drusilla

Hmm, "know-it-all attitude" I don't think saying "this is what works for me" counts there. "Asking for help or suggestions", nope, I didn't do that either, I offered some. "Refuse to or worse, try and belittle any advice given", eh, still gonna have to go with no on that one. I didn't belittle anything; I gave my POV, my reasons, and stuck with my method. I wasn't condescending in any way shape or form; I even said that it was likely, that I was doing it "wrong". Wanna try another reason? In so far as "running here for sympathy" it isn't really in my personality. If something's got me down in the dumps/upset/whatever, I'm more likely to call a good friend, maybe get a pint of ice cream (or a 6-pack of hard cider) and call it a night. Now I'm sure I've had enough of this banter (as that's what it's turned into) and I don't think that the author of this thread really wants to pick through this argument to find answers to her question. If you'd like to continue this, send me (or Draco, or both of us) a PM and we can certainly continue to talk about it, that is, if you'd like to talk, not lecture, not scold, etc... In the end, I think that you're going to find that your message was probably meant with good intentions, but that I feel your delivery sucked, and your most recent message is the same. A good way to cause someone NOT to listen is by being overbearing. Scare tactics (i.e. burning someone's house down, killing people, etc...) are also pretty useless on me or I probably would've quit smoking by now. I'm glad that you have a method that works for you, I hope that you're happy with it and it seems like you are. I have a method that works for me (and let me take the time to state here that container candles probably make up 5% or LESS of what I make and as Draco said up above, voties/tarts which are most of what we make HAVE been tested). I took that method and spent quite a bit of time making just one scent and burning it here at home, for my own recreation and relaxation. That's why I started making my own candles in the first place, for MYSELF. It got very addicting very quickly and the only reason I'm inclined to sell candles now is because I just don't have the space/storage to keep everything that I make!

Jade- You're absolutely right! In time, with larger batches, it might prove to be important, but right now, if I make a 2lb batch, it's a BIG deal. For the most part, I'm working in 1lb increments. And yes, I was being completely sarcastic. Instead of asking me for reasons why I was doing something that she felt was "wrong" she went off on her "flat-ass" tangent. Don't need it. I came here to get new ideas and share what I've learned, not get scolded like a child. I went out of my way NOT to say "This is the right way, this is the only way!!!!!" and purposely said "This is what I do, this is what I've done it with, and it works for me" For me to take a full "batch" of wax to test burn it is crazy at this stage of the game. Unlike many folks here, a 10lb slab is the largest I buy, and again, 1lb is my regular batch, to take half of that for a "test burn" is unrealistic. I'm sure many of you folks make better candles then I do, but everything I've made, I'm happy with and everything I've burned has burned well for me. I'd say that's progress and a damn good start!!!! Also, I have a VERY small 4 room apartment; I barely have enough room in my kitchen to hold all of my supplies. For me to test burn every scent and every batch is impossible. As it is, just from the production end of things, I've lost at least 50% of my sense of smell. I currently can't smell much of a difference between my cappuccino and my fresh cut roses. There's a difference, and a big one at that, but my tiny apartment is so full of scent right now that I can't smell it (Draco assures me that she can and they both smell wonderful though). So for me to have several different scents burning at the same time just doesn't work. Draco- Dearest, I'm not leaving the site, I'm sure I'll still spend time reading and occasionally even posting, but to get smacked down and around like this after less then 24 (actually, just about 12) hours on my own screen name is discouraging. There's plenty of ways that Beth could've gone about saying what she wanted to say that would've been productive and well received, she chose not to, that's her business. ______________________________________________________ I don't come to message boards/forums/chat rooms/newsgroups/etc... for verbal beatings. They're unnecessary and usually a sign of some type of insecurity. If I really need a cyber slap, I can go say something really stupid to one of my professors and get one there, at least I'm paying for that! This is not to say that I don't appreciate other viewpoints and ideas. I do, very much, especially from those who are more experienced, however, there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

Well Beth...I've been on the site less then 24 hours. Thanks for the warm welcome!

Doesn't surprise me in the least, I'm the first to admit that I'm still trying new things, seeing what works, and even making mistakes. So far the smaller test burn works for me. I've done it with soy, paraffin, and container wax with no problems. But that's me.

