Candle Kitty

I just got back from poking around in the votives to make sure they weren't being used as pod baby nests and no sign of the little snots, so I'm good to go there.

But I also just had the snot scared out of me so bad, I threw my cats in a tizzy. I guess a wolf spider decided since my Presto was nice and warm he'd check it out...

Crispied spider to say the least. I screamed, the cats took off...fuzzed up and looking at me like I lost my mind!

And man, if it's radiation down there screwing things up...I'm gonna start glowing soon!! I hope this doesn't mean I have to put hazardous materials placards on my doors. I can see that now, have visitors stop by and have to wear moonsuits before they step in the door.

I'm thinking that as well now that the both of you have suggested it. I completely forgot about the throw of 1218, wanted a clean looking candle with a good throw and decided what the heck and used it. Which, I'm still wondering why I did that, I've been using U.A. and I'm so addicted to the benefits of it that I'm kind of shocked I even used the Vybar.

I'm going to go ahead and remelt the votives and just make my mini-tarts, which I forgot to mention, did the same wax poofing thing as well. I'll just add these to my 'way too ugly for anyone else but me' stash and order some more Watermelon this morning. It just bumps the sample bags back a week, which would probably be a good thing anyway right now. Would also give me a chance to make another batch with a different FO and use U.A. this time. I'm just hoping there's not a repeat performance of the wax poofing.

Maybe it's a chemical reaction due to the high radiation that might be downstairs from their last visit when they tilted my candles really bad??

Damn them little green men!!

The pink works great for me, I love the color and I haven't had any burn issues with it considering it's a pigment. Totally awesome under a black light.

Yes, this was a first pour and I've never had a wax shrinkage issue THIS bad before, that's why I felt I needed to post to see if someone could chime in. And no, I didn't add yeast this time, I'm making bread upstairs now instead of downstairs

FO was put in at 3/4 of an ounce, that's why I am making sample bags, I'm using up all my FO's that I don't have a full ounce for whatever reason. I'm beginning to think the Vybar as well, I didn't have this issue when I was using the U.A.

Okay, here we go. 1218 one full pound. Watermelon scented, three shocking pink dye chips, Vybar at 2 teaspoons.

When I poured into the molds, they were all level and so was the wax. I just went downstairs to check them and they've caved in bad, no relief holes poked, that's what I was going downstairs to do. Something else they've also done and the picture didn't catch it is that as they were setting up, it almost looks as if the wax expanded up. I'm going to have to carve some of it off so that I can get an even top, or remelt.

Everything that went into these votives are not that old at all, I've never had 1218 act this way, anybody have any clues? These were going to go into sample bags that I was going to take to work in the morning, but if I'm having this issue, no one is getting a thing until we can figure out what's going on.

Edited to add: Yeah, I know the pic isn't that good, I didn't have time to make adjustments to the camera and lighting, this startled me enough to move to hopefully get some answers.

No way, Soja, those aren't fugly, they're unique and I love the designs!!! In love with the green one!

I actually like the surface texture if I get it on the mottles. It's like the rustics, since no two are the same, it gives the candle a history. And with history comes character.

Great job!

I love those colors!!!!

Great job with it!! Chunks are fairly easy to master, a fabulous first try after so long being away!

I usually just heat the mold up for a while, get it nice and hot before I plop the chunks and the overpour in. It'll take care of the rustic look at the bottom. I think someone said it already, but that's usually caused by the cooling down of the wax as it's poured over the chunks and into the mold. If you heat it up really good, you should be able to get rid of the rustic look.

Overall, the candle looks great, I love the deep rich colors in chunks.

:yay: :yay:

You people are so naive. Air pocket my *ss. That wick was kidnapped by extraterrestrials. Shows all the signs.

*is now choking and snorting iced tea in the nose*..........ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

I've come to another conclusion, iced tea hurts just as much as Pepsi.

I haven't used that wax myself, but I DO know that regardless, I'm always poking relief holes in everything I pour, including my votives. I've tried it both ways, not poking the holes and poking. I feel more secure poking them.

It might be something to consider. Try it out and see. If there ARE caverns like that under the surface, you can fill them quickly with more wax and have a more stable candle and ease your mind.

Yep, I be a candle noser all the time. It sucks, but it also happens.

Each room in my house has been given a distinctive candle scent, for instance, my Green Room has Peak's Green Tea. When I've been sitting here for a while, I won't notice the scent, but if I go into another room, the bathroom, downstairs to check the next set of candles and walk back in, I'm hit with the aroma of the candles quite hard.

Cold throw can be affected as well. Bedroom has Leather and Vanilla and when I'm getting ready for bed, I can catch the fragrances but when I wake up, they're gone. Usually after taking a shower and coming back in, I can catch them again.

Give it a shot and see what happens. If you don't notice the scent any longer, go outside, go into another room for about 15-20 minutes and then walk back in. I'll lay money you'll catch the aroma again.

