jen08

Hello! I'm not sure how to use the quote tool, so I hope my answers make sense: I have been testing for the wrong amount of time (3 hours). You're right, I measured the inside of my tin and it is 2 5/8. I was going by the dimentions on the supplier's website, which had to have been the outside measurement. As for the tester that had 1/8" wax left and was still going; I know what I did. (And will NOT do again). I used the wrong tab on that wick (short neck instead of the long neck). The tab with the longer neck should be more likely to extinguish the wick with a safe amount of wax left, right? I will retest that one and see what happens. That was the only tester I tabbed myself with a long leftover wick. I am using a high-heat heat gun to affix my wicks to the bottom of the container. I had a regular heat gun years ago, then upgraded when my wicks came loose a few times. Is there something safer to use, to assure that what you mentioned above never happens? (You scared me, which is good, we need to be safe.)

Stella - I am still in the process of burning a few testers. Some of them are developing small mushrooms which are falling off. I'll see how much bigger they get as I continue to test them(Apple Harvest CD 10 and Vanilla CD 10). I am also testing a few that have not develped any mushrooms yet. My real enemies are Fall Harvest and Sea Mist. I tested Fall Harvest with a CD 10. After the 6th test burn I dismissed it as too big. The tin wasn't too hot, but the remainder of the wax (1/2") was completely melted, along with all the hang up and it had a HUGE mushroom. So I tested a CD 8. Here are a few shots taken after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hour of the 6th test burn: Could a CD 8 possibly be too big? Thank you for all your help with this. Coconut - Thank you for the recommendation. I have heard lot of good things about those wicks...

Hi, I'm back! Been testing more, and have come up with pretty consistant results. CD 8s start out nice. Then after a few burns, flames get smaller, but the hang up still melts. But they all develop huge mushrooms. CD 10s start out really nice, then after a few burns....mushrooms. They still all smell really nice, but I can't take any more mushrooms! They all get trimmed to 1/4 inch before I light them and they start out just beautiful. Then about 1 hour into the test, the mushrooms start to grow... Tricks me every time. I'm thinking about pulling out my old ECOs from years ago and testing them again...not real sure what to do.

Oh, and I had one quick question about the wick size...I think all this testing has me going googly-eyed, and am kind of getting more confused. I felt like I almost had it...now..I guess we'll see. When I was testing the CD 12s & 14s, I really liked the size of the flame...it was nice and comfortable, right around 1/2" high and the scent throw was great. Now that I'm getting to the last few burns, the tin is getting very warm, and they are mushrooming. I only have about 1/8" wax left in the bottom, so they are almost done. Is this normal, or could you say that this is definitely over-wicked? Because... I have now completed the 2nd test burn of the CD 8 and CD 10 wicks, and I realize that it is still early, but the flame is smaller, right around 3/8" high, and there is about 1/4" hang up all around. The scent throw is no where near what it was with the larger wicks. I know that as I continue, the hang up will melt, I guess what I am asking, is what is a good flame size for a tin? Sorry...I know this is a little rambly...Thank you for the help.

Hello! Just an update on the testing... Well...I have completed 8 testburns on the CD 12s and 14s. Set #1: Sea Mist (results following 8th burn) CD 12: no mushroom, most of hang up melted...container's barely warm CD 14: no mushroom, almost all hang up melted...container's barely warm Both tins have a nice-looking flame (not quite 1/2") Looks like there's about 1/4" wax left following burn. Set #2: Fresh Pear (results following 8th burn) CD 12: mushroom, all hang up melted, container was very warm CD 14: small mushroom (1st one to show up in this tin), all hang up melted, tiny bit of black soot at the top Flames are both right around 1/2" About 1/4" wax left at bottom of tin I will continue to burn these testers to the end. I have also made testers with CD 8 and CD 10. I have only done 1 test burn on these and will continue these to the end also. Sea Mist: CD 8: About 1/4" flame (seems tiny), no mushroom, and about 1/8"-1/2" hang up all around. (Predicting this wick will be too small.) CD 10: 1/2" flame, no mushroom, thin hang up (one side)- 1/4" hang up on the other. Fresh Pear: CD 8: Nice flame (about 1/2" tall), no mushroom, about 1/4" hang up all around CD 10: 3/4" flame, tiny mushroom (already, on the first burn), and thin hang up all around. (Predicting this wick will be too big.) I'll continue to burn all of these to the bottom. Thanks for looking everyone, and for the help.

