Ruffsta

She's using Yaley &/or Gulf wax - not exactly what we are using. Problem is she's up in the northeast and we don't know what her home temp is at. I had the same problem with when I was up in Chicago last year. Had a cool house and poured some 4786 at a little cooler temp into room temp cups - bubble city even pouring slow.

I don't pre-heat in the sunny south. Just trying to take out one of the variables for her.

well we used the 1lb of Yaley premium because that's what came with the kit. and we used 1lb of gulf wax (saw it in the store while shopping - so i figured we would try that out.. (it was cheap.. so i got what i paid for LOL)

but yeah, as i mentioned - we are waiting until this Friday to order some soy.. was thinking getting it from either Lone Star or Candles And Supplies or somewhere that has it the cheapest.

the temp in and outside my house are in the 60's or more now as we are warming up for summer.

i THINK, the main issues we are having are:

1.) cheap wax

2.) not knowing the calculations for fo % (i saw the thread recently)

3.) we set the stove on high and melted the wax.. it reached temp way too soon.. added the chips and the fo

we should have actually set the stove to like a low or low-medium heat (as we have seen on videos)..

would i be correct in assuming these?

thank you everyone

Boy I'm kind of long winded tonight - I don't usually type this much

lol

yeah we do the fo after the color chips as well. the block of color we have been using - we have to break up and on our last batch she didn't let the chip fully melt (as we were pouring), so the reason i was asking about liquid dyes. i might try a bottle out... :smiley2:

i tried to do relief holes had then a re-pour.. but the thing hat happened there was the center was like clear or should i say lighter in color.. so i haven't done the relief part since.. lol

what i was really expecting was a 1 pour deal...

also, should i be adding the fo before or after the color chips? i have seen videos and read both ways.. so we don't don't know which way is proper.

liquid dye vs color chips... what are the pro's and cons thatall of you have experienced?

thank you...

oh and speaking of fo's - we use 1oz per 1lb of wax (we only have done 1lb batches in both attempts).. but the wax smells great in the pot, but after the candles have cooled and all.. the candle smells ok i guess, but hardly any scent when burning..

i dunno if it's us or the types of wax we have played around with or what... when we go to the stores.. the candles are really strong scented (more than ours by far... and they smell awesome when burning)... should be adding more fo to our 1lb batches?

we've used the following waxes just to get the feel of making candles:

yaley 1 lb premium wax

1lb gulf wax

we are waiting until this friday to order 10lbs of soy... we also need to get a new thermometer (as mentioned in another thread lol).

how we have done it in both attempts was the wax reached 175 and then we added the color chips then a few minutes later added the fo and then poured into the votive molds and tins. i know that is not the correct way, but we are new to it.. so all advice is welcomed

when my daughter makes votives, the center always caves in like these:

is there a reason as to why ours to do not come out flat like these:

also, how can i get the outside of our candles nice and smooth like this:

all of ours come out with lots of tiny air bubbles all on the outside.. is there a certain additive or something? we are using 3 of these:

i use this:

a little dab with a butter knife.. works good! i may be a noob, but so far i haven't had an issue with it. but i am curious what is the most commonly used method by everyone?

anyone ever use this?

that's exactly what i did :smiley2:

and yes, she still is very much interested in it.. impatient for sure :smiley2:

yeah, definitely need a new thermometer and scale ... was think to go with Lone Star, unless anyone here can point out better/cheaper suppliers.

Well then you really are taking up the wrong hobby!!

that's your opinion... :/

i just may not have as much money as you or someone else on here to do massive testing is all i am saying.

what i meant was i rather spend my money and test those items out that have been tested and work really well by most members on here rather than go down that road and not know what to test out and waste time and money on junk.

ok, i know i am new and have to do alot of testing.. i agree that different wax is for different things.. but really now..

zinc series

cd series

lx series

htp series

eco series

Paper core wicks

Wood Wicks

alot more i have not listed on here.. but does there have to be that many different types of wicks?

i know candle making can get expensive, but i'm not made out of money here to be testing all these out.

all i want is a good wax and some good wicks, what does everyone here mostly use? i rather waste my time and money on things i know that work for most people than on things that suck and are a waste of time and money.

i thought the air bubbles could have been because i poured right away after mixing in the scent.. but yeah, probably wasn't the best wax that came in the kit.

but i thank everyone for helping me, i know i am new and sorry if i ask noob questions and such. thanks for being patient with me.

by the way i didn't find the reply harsh at all.. and thanks for replying

sorry, i know this is a very old thread.. but was just reading around..

i use this:

a little dab with a butter knife.. works good! i may be a noob, but so far i haven't had an issue with it. but i am curious what is the most commonly used method by everyone?

i bought her a Yaley kit.. i can't find an exact picture of the kit - but it looks similar to this one:

http://www.how-to-arts-and-crafts.com/image-files/candle-making-starter-kit.jpg

the kit came with 3 of these:

http://www.venuscandles.com/images/votive%20molds.jpg

all it says is 1lb premium wax

it came with a thermometer, but after 2 uses i saw a little crack, so i threw it away - now we have to buy another one

the kit was $25, but i bought other stuff too.. we spent $40 altogether - i didn't want to spend alot in our very first day. but candle making is fun, i know we will spend alot

the closest thing to us is: michaels

we bought our stuff at:

www.michaels.com

85 Highland Ave, Seekonk, MA -(508) 336-7858

anyone ever try:

http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_lrg_images/865/204589865.jpg

well, i bought my daughter the melting pot kit (came very little in it.. $24.99 and bought a few extra things) - and well, we made our first set of candles..

1st batch - small votives... little air bubbles all over

2nd batch - small votives... little air bubbles all over - after puting them in the freezer for a few minutes and removing them from the molds - 2 were cracked - also tried poking holes and topping them off.. noticed that the top center is like clearer than the rest of the candle (dunno what went wrong there really)

well, it was worth trying and seeing her happy

we lit a couple to test them - they burn well, smell good (could have used just a little more fragrance tho)

yeah, as far as selling them.. (with lawsuits mentioned in a previous thread), i guess she will just sell to friends and family and/or give them away as gifts.

gonna have to figure out how to stop the air bubbles tho - the cracking i think was my fault when tapping the bottom of the molds. and the clear centers are weird lol.. i never seen that before.

I do the heat in the oven and then wipe out with a paper towel.

Check out this thread for more options.

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69608&highlight=cleaning+pouring+pots

alum in micro's is NOT a smart idea in the first place!

i suggest right after pouring.. just wipe with paper towels

thank you very much... when she wakes up in the morning i know she will be pleased.

thanks you,

Ruffsta

can everyone post what they are and what they mean please... i have a 14yr daughter that wants to get into making candles...

she and i both would like to know what they are and mean. thanks

Ruffsta

what are the differences in the numbers like in these samples (i have seen alot more):

EcoSoya 145mp

CB 135

CB advanced soy

Naturewax C-3

Naturewax P-1

EcoSoya PB

i mean really.. is there a need to have this many and more to make candles? 1 pour, multi-pour.. pillar blend, container blend.. geez!

my daughter who is just 14 and just wants to make and sell candles and is new to candle making... isn't there like just 1 blend for all types of candles that only requires 1 pour?

thank you,

Ruffsta