First off, read EB's instructions on how to do them. She's the one that originally posted the instructions on marbles, her technique uses liquid dyes.

http://www.candletech.com/marbled/

That's where I got my basic idea on how to make them and she did a fabulous job explaining them step-by-step. They're not hard to do, yes, lots of work but oh so fun, especially if you are frustrated because you get to slam the mold down several times.

Since I use dye chips, I had to revamp it just a little. I'm having horrible luck with my camera at present moment, so I'll be posting the instructs WITHOUT pictures to start with. Once I get that issue resolved, I'll repost them with pictures.

http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6253

Mornin' guys.

Made a deep purple Love Spell rustic. Poured it at 135*, used 1218 with two tablespoons of U.A. The cold throw is awesome, but I'm a little puzzled. I got the rustic look, the frosting was damn near perfect. The thing is though, from about an inch down from the top to the bottom of the candle, it was almost glazed. I could still see the jump lines and the frosting, but it was smooth. The only thing I can think of is the U.A., has anybody else come across this issue and what did I do to goof this? I DID chill the mold this time in the fridge for twenty minutes while the wax was melting, then I took it out and let the temp come up slowly while I added the dye and FO.

The other thing is I've been testing the Spiced Cranberry this weekend and I wanted to know if anyone else has had to wick up with this scent. Current wick is 44-24-18z, wax is 1218, two tablespoons U.A. For a four hour burn, I should have gotten the 3 inch melt pool and then had it begin to consume itself, but the overall size of the melt pool MIGHT be two inches, maybe less. All the other scents that I'm testing has that same size wick and I'm not having an issue at all, I'm getting great melt pools and the hot throws are fabulous. Has anyone else had to wick up or is this just me?

Thanks guys

CK

If it doesn't have the UL listing, I steer clear.

For testing and more casual purposes I use the pins, and definitely prefer using pins but I may not do it for actual production. To my sensibilities there is something more upscale about an "old school" traditionally wicked candle versus a pillar with the wick stuck through a hole. I figure the more you want to charge for it, probably the less appropriate that there should be a metal tab under the warning label.

See, that's kind of how I feel as well. Not to mention, to me, it's like there's an extra effort involved in a wick in the candle versus a hole with a wick in it. It's a little more personal.

I use the concave tops for friends and family, but my business molds have a flat top. I like them both, no real significant difference in the way they burn unless I've somehow goofed on the wick itself.

I'm kind of wishy-washy on the wick pins. To be honest, I see the good points of having them, you'll always be guaranteed a straight wick, which is important and as you're making candles, it saves a lot of time and effort. Not to mention if you test burn and don't like the way it's burning, all you have to do is pull the wick out after it cools and slip a new one in.

On the other hand, I'm not seriously digging the hole as of late. When I test burn a candle, I'm forever poking at the melt pool and just a couple of nights ago, I poked an air bubble that had me bugged and it was the hole from the wick pin. The wax drained down into the candle. Granted, now I'm not so worried about that one having any air pockets, considering it didn't drain that much wax down into it, but still.

I'm finding myself going back more and more to the actual wick in the candle and the wick bar. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, the only thing that would be logical in this sense is to try them both and see how you like them.

Now if I start having issues with the actual wick in the candle, I'm going to go Garf's way. It's bad enough to have the wick issues when you're testing, it's another to just have a wick hole issue.

I second Ducky!!

I test all of them, including my tarts. I'll be offering 3 x 3 and 3 x 6 pillars, votives, tarts and move into containers as I get more customers. I have a 3 x 9 that's more for personal use, though if I have someone asks me, I'll make one, but not without a test burn first. If a candle doesn't burn right for me, then I know to either remelt and repour, or shove another wick in it and try again.

Thanks Tucker, I'll be sure to check it out. Now that you mention a welding shop, where I work we have one, I may have to bug the mechanics

As for everyone else's post *clears throat, looks at Top and Donita* you guys aren't the only ones that believe what you've said. Personally, I think it's Mother Nature. We done pi$$ed her off somehow and she answered back by throwing us off kilter. Whoever did that, seriously needs to get atonement somehow and soon, I'm getting tired of having leveling issues with my candles.

so

*thinks the duck has a good idea and sneaks over to give her a hand*

That's kind of like a version of the professional levelers, isn't it Tucker?? Where can I pick up an angle iron??

Oof, now my brain is whirling LOL

Let's see. I have two more candles to make for the house and I'm done. Then it's make as many mini-tarts as I can and get those batched up so i can take them to work for my sister to sell for me. Going to borrow my sister's camera so I can start trying to get some decent pics of everything and finally get the instructs for my marbles up...

Since they moved the Chiefs game to tonight, that means I'll have Sunday afternoon completely free, not sure what I'm going to do with all that free time.

Aside from watching a feather to see where the heck I have a dang blasted draft that's screwing up my levelling, I have no clue what else is going on. Maybe need to take this as a sign to just kick back and relax this weekend, who knows.

Then again, I seldom feel it's been a good session unless there's been at least some serious fumes, if not smoke and flames.

*chokes again, gives up drinking Pepsi and wonder if he's not the one that's been teleporting over to my place and screwing with my levelling issue* hmmmmm..............

