smellylittlemonkeys

Buy you some test packs of wicks dont just use 1 kind when testing. I would try ECO, CD, maybe LX and RRD or HTP. That way you can have a varity to test.

Yes your candle is burning too fast. You want almost a FMP but not quite....just a little hang up on the sides.

I dont do that size jar or use your wax so I cant help ya with what wick to try next....other than going down on the ECO's a few sizes. To me double wicking is hard and I avoid it like the plague!!

The wicks you have you could keep in case you decide to do a smaller jar...single wicked OR sell em in the classified section on the fourm here.

tootie

Thanks tootie, I thought it looked like it may be burning too fast. After I snuffed it out and everything hardened back it had burned away just a tad over 1/4 inch of wax in a 4 hour time, is that too much?? I wonder if I went with double wicking using a ECO 6 would work, I actually have some of those!

Agree with what everyone else said... also I might put the wicks a tad closer together -- they were right at the border for my comfort level on proximity to the edges of the container.

If it makes you feel any better -- I think that most new chandlers overwick because we're looking for that FMP in burn #1 -- you think that's what's supposed to happen. You're going through a normal learning process. It really is amazing once you burn a candle all the way through what you end up changing in terms of your wicking.

I was using the EZ Wick Setter to do them, I set them to the second hole closest to the edge, it looked like going in one more was too much. As far as overwicking, I was not specifically trying to do that, I was just using the suggestion of LS. But like you said it is a learning experience.

Live and learn?

If you like the burn of the wicks you are using except for the size issue .... I'd order a wick sample pack .... that way you'll have several sizes to test. Chances are you'll have to wick up or down on some fragrances anyhow so it's always a good idea to have several different sizes on hand when you're testing.

I'm living and def. learning...lol It seems to be burning good, just too hot I guess. I will take a picture when it gets to the full 4 hours of the burn.

So how many different sizes of wicks does everyone use in the same type of jar (depending on FO)?

How long had it been burning in the pic of you measuring the depth of the melt pool?

ETA: Just clicked on the pic and see that it was at 2 hours. IMO that is definitely burning way too hot. I'd try going down 1, or even 2, wick sizes.

*faint*

I was afraid of that. Since I am new and all of that, I made the mistake of just ordering one size for my jar. I asked LS what size to use and that is what they told me so I bought 200 of them, goodness gracious! Since I did that I read about the testing and going up and down. Now what do I do with 200 wrong sized wicks?

What tootie is trying to say is that you're not looking for a full melt pool on your first, or even 2nd burn.

I personally wick my candles so that the 3rd burn will play catch up. On my 1st and 2nd burns I have a small amount of residue left on the sides of the jars but, on the 3rd burn everything catches up nicely and I end up with a clean container in the end.

Thanks! To you does it look like it is burning to fast?

Nice Pics...you should get FMP after 3hrs or so...cant remember how wide your jar is....and dont go for FMP on your first burn either. I am sure Stella will be along to help ya out.

My gut says wicks are too big. may have to go down a size or two.

tootie

Forgot that info, the diameter is 4". You said not to go for full melt pool on first burn, so should I snuff it out?? Or do the complete burn for the four hours?

So I started my test burn on my first candle that I poured. I poured it on Saturday around 2:30pm and started the test burn at almost 1pm today. So that is how long it cured.

I have been taking pictures of it as it has burned and they are here: http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z225/ambernricketts/Candles/

I have titles and descriptions that should give enough information such as wax, FO, wick brand and size.

Would someone be willing to look at them and tell me thier opinion. I am wondering if it is burning too fast?

Didn't they come with squirt lids???

Which ones are you looking for..

http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/lid2/-Black--Flip-Top-Lids.html

Or this one

http://www.peakcandle.com/products/LARGE-Flip-Top-Caps-(Qty-6)__A1022.aspx

I don't even use them.. It is just as easy to pour without it...

They did not come with any, just caps. It was the second one I was looking for, thanks!

But if it is just as easy then no need to get any, just thought it might be easier. Thanks y'all!

Ditto

As I've stated before I am new and still discovering. I bought 16 oz bottles of FO from LS and am wondering if I can purchase the flip top squirt lids from somewhere else that would fit on them.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am going to pass on it this time. Maybe down the road if something like this presents itself I will jump on it. My DH was not really wanting to shell that out right now either so it is best.

