debratant

I started testing a csn 9 and a csn 12 yesterday in the tortoise. Have not been home today enough to do a burn two...but will update you if you want after I do so tomorrow. I wanted to burn a 11 and 12...but I don't have 11's...which surprised me. I thought I did. Wonder why the 9 blew out? I'll watch mine closely! Thanks mama...I love these testing threads. Very helpful!!!

I have an old pair of wire cutters that I'm using. I don't know how sharp they are....it's a pretty old rusted pair. It works great! I'm always reusing left over wicks and tabbing them myself and this is how

I do it. Just don't crimp too hard. HTH!

Here is what mine looks like...only rusty LOL. Works great!

Thanks for that tip on the paper towel Top. I will do that next time. Mine aren't very shiny I've noticed.

Here are the results of burn 4 for the 30 ply.

Before starting burn 4....1 hour into burn...after 3 hours and the wick

once extinguished. I meant to add the the flame seems to be at a good height

and I'm not trimming this wick anymore. I really love these flat braid wicks. The

scent throw has been good too.

I'm always excited to look everytime you post pics. Your candles are beautiful!

Seamed actually do leave a line. I prefer concave as well...and seamless aluminum molds. HTH

Here are the two that I plan to test with csn wicks. Will do that later today

Hi Top.

It's hard to see but my molds are concaved. I can't seem to get a good picture at all.

The 30 ply does seem to be doing quite well. We'll see how burn 4 goes.

I still have the two CSN testers sitting here. I will light them today at some point. They came out pretty though.

I'm going to try covering next time because the pattern on this pillar isn't too prominant. Could be the yellow...but I think it is more that they need to cool slow as you posted in your thread.

The 3rd burn.

When first lit....after 3 hours..and to show the wick.

Please excuse the milk and the newspaper. It was dinner time and I was still drinking my milk. I have to LOL at myself. I spilled my whole cup of coffee all over the newspaper, stove where the candle was and all over my camera which was near the candle. What a mess. My kitchen is just way to small to do candles and cook dinner.:rolleyes2

This is the second burn with the 30 ply flat braid. I did trim the wick before lighting...didn't intend to, but did it out of habit. I am a stickler about trimming and I darn well forgot to leave this one alone. I won't trim the wick the rest of these burns.

At first lighting...then 3 hours later...also a picture of what the wick looks like after the 2nd burn.

Oh...I used Backwoods Lemon Tart @ 6%. 8 drops of liquid yellow dye.

Ok...here is my first test.

The photo's suck...just so you know. My camera needs charging and I don't have any fancy set ups. Just my counter top lol.

I'm not happy with the pattern on this. This is actually the second pour after I remelted because I got impatient with the first one and started finagling with the mold and had major spillage...duh. I can't help it. I was dying to see if the pattern came out. lol

I poured this one at 190...so maybe next time I'll pour at 185 and hope the pattern improves. I didn't heat the mold, cover, insulate etc. Didn't want to be bothered taking up too much of my kitchen counter space.

After following Tops testing...I noticed too that the first burn...there is a nice flame. Not too high. At the end of the 3 hour burn...the flame is rather high IMO. I'm hoping the flame will die down on the next burn tomorrow.

This is a visual of relief holes poked around the wick. I use a bamboo

skewer. You can buy a pack of them at the grocery store. This candle

is cool at this point...and ready for the top off pour.

LMAO Darbla! Bed already? Geesh!!!

I've read the whole series...got the New Moon dvd from Netflix today and hoping to watch it tomorrow night *hubby will want to see it, believe it or not...he liked Twilight*.

I don't remember what Edward was supposed to smell like...you all have good memories lol.

On an off topic note...another great series to read is The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. GREAT reads, though adult reading material only for this series Waiting for the next book in that series.

I just started The House of Night series, by PC Cast the other day. Love me some vampire reading!!!

Interesting. I was wondering why I wasn't getting any emails daily from them LOL.

I did like his lavender vanilla and pumpkin cheesecake. Not sorry I bought those at all.

Seriously....

