serenamarie

I remebered someone saying they were in the paint department so I go back there and ask this man where I might find the heat guns and he asked me what are you using it for? crafts? and I said kind of ... candles. So he directs me to the craft/sewing department and I told him no, I would like a heat gun that cost $22 and he said the best thing for you is in the craft aisle since you are doing a craft. I then tell him "okay, well if Im peeling paint off the walls where might I find a heat gun?'' and he looks at me strangely and directs me to the POWERFUL heatgun I want, lol. Poor guy was trying to protect me or something.

So...so far Ive melted wax out of containers and smoothed tops of tarts, what else do you use your heat gun for?

Thank you so much Sharon, I was wondering how other people did theirs. I just dont like mine seeing light through the hole so when i am making them I always pour a few tarts for the bottom. Im just having a difficult time with the light bulb. Seems my best bet is to cut up some tart and push it all around the light bulb or work from the bottom up.

Forgot to add I was using paraffin wax from a craft store and pouring at 150. I have also been melting down old pillars to do some test ones too. Im having trouble with the hole.

What kind of wick rolls should I buy? Ill generally be working with ecosoy pb for my projects Id like to do if that matters.

Thanks again!

Oh well i silly me didnt know you could get wicking by the roll per say. This is the way I would go, seems alot easier in my opinion.

This helps so much, BIG thank you. Your wick does not need the silver thing on end? You just cut it to length? Thanks again, you are GREAT!!!

Thank you Vicky, a visual would really help

Okay - here was my first shot at putting in the light - first the hole was too big so i took a knife and carved some was out them i got the socket in and i just could not get both of the silver ends to seed into the candle. When i got done with making do you could see light all around the bulb which I dont think looks that great so I put the candle on wax paper and poured some of the same wax into the candle (note the circle around the inside) and once that dried I flipped it and did the same for the other side.

As you can see its just a mess. Also my candles have a whitish spots on them, what is this from? temp? Should the mold be heated? And also what can a heat gun do for me in this situation? Im just so confused and want to make purdy ones!

What am I doing right or wrong? Is there a way to put the light in easy?

Here are some pics

As you can see its a fine mess:angry2:

so you can put the wick in when the candle is hardened?

also if anyone could by chance post a pic of what this will look like minus the wax id really appreciate it, im trying to get a visual and not ask a slew of questions.

here is what the mold will make

So you make a small hole at the top of the closed end mold

and have somekind of wick holder going across the open end?

I have not even begun with wicks in candles yet so i know I am ahead of myself. I am assuming I should by the ez wick setter though for the future?

Thanks for all the advice, I need it - lol:cheesy2:

that should be closed end

I bought a cinnamon roll flexible mold and was wondering how you would put a wick in this sice the top of the cinnamon bun is basically at the closures end of the mold

no, i mean shelf life scent :smiley2:

Im just wondering how long tarts keep their scent approximately.

Yes, ill check there, I ordered some for 2.99 each today somewhere online. Is that price in the ball park?

Speaking of suppy ..... how long are tarts good for after being made? Im just wondering how long they can be stored.

I made a nice red grubby candle with a mold from flexible molds - not i had a cord light here but it didnt have the silver things going down each side of the socket. Can someone point me in the general direction of where i can find the light socket/cord I need please and is there an easy way to get it in the candle?

Also the cord, Do you make a little indent at the bottom of the candle so it stays flat? I dont know if I am doing this wrong or what.

Thanks for the help and advice.

I am so impatient I went to the craft store and bought a slab of wax which they said it was paraffin. I did purchase some ky parasoy wax which i hope is good for tarts and such, it just has not arrived thus far.

This is just a test run per say ... i dont want to mess us my good wax

Right now i am making just tarts/melts, you know the little bakery items. What do I poke holes with?

Thanks for the help. Im really trying to research as well

opps, this was not suppose to be a new thread, sorry:(

Also when am I allowed to view classified ads? When I give up my wax drip stage or something, lol

Well I poured my very first batch this morning to see how this candle making goes. I melted app. two pounds of paraffin wax and poured at 140. I managed pouring a grubby candle, some cinnamon buns, 6 tarts, 2 cookies, and 2 mini cupcakes. That was about at 9:30 am. I noticed some of the middles are sinking in. Now is this one of the reasons for a heat gun as to reheat the tops and repour? I do not have a heat gun yet but I can see I will need one. Also how long do you leave the wax in the molds?

That experience was quite fun indeed and now my basement smells like coffee.

Generally Im kinda organized too but with this stuff I am at a loss. Right now I have my candle wax in big bags by 5 lbs, is that bad or should I get a closed container? How do you store thosde little color chips as well?

I am gonna try and make my first electric grubby candle today and see how that goes. Do you store like tarts and such in closed containers?

Well I do have those three drawer plastic carts with the hard woodlike tops I can take my crap out of and find another place to put the crap in while I take those downstairs and put more crap in them.

I'll put labels on the drawers.

My husband thinks im nuts because I go from one craft to another.

How did you all start off making candles?