I already have 14 or 15 different scents that I got from LS that I need to test and such so I will just stick to what I have and spend the money elsewhere.

On another note I did snag 150 votive molds for $35.00!! It will probably be a LONG time before I use that many at once, but I could always seperate and sell some on Ebay

I'm not very experienced either, but seems like pouring the candle with a wick and then, ripping that wick out and replacing with another size as needed, would be easier than creating a wick hole with a skewer after the wax has hardened.

Who knows, maybe I did it wrong, if so someone who has more experience please tell me how YOU test. I read it on one of the posts here. I had a soy candle that I bought elsewhere and poked it with a skewer to see how easy it would be and it was suprisingly soft and when in very easy and came out with a perfect little hole.

Anyone?

ummm where is the wick?? Looks good otherwise. You have to remember soy looks a little different than its paraffin neighbor.

tootie

Its wickless No really I read on here how to test them by pouring this way and then popping the wick out of the tabs, making a hole with a skewer placing the wick in, lighting it up and seeing how it burns. If it does not do well then it can be snuffed out, removed, and then you either wick up or down according to what the candle was doing with the previous wick.

If this is not correct, please let me know how to test them. I just want to make sure I do everything correct to have a good smelling and of course SAFE candle!!

Smellylittlemonkey... Love the name..

It sounds like you are off to a very good start!!!

A few things that may help you...

First, With C-3, I would add the FO around 170 -175 and pour hotter. C-3 sets up better when poured around 170. IMO

You will have more wax left over as you weighed out 16oz added 1oz FO and other additives, which now you are at 17oz+.

Plus you jar won't hold the full 16oz of wax because I am sure you do not fill it to the brim..

Also.. I don't think you need to wash and warm each jar..

Good Luck..

Thank you! I tried to read as much as a could before I couldn't resist the urge to pour anymore and today was the day

Hmmm, I guess I had a brain toot, because that would make sense, the wax plus the 1 oz of FO, would make it more. Since I am in the testing stage I don't want to do a lot of the same FO all at once. How would you suggest doing it? I don't want to waste wax either.

Next time I will try pouring a little warmer.

SLM, add UV with the wax. If you choose to use other additives, such as other waxes, veggie oils, stearic acid or USA.

...and 1 oz. pp is already a little over that.

I do allegedly different, "unorthodox" things and procedures with C3, so I'll keep quiet and let all the folks who have no problems with this wax give you a hand - wouldn't wanna confuse a poor ol' noob with TMI... or any cooking references.

I did not think to do that, was not sure if it had to be added at the temp the FO was added, I will be sure to do this next time. By the way what is USA? Do you think 1 oz pp is an okay amount with this wax without the other additives?

I would love to hear your "unorthodox" ways of doing things! In reference to the cooking are you replying to your fudge post?

I had this same problem with the UV. Here is what I do.

I weigh out my wax (C3 flakes) the pour it into my presto pot and add the UV at that time. I then melt them together and transfer the amount I need into my pour pot. This allows for the UV to completely dissolve.

I hope I explained that ok. Let me know if it is not clear.

HTH

ETA: Darn Stella, your quick. Must have been posting at the same time. LOL

I guess great minds think alike! Thanks for taking the time to give your input as well, I will be sure to do this next time!

I am going to try to post a picture of the candle, after I hit it with the heat gun, maybe that was not a good idea, don't know. When I just melted the top it started having a little bubbling action?? So I poked it with a skewer to release air ( I think that is right) and the way it looks in the picture is what I have now. Ugh!

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z225/ambernricketts/Candles/?action=view&current=firstcandle.jpg

Okay I peeked! I looked after 2 1/2 hours and well I am sad, sad, sad! There is a round looking crack sinkish looking thing going on! Ugh!! Help...lol

I just poured my very first candle and I am a bit excited and a little bit nervous about how it is going to turn out. Right now it is cooling.

I used 16 ounces of C-3 Nature wax melted to 185F in a Presto pot (that my lovely DH made for me) and then transfered into a pour pot. It was stirred while it was cooling to 160F. I then added 1 ounce of German Chocolate Cake fragrance from LS, 1/2 tsp. of UV Inhibitor, 7 drops of Coffee/Carmel liquid dye from LS. It was stirred for 5 minutes while cooling down to 140F. It was poured into a 16 oz. apothecary jar, which was washed, air dried, and warmed in the oven. It is now cooling on a wire wrack with a box over it. I want to peek so bad, but I won't!