Hi! Stella - The wax may appear darker because of the lighting. Well, when I was wicking them, I was very careful about not mixing them up. With these results, I was starting to think maybe the supplier mixed them...but I'm sure they really didn't. Here's my info: I am using 1.2 oz. FO/ lb. The wax is 415 with 1 tbsp USA + 2 tsp CO/ lb. (Love it!) My tins are 2 13/16" across I have been burning them for 3 hours at a time. My flames have never been higher than 1/2", sometimes a little smaller. And, my goodness, these are probably the strongest candles I have ever made. IWantItGreen - Very interesting! Thank you for the website.

Thanks, Stella, as soon as more wax gets here, I will try CD 10's for these. I am still in the process of burning these testers to the bottom. So far 2 out of the 3 sets are not hot to the touch at all. The 3rd set is an obvious no. Here are pictures following (the day after) the 5th test burn. Still no mushrooms have appeared on the CD 14s. The pictures are not great, but the CD 12's are on the left and the 14's are on the right.

Hello! I am testing 6 oz tins using CD 12 and CD 14. As the tests continue, the CD 12's are mushrooming and melting the wax much quicker than the CD 14's, and the 14's seem to be working better so far. Does this seem backwards? When I began the tests, I predicted that the 14's would be too big. Thanks in advance for any input.

Sorry, Stella, I hope you can make sense of the previous post...I really messed up the "quote" tool...

Very good point..... Linda....I will make more testers and share what I find out...:smiley2: By the way...your pillars look GREAT!!!!! How exciting!!!

Well, the candle I made prior to this one with the CDN 16 has been burned all the way down and left a tiny bit of wax on the sides, and never got hot to the touch, so I thought it was pretty good. This candle is only burned 1/2 down and one side has already caught up, and it was very hot to the touch. The flame is larger than I get with soy candles, but doesn't seem different from the last flame I burned with Glass Glow. So the first test seemed okay, now I think the wick may be too large. The funny thing is that I am burning another scent that is wonderful, but I'm sitting 5 ft away and there is absolutely no scent at all, so I KNOW I am doing something wrong.

Well, you were right...I found 2 things...1: When I prewarmed the container on the first candle, I did it in the toaster oven, and I left it in too long. I think I may have melted the coating off the CDN wick. In my first candle test, I have noted that the container never got very hot. Well, testing this new one last night...it got really hot in one area of the container. When I warmed this tester, I used a heat gun, not melting the wick, so possibly this would be the result of the true CDN wick......much warmer? I may try wicking down with the CDN (right now it's a 16 in a 3 inch container). Oh and 2: Uh, I'm very emabarrassed to admit...during the 1st candle test I was actually testing 2 candles in one room...hence the awesome scent throw. Uhhh..oops...:tiptoe: But all embarrassment aside, shouldn't a 3 inch 8oz Madison conainer scent a decent sized area? (our entire house is only about 1000 sq ft). I've also read that a lot of people double wick this size...and I'm only single wicking...would the reason behind double wicking just be to minimize conainer heat while melting wax down the sides? I really do appreciate all your help and bearing with me...:smiley2:

Hi!! Thank you for relying so quickly!! Yes, everything was identical, including the temperature...maybe a slight difference in humidity? But anyway, I also gave one to my sister to test...her results were the same... it crushed me! I thought I had finally gotten the hang of this... But you gave me an idea... you said that the scent gets sealed in as it cools...when I wreck the tops, first I wait until there is about 1/8 "crust" on the top, then take a knife, cut around the inside, and push the top down. I do that every few minutes as the candle cools. Eventually I'm cutting the little bit that's left and pushing the teeny top into slushiness. Does this make any sense? Is it possible that a lot of the scent is escaping as I continue to reopen the tops as it cools?

I tried doing a search and didn't find anyone with this problem. I'm not sure what would cause this. I'm using oils that I know are good quality, and in my notes for the same candle I made prior as "awesome." ...this one is barely noticeable in one room. It is a 3 inch container. I appreciate any possible ideas. Let me know if more details in my procedure would help. TIA!!!!!

Okay, yay!! Thanks so much for the feedback! What a relief!! I really like this palm.