Y'all killed me this morning! Between a flying cat, trying to get the level situation under control, doing last minute decorating schtuff in the bedroom, make my bed up since I washed it yesterday, get undressed (BAN THE BRA! ) and get dressed for bed (with a cat attached to my shoulder doing all of the above I might add), I've come to the conclusion that it's no longer safe to sit down in front of the computer with a cold Pepsi in my hand and read.

First off, Donita and Top ROFLMAO!!!!!

Second off, ice cold Pepsi squirting out the nose hurts

Third, I checked my final house candle this morning when I got home from work. Without using the fan, I've noticed a big difference already, I do believe you were right, Top. Aside from some minor touchups when I poured, and maybe a fast spin in the Presto, that's really about it. These aren't really going to be level for long anyway, I used 4286 in 3 x 3 pillars that will be going in my wall sconces in the bedroom (black, scented Leather. Had to compliment the Leather/Lace candle that still remains untouched on top of my toy chest....er, lingerie chest :lipsrseal , although I may have to break out the lighter and test that bad boy, I've got too many people asking if I would make them one.). I wanted them to melt down into the containers that will be housing them (I'll snap a pic when they're up), so I used a high melt point wax this time.

I DO know the workbench isn't level, I think it's age more than anything, but I compensated by finding the most level spot on the bench and then using a very thin piece of board to offset any other unlevel issue. This was working fine for the first couple of weeks when I started getting back into making candles. I plan on getting MY handiman out in the next couple of weeks and have him relevel the bench, and I found a permanent replacement for the contact paper that I have, will be much easier to clean.

I'll get one of my feathers this weekend and put it on a string then hang it from various spots in the basement to see if I can't find a dead zone and if I have to, I can move my shelving unit over and put the candles over there as they set up. It'll be a pain for a while, but given the circumstances, I'll have no choice until the big goof shows up and I can shove a level in his hand and say 'go fix, or no dinner'

I am seriously in a major crunch time to get to work before I'm late, so this is going to be a really fast post. Excuse any typos or grammatical errors that you see, I'll fix them in the morning.

Top, yes, I did move recently, I didn't even think about any kind of draft situation to be honest. The corner is pretty much free and clear of anything like that, unless I'm running the fan, which I have been as of late because between candle making and laundry, it gets warm down there and when I'm attempting something like a rustic, then it's on.

Normally, I don't watch the candle as it sets, only because I'm off doing something else, either working my mini-tarts or switching laundry out or chasing down cats who seem to think it's fun to take off with my rolled wick. I'll watch it this weekend since I'm off.

Didn't even think about leveling the Presto and then doing the leveling with the mold inside the Presto, I'll try that this weekend as well to see how it works.

As for the little green men, I told them little snots I wasn't about to turn my body over to their science, what makes them think they can do it with my candles?? May have to call someone on that and soon

Only reason why it's something I need fixed and soon is because I have a potential major customer in my reach, if I can't figure this problem out and soon, I may have to put them on hold and I don't want to do that.

Going to blow dry my hair, will update tomorrow evening, please keep the ideas coming, I need all the help I can get!

Or maybe something to do with the Earth's magnetic field and the Bermuda Triangle and UFOs. That's my bet.

Now that I'm done choking on my Pepsi...................LMAO

If I'm going to make one with a zinc wick, then yes, I DO use a wick pin, but if I'm going to make one with 24 ply braid, then I do the old fashioned, prime the wick, stick it it, tie it off, yada yada yada, it just depends upon what I'm making at the time.

I haven't changed waxes at all, still using 1218 and 4286, the only thing that I've changed as of recently has been the additive, I'm experimenting with U.A. The mold sealer is also still the same as I've used for the last six months. I don't use the same wad for every single candle, I change to new if I'm going to be changing scent or if I'm flipping between wick pins or the wick bars. I've been having excellent luck with the gray mold sealer, and I DO need more, which is on my list for my next Peak's order.

Okay, I've done all I can, need some new ideas on this. I swear, this is just as much of a P.I.T.A as wicking!

I don't know where this popped up, but all of a sudden, every single candle that I'm making has to be levelled and usually, I'm losing a lot of wax to get it to the degree that I'm happy with it. Before, I used a level on the mold even before I poured and the only thing I would have to do after the fact would be to fix any rough edges from pouring, nothing more.

I'm still using the level, not moving the mold after I get it levelled and then when I pull the candle out, I've got a lopsided candle. So then, it's using a warm cookie sheet or maybe a pie pan. I'm losing roughly a quarter of an inch off the overall height of the candle.

I've cruised through the archives looking for anything, but I'm coming up with stuff that I'm already doing. Short of getting a hold of a piece of plywood, suspending it from the rafters downstairs and levelling it off, I don't know what else I can do. Even then, I'm suddenly not trusting my own judgment on this.

Anybody have any suggestions? I'm more embarrassed than mad at even having this problem, my candles have ALWAYS been level, now all of a sudden, I can't do that. :embarasse

Those are definitely beautiful, I love the dark, rich mottles...

I haven't been much on food candles either, but holy CRAP, those are some beauties!!

Great job!!