JimC

Thanks for your inputs. I did forget to mention that I tried 6% and 8% FO loads and I do not use any additives. Early on I was testing without any fragrance. I am currently using LX wicks. I tried zinc....too many big mushrooms and soot. I tried CDs...a little sooty. I tried HTPs. The LXs seemed to have the nicest and cleanest flame. Just yesturday I discovered how to handle the HTP wick curl. ( the curl places the end of the wick in the hottest part of the flame thus helping to eliminate mushrooms and self trim the wick: however, it also moves the flame off center thus moving the melt pool off center ). I discovered how to determine which way the wick will curl. So if I place the wick 1/4 inch off center and have the wick curl toward the center, I can place the flame and melt pool in the center of the jar. I do not know which wick burns hotter.... LX, CD or HTP.

I am a new candle maker. I have all of the normal problems under control ( even wicking ) except for one.....Hot Sent Throw. I am using a 50/50 blend of J223 and IGI 4786 wax. I get a clean burning 1/4 to 1/2 inch melt pool. I have tried a total of 37 FO's from three different suppliers. Cold sent throw of a number of these samples was good to excellent. Hot sent throws from all the samples ranged from fair to almost non existant. I had a second opinion that agreed with mine. I test in a rather large room; however, before I attemt to sell any I want the sent to fill a large room. I did also try some of them in a very small room with the same results. I add the FO around 165 to 170 degrees, stir for at least 2-3 minutes and pour at 155 to 160 degrees within 15 minutes of adding FO. One thing that concerns me is the accuracy of my thermometers. I have 6 of them... two glass candy type, three bi-metal dial type and one bi-metal digital. Depending upon the depth of the wax being measured, there is as much as a 15 degree difference between the six of them. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Any assistance would be appreciated.