Candle Kitty

THEIR hurricane walls, not there. My bad, come get me grammar police!

You can say that again, Aunt D. Trying to get a smooth, sleek black that has a lot of depth is the stuff that will keep you up at nights....more than wicking issues and leveling!

Yeah, there are inserts for hurricanes, but I don't use them only because you can actually control the depth of your walls by not using them. If I want thin walls, I don't wait as long and if I want thick walls, I give it more time. Inserts, to me, are more for embeds than anything else but a lot of people use them just to make sure there hurricane walls stay at a consistent depth.

I can agree with Scented, Yaley's is more for the candle hobbist that won't sell their candles, just makes them for themselves. Their wax isn't quality and if you attempt to introduce quality dyes, FO's or additives, it won't bring up the wax quality. Were you trying to do a mottled black? Trying to cool down the wax slowly will give you a mottled look, those white spots in the middle of the candle. If you're trying to get rid of the pin holes and blemishes, my suggestion is pour at 190* and make the pour as fluid as you can, no stops and definitely don't make it a sloppy pour or you could end up with a rustic. Something else would be to tap the sides of the mold gently, don't whack it or you'll end up with more pin holes. Check around the edges of the wax against the mold WHILE you pour, if you've got tiny air bubbles, a few good but gentle taps will pop them. I've found for a smooth, sleek candle, tapping a bit as you pour sometimes helps with the pinholes.

I usually warm my molds just a tad for a straight pour and I use Peak's Black liquid dye for my black. Comes out smooth and clean every time, no matter what additive, scent, wax I use.

Actually, it IS the picture, not sure why the green didn't transfer like it should have. The solid green ones were poured from the same batch as the chunks.

Seems odd they would change color like that.

I'm a huge chocoholic Aunt D, I can't get away from it no matter how hard I try, LOL

Okay, I can't take it anymore, I'm burning one. This mint is driving me insane!

I love the food scents as well, but have to be careful with any chocolate. We have Swiss Miss from Lone Star and the second I smelled it, I was thinking how awesome a Hershey's chocolate bar would be.

If any of those pastels are actually pigments, I've noticed those are incredibly prone to fading as well. BCN has UV Color Stabilizer for $7.95/2oz., Lone Star also has it, but it's the only additive they carry and I can't seem to find it right now to tell you the price. This is actually the first time that I've used it, I've never had a color fade on me but I don't want to take any chances.

Let's see....today it's doing a mahogany rustic pour for Firewood, then try to figure out something unique for Strawberry Cheesecake. Help Erika out more with her tapers, I'm trying to find a digital scale because mine (not digital)is about ready to blow up on me, I'm surprised I'm still getting accurate measurements from it... Probably some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough....maybe some tropical scents, everything is the new shipment from Lone Star and I've yet to smell one that I'm not itching to get into a candle to start testing it. Too many scents, not enough time.

I got this scent from Lone Star and it is absolutely divine. I walked into the dining room this morning to get on the computer and the room has a soft minty aroma to it, votives are still on the table. Very strong in the Presto though, almost takes your breath away, but holy COW it's awesome! I actually had to make that green, which I'm pleased with and wrote that down the second I started producing it. I'm out of the true green so I used what I had to get it. Very happy with that color. 1/2 chip Bright Green 1 chip Saturn Yellow 1/2 drop of Navy Blue (the end of a toothpick) I am so itching to burn one of these, but they're for the other girl that's helping me get started.

Me and Erika seriously have to decide what's chunks and what's chips. When I make Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, I don't use the chocolate teasers like most brands of ice cream, I USE CHUNKS! I think there's more chocolate than mint in mine, but that's how I like it. Had a discussion, she thinks what's in the votives are chips, I'm saying chunks. Doesn't matter though, I think they look great. Didn't blast the sides with a heatgun, just poured and waited and I actually like the look. Didn't make enough CHUNKS for all the votives, so two are without.

Yep! That's it, thanks darlin!

Has anyone been able to create a mint color? I've got an idea for this scent, but I'm having a tough time finding the green. Wanting it to look like the mint in Chocolate Chip Mint ice cream. Thanks guys!

I always let my tapers set overnight before I burn them, so when I start burning tomorrow, I'll snap another picture.

Never thought about the glow....okay, I'll burn it and then once it gets down enough, I'll snap another picture.

Thanks guys, that was definitely one of those moments that just threw me for a loop.

I actually didn't use an additive in the overlay and I had the heat on it for a bit because the large bubbles kept surfacing, but I love it. This may become another candle that I don't burn just because I like it.

What's the general usage of powdered UV pp wax? I think my math part of my brain just went on strike

http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52344 I made one this afternoon. It's a rough one because I haven't done them in a while, but at least you can see the technique involed.

Okay, rule one when working with newbie candlemakers, make sure they decide on colors that will compliment the scent. Doing a honeysuckle in turquoise and burgundy to me seems weird. Oh well, this was their day to watch me make whatever they wanted, so it's all cool. This is part of the last bit of cheap wax I have, one wants me to show her hurricanes, so I'm saving the rest, but this is the last cheap wax candle I'm making for a while. Shipment showed up a couple hours ago, now comes my REAL fun!

Someone was asking the other day if a taper could be double wicked. I went ahead and did it show how to do it. When you get the tapers about half the size you normally would before you finish them off, lay them on a piece of wax paper, roll them just a couple of times and then taking your fingers, flatten them out slightly. Once both tapers are flattened, gently push them together and slow twist them together. Once you get them twisted to your liking, dip them once in the wax to set the candles together, roll gently on the paper and then dip a final time. Before the candles harden completely, straighten the candle and then let it cure. I can tell you now, these candles can sometimes be very messy to burn, two different wicks twisted into one so the best way to burn them is in a taper holder that's sitting on a plate so it can catch the wax.

I'd still KILL to figure out your mottles though, Top.