I could be the one doing it wrong as I only have a short time of doing this under my belt, but to date, I've never had a problem doing it this way. It's less waste/time testing. Remember that even in a smaller batch, you still have a beginning/middle/end, they're just shorter.

I should also say that I'm at home all the time right now, so having a candle burning isn't something I'm only limited to an hour or two a day with.

Well, I wouldn't take in any crazy kind of jar, but as far as test burning goes, I never have to fill a container to it's max to test the throw/burn, a small amount of wax will give me that. The idea for me is to make whatever amount will fill that jar plus a little, take the small amount that extra and do a short/small test in the jar. I recycle/reuse a lot of things, If I buy pre-tabbed wicks and have pieces that are large enough to reuse after wicking something, I do. I've found for the most part that buying a longer wick isn't that much more expensive then a shorter wick and with longer wicks I can re-tab the excess and use it for pennies so wick cost isn't really an issue. I've also found that my price per oz of wax to produce from the wax to the wick and everything in between is about $.30 and for the average 8oz container I charge $6 which offsets the cost of the container. So for a jar fill, I'd take no more then about $2 off which still puts me at about $.50 an oz and I'm still in the black. As far as time is concerned, I can either spend the time shopping around for containers or testing wax from the comforts of home. I'd rather be at home! It's still a fairly new program though, if it becomes too time-consuming, I may not continue it, but so far, I don't forsee any problems.

Ok, admittedly, I haven't read the entire thread (bad me) but here's some suggestions. Try local flea markets-sometimes you can find things and even in bulk. Consider different types of suppliers-A candle supplier is not the end-all-be-all! A restaraunt supply store might have some of what you're looking for, glass jars are used in a lot of places. Consider a jar-fill program-I started this immediately upon setting my price list. I offer a discount if a customer brings me a jar they want filled. This saves on me shopping for jars and/or paying to ship them and ensures that customers get what they want. Craft Stores-It can't hurt to look. I browsed through my local craft store a few weeks ago and found some very darling little containers, they were even on clearance, 12 for $3 and they old about 1/4lb of wax.

I also have a few suppliers that I use. I get quite a bit from my local supplier CandlesandSupplies but I've also found ebay to be wonderful in getting some things C&S just doesn't have. There's a new supplier there that I've started working with...Family Companies Candle Supplies. I tried them as they had a big 36oz lot available for less then $1 an oz and it was a pick your scents lot. I got a variety of different scents (some of which I haven't seen elsewhere) and out of 36oz there was a total of 3oz (one scent) that I absolutely HATED and got rid of but that's the risk you take when ordering a scent that you haven't smelled. I was beyond satisfied with the other 33oz though and will be ordering again.

Ok, I got my hands on 1oz of Lemongrass Sage FO in a soy kit I bought some time ago. I ended up using the Lemongrass Sage in a paraffin wax and one of Draco's co-worker's fell in love with it and wants more. So I checked my local suppliers first to see if either of them had it, no dice. Jumped online (as that's where I got it the first time) and found it, ordered it. Apparently, I'm a moron because I ended up purchasing it from a very unrepituable seller. Now I'm nearly a week behind in getting this order made and still have no FO to show for it. Does anyone know of a supplier who sells this FO preferably in small increments? I really don't want more then 4oz of it.

I checked the FO load for that wax and 1 1/2oz is the max, maybe try bringing it down to 1oz and see if that helps. I also use zinc cores and have NEVER had any of the problems you mentioned. I've used the little mason jars (as well as the big ones) and those haven't caused me any problems either. One of the few large candles I kept for myself is in a big antique ball jar and it burns well with no problems. I'm thinking that the FO might need to be reduced a bit.

(*tips hat* finally got my own handle....anyway!) With the 4045 do you use the additives or is it just a melt n pour? Candlewic is less then an hour from me and if the wax is really worth it I don't mind making the trip to pick it up (I really HATE paying to ship wax, it gets so expensive).

That's probably your best bet. If you don't have a pair of old pantyhose around, Draco and I have found that one of those dishtowels that kind of look like thermal material work. I imagine any non linty dishtowel would work, it does take more time though.

(ok ok, finally got my own handle!) I wonder if they would let you place an online order and pick it up if they're not planning on keeping Saturday hours that weekend.