I've been using the oven for like 8 years to get wax out of jars. Have the temperature set to 200* and never had a problem. Wax melts...dump it out...use an old butter knife to pry the wick off the bottom of the jar. Use a paper towel to wipe out all of the wax residue and...if there is any black soot on the jar it wipes clean without scrubbing etc.

Now...this is for my own use of melting and cleaning the jars that I use for testing purposes only.

That is exactly what I do. Just did 7 jars tonight that have been sitting around for months from my last testing. I pour mine into empty coffee cans...paper towels and all...then out to the trash it goes when it cools down. I then wash them in the sink with some dawn

I would have preferred to wick my molds. I probably should have tried my 30 ply wicking with it just to see. I'll do that another time. My color came out really pretty...hope the pattern develops good. They are cooling in a rubbermaid container that I have filled with rice. I use this because we have an old house that isn't exactly level and I'm able to level them in the rice. Good thing I don't sell. Alot of leveling for 2 freaking pillars.

I didn't wreck them...but will punch thru for the top off pour.

Thank you! I just poured them in my molds. I don't have

spooled csn wicking so wick pins it is. Oh...and not going

to wreck them.

I am getting ready to pour 2 tortoise shell pillars tonight...thanks to your great testing Top. I'm going to pour Berries & Lillies that I bought from Sockmonkey.

I'm hoping to get the same great results with csn that you have.

Am I right in assuming you are using wick pins? Or are you prewicking your molds? I will be using wick pins. Also...are you wrecking your pillars like I've seen mentioned on here before? I plan to not wreck them this time around.

This certainly is the funniest thing I've ever read/heard. The fact that their customers may believe it...that's scary! LOL

I just wanted to update. I received my 2 molds from Woodfields. I'm VERY impressed with the quality. I can't wait to use them. His turn around time is just awesome as well.

From what I can see...they are very well made and with the liners...well...I'm just giddy with excitement LOL. The slab mold has cut lines..which

will make cutting a slab so much easier. It's one of the things that I hated about slabs...not being able to cut the bars straight. I suck at that really.

I know I've not used these yet...but I highly recommend giving them a look if you are in the market for a wood mold.

xraytech...since tog has a new liner system...you will probably be fine. Curious how long it will take you to get them though...so please update us. When I had ordered mine it was nearly 2 months.

yeah...had a problem with that grey goo too. I bought aluminum tape (at the hardware store) and I don't use a screw either. If I use a wick pin...I use some wick stick ums that sucked for wicking jars lol...and cover my hole with that and push the wick pin up thru, then use 2 pieces of aluminum tape to hold the pin straight. For regular wicking...I pull my wick thru...take 2 stick ums and cover the wick and the hole...then add alum tape. Just make sure your aluminum tape is pressed down really well so it doesn't leak.

It's kinda hard to explain. Might be a good tutorial. I'm going to try to pour a few pillars today...perhaps I'll take pics

To be fair...I should mention mine is an older version. He has come out with one piece lining...so perhaps it's better than what I have? I have the very thin foam pieces that you have to put in the mold individually. It isn't a leak proof seal that way.

If you like his molds Brenda..I would give it a try. He does have a long turn around time...

When I see a thick skin on top...I'll poke holes. I'll go back again about an hour later...poke again. I'm not sure how long it takes to form that skin that I look for. I just pour...walk away and do other things then poke when I happen to walk by and see the skin lol.

HTH

Thanks Deb...but I am replacing my TOG made by Paul. It's a shame as I love the versatility of the mold I have...however I can't tolerate the leaking.

You're welcome Camay. I was reading some older threads in a search for molds and found woodfields mentioned. I think Care Bear got some from him? I can't wait to get them.

Yep Kitn...that was it. Fira.

I do have the Ikea drawers. I was hoping to have something lined because I just hate lining molds lol. The thing I liked about the tog was I could do 2 logs with one mold. Or take out the divider and do a slab.

I ended up ordering from woodfields.

http://shop.woodfieldswood.com

I ordered a 2 log mold...and a slab. Heck...I deserve them lol.

I like the wooden molds, but may someday order the hdpe molds and try them out.

Thanks all for your help