burnt_fingers

What do you use to scoop the wax out (if this is what is done). I don't think I'll drill a hole in it...

A soup ladle works fine, but you should consider adding a spigot. So much easier.

Thanks Scented! That is good to know. They smell just fine so I guess they are a keeper for now.

I have a couple of FOs that are at least a few years old if not more. Is there a shelf life to FOs?

I use one of those pizza bricks. I attached some of those cork surface protectors on the underside to prevent it from sliding around and place the gun on it until it cools. To this day my wife has yet to figure out I have confiscated it. She thinks it was lost in the move.

I bought a Black & Decker at Wally World for under $20. Two settings (high/low). Never needed to use high as low does the trick.

I can't answer "best" but I make pillars with 4625 in that diameter and use LX-22, suppose I could try HTP some day. I do not add additional additives other than dye and a FO if the project calls for it but twisting the wick is extremely helpful in keeping a uniform melt pool. If you have not done a twisted wick there are two ways depending on how you pour your candle. I use a wick pin so I soak my raw wick in molten paraffin for several minutes, remove and then add a few twists, 3 to 4, let cool and then save until ready to be inserted into the hardened candle. Without a pin you would have to secured the wick in the mold, twist and hold twat during the pouring and cooling process. It is well worth the effort.

I have never heard of the twist. How does twisting the wick help in keeping a uniform melt pool?

Hello All,

My daughter says to me yesterday while taking her to school (1st grade) "when are we going to make candles dad?" I am always up for doing projects with the kids. She and I decided on pillars (3" dia. X 4.5" height) and votives. I have been using HTP and LX wicks with great results, but that is with IGI 4627 and containers. My question is what wicks work best with IGI 4625?

LX 16 starting point

Thank you!

I was needing a good excuse to get out of going to church.

Not sure if my wife will buy it though.

Thanks for the recommendation. Can I ask what wicj you use for a 3.25 x 3.25 container?

My daughter and I are doing a candle making project in a couple of weeks while my wife and son are off to a birthday party. She wants to make scented candles. Can someone please suggest a parrafin wax with excellent scent throw? I am not interested in soy. I just can't get it to throw scent well.

Just a thought, why not ask Gen Wax if they would give you the same pricing as another online source?

I finally got around to buying a Presto pot. Works great! For now I just pour directly from the pp into a pitcher then add color and scent. While pouring from the pp to a pitcher is fine, I think for me a spigot would be best. To play it safe I will use a bucket under the spigot just in case.

Try using an exacto knife. Slip the blade just slightly under the edge of the lablel and pinch with your finger on the opposite side and peel off. Continue holding the label in this manner and transfer the label to your container. Begin the transfer with the label end that is suspended and work your way towards the label end which you are holding with the blade and your finger. I hope this makes sense. Not so easy having to put this into words. This is what I do when placing labels and decals on models.

EcoSoya CB-Advanced Soy is made from soybeans and selected botanical oils.

The CBL-129 is great.

My wife bought Peak's Macintosh Apple and we used the FO in Candlewic's CBL-129 and ES Container Blend Advanced. The scent is as different as night and day. In the CBL-129 it comes close to the smell that comes straight from the FO bottle. Crisp and clean. In the Container Blend Advanced, it is not even close to the original scent. The crispness is gone and there is but a faint tone of apple and some funky undertones that just does not scream Macintosh apple or apple of any sort.

I have tried to find a heat gun at walmart and could not find one Were they in the crafts section?

I bought mine about a year ago. They were in the tool section. It is a Wagner model HT1000. Below is a picture of it from the Wagner website. When I looked online at Walmart they do not list it. It may be that it is an in store special or that WM no longer carries them. As others suggested, checkout the big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Other sources might be KMart.

Ok so I want paying close attention and accidentally pour wax down my sink, stupid I know but any ideas on how to get the wax out? Drano maybe?

TIA

Angie

Drano probably will not work and for sure it will not work if the wax went beyond the trap. At that point your pipes are set at an angle to take advantage of gravity and Drano would just flow on by. If you have clean outs along the way, you can use a snake and hot water to see if that will break up wax. If you go this route, you are better off having a plumber do the work.

Don't know if this will work, but vinegar is a great odor neutralizer. Test a small area first to see if the vinegar will react with the silicone mold.

This stuff works awesome.

http://www.dynonobel.com/NR/rdonlyres/209B7E9F-6C15-40EF-B677-2C14EAE41623/0/Primacord.pdf

Now you are talking!

Here is what I do to break up a slab of wax. Using a nail make scorelines in the wax slab in 5 equal parts. Be sure the scoreline is about 1/8" to 1/4" deep. Take two 3 foot sections of 2x4 and place one of the boards under the wax and directly below the scoreline. Using the second board place it on top of the slab just above the scoreline. It should look as though the two boards would be side by side if not for the wax in between them. Take a hammer and give the top board a good wack. Do this at each scoreline. Most times I get a good break and end up with roughly 2 lbs sections. I hth.

Looking good!

During a test burn I like to touch the side of the glass at several places above the melt pool to ensure the glass is not too hot. I have had occassions when the melt pool and flame height seemed right, but the glass was way too hot. I found this to be the case more with square braid.

Woo Hoo! Keep up the good work! How does the points thing work for the hubby's..or should I ask..lol:lipsrseal.Good Luck!

Kim

Somethings are just better off left to the imagination.

I think the presto pot is the way to go for my needs. Melting 5 pounds or less of wax is the most I'll need to keep my wife and family members in candles. Making candles for my wife earns me points. They added up quickly and last week she gave me the go ahead to buy a new fly rod.

Thanks for the replies. If I get the Presto pot I think I will add a spigot. I know I read somewhere the instructions on how to install one. Does anyone have that link they can share?

Never mind I found it. Just in case anyone would like the link, here it is. http://www.candletech.com/general-information/do-it-yourself-wax-melter/