.

you cannot compare every candle to 1 yankee. And ANY candle will burn like a smoke stack if burned improperly by a moron that can't read the safety instructions. Just because you cannot see something does not make it better or safe. It makes you a nimrod for ignoring it. JMHO Dat ETA: Great read DI, thanks for "clearing" the air

Hey E do you like the FO? I still love it and I still smell wood. Granted I smell fresh wood, but wood. I guess the carpenter's daughter in me is showing through Dat

Comfort blend has less (if any) wet spots because it is a very soft wax. Any wax that is softer should give you fewer wet spots. Also, a single pour wax will adhere better than those that require the 2nd pour - less shrinkage. If you are blending your own you could research adding some hotglue to your wax, this will aid in the adhesion to the wall of the jar. Don't slam me people... I said RESEARCH! Dat

I have been mixing my own wax for over a year now. I use a lmp straight paraffin, crisco and vybar. I have been very happy with my blend. I did a lot of research before I started mixing. I have not been happy with any of the preblends out there and I did not like the inconsistencies from batch to batch. I think by mixing my own, I have learned more about the physical attributes of the paraffin.Crisco does help the adhesion to the jar and the throw. If your wax is already a container was, you need to be careful with the amount of Crisco to avoid excessive smoking. This is not for everyone. It has taken me a long time to get to where I am happy with my wax. I have had lots of failures. But it has definitely been a learning experience. I just bought a slap of 4786 (? to lazy to go look it up) to try - I have heard rave reviews about this wax. Dat

oh I love fascinación-alluring Fascinacion is wonderful. It just leaves everything wide open. You could have different tag lines to go with the different product lines. I seems very elegant and upscale. Dat

Have you calculated the weight of the wax in the container? If you are using an 11oz jar, the 11oz is volume not weight. My 11oz tureen holds approximately 9 oz of wax by weight. That might be where you are off... just a thought. Dat

Red until it is about the hue that you want. Then add brown to get the dusty effect. i would start with the smallest amount of brown you can manage and then increase it from there. Good Luck! Dat

Candle ingredients are measured by weight not volume. Using a teaspoon or tablespoon gives you a VOLUME measurement. To get a precise 1 oz by weight you must use a scale. Example: a gallon of water weighs less than a gallon of milk, even though by volume they are the same. Clear as mud???? You can get a scale at WalMart in the kitchen section. It is not a top of the line, but it will do to get you started. Estimating by using half the bottle of a 2 oz bottle will get the job done for now. Good Luck! Dat

Here, Here! Well said. Research upfront can save you lots of mooolah! I still believe you can learn more from reading other people's Q&A than you ever will by begging for specifics. Dat