Now the questions!

Does it sound like I am off on the right foot on how and when to melt/add FO/UV?

When I put in the UV I noticed some of it was not wanting to disolve. Has anyone had any problems with this? Tricks or tips to keep it from staying solid in there?

I used 16 ounces of wax (or at least I think I did) but after I poured into the jar I had some left over. I believe I poured to the right location of the jar. I got my scale, put down a silicone pad to protect it from heat, tared it, put the pot on it, tared it, and then added the wax to 16 ounces. Any suggestions?

I believe I need to wait 48 hours before I start testing it, right? How long does it take for it to completely cool?

Any other suggestions?

I REALLY appreciate this forum and the people on here!

I am just getting started in making candles and I know someone that is near me that use to make candles. Due to health reasons she is selling out. She has 429 ounces of FO. She purchased them from Alabaster, Candles and Supplies, Gelluminations, and the Candlemaker's Store. She said they were purchased right before Christmas. She is wanting .50 an ounce for it.

Is this a good deal? I am unsure of what scents she actually has, she is just wanting to sell them as a lot. Since I am just starting out I of course have not had samples of these companies. What are your opinions on these suppliers?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

Okay, I am a noobie so forgive me here, so new I have not even made my first candle yet! I am still trying to learn what and what not to do. I just bought some of this wax Mothers day weekend at Lone Star Candle Supply in Keller. Does this mean that they will no longer be selling it? I liked the fact that I could pick it up.

ETA: I guess I should have checked their site first! Lone Star will still be carrying the wax it appears through Elevance. Yea!

Welcome to CT and the addiction

There is an abundant amount of info on the board here, in all the different sections. Kick back, put your feet up and start reading. It wont take long before you see a dozen different things that you just HAVE to try... shortly after that your brain will go into info overload and you'll forget most of what you just read

Satin, thanks for the welcome and the advice. You are right, I have not been reading that long and I already see SO many things I want to try, DH is not so sure.

Welcome to the board anyway!!

tootie

Thanks for the welcome.

LOVE that screen name, SLM!! Makes me think back on the days when my Moose was running through here with a gang of smelly monkeys!!! Sure wish I had been making candles then...

I love wick pins... they've been berry, berry good to me. Invest in a piece of emory cloth to sand down the WICKED edge of the metal votive cups. Keep bandaids close by just in case...

Read, read, read!! There is so MUCH information in the threads her, it'll make your brain swell!! It gets frustratin' sometimes, but keep on pluggin' and testing and sooner or later, you'll get there! KEEP NOTES on everything you do!! And remember where you PUT the notes!! Have fun!!

Stella, thank you for the warm welcome! I actually planned on using that as my candle/B&B goodies name but not completley sure. I wanted something a little off the wall and not just blah. I am kind of a quirky person so it fits. You guessed where the name came from sorta, it is after my two smelly little "monkeys". I have a 3 year old girl and a two year old boy who consume my days so it kind of fit to include them in some way in this adventure. Let me know if it completley stinks, no pun intended.

I am starting to compile myself a little notebook on tips and tricks and plan to have blank paper in it so I can note what I do so I will know to do it again, or not.

I am saving up for a drill press but I currently use a dremel with a 4" drill bit. Hubby rigged up a template dealy ma bob to keep it centered for now. Life is sooo much simpler for me.

While I was doing research on the net today I ran upon this site. http://wickcenteringtool.com/default.asp?S=E3&Document=Wick+Centering+Tool+Info&NID=4470966

Scroll down to the bottom of it to see the press that they use. What do you think about that?

Hi,

I am new here and have a question. I am still trying to gather supplies and learn of course. I am thinking wick pins would be the best way to go for my votives. I've noticed they are not the cheapest little item though. I am also looking for votive molds.

ETA: I also saw something about using a drill press to drill the wick hole, does anyone do this? Opinions?

If ya'll would be so kind to direct me to the best place to get each of these items at a good price & quality of course I would appreciate it!

I hope to one day be able to help someone out and want to thank ya'll for those who help us newbies out! I have already found so much information and ideas it is amazing!

I was wondering if you would mind sharing how to do this box? My three year old and two year old love both coloring and taking baths so I am sure they would love these!