Gretchen

Asands & AutumMeadows_ What size containers and wicks, if you don't mind my asking?

Finally someone else is having a problem with NGI! I was beginning to feel like a nut! I use their votive/pillar blend too; I don't have any of the new label batches yet; I bought a gazillion pounds before they changed it. I am, however, having HUGE problems with their CBA, and not the XL, but the CBA that also got a pretty new label. I will tell you that NGI hasn't yet answered any of my calls; and they don't have a human answering the phone anyway. C&S hasn't been much help either. They aren't acknowledging that they know of a problem either. I have a hard time believing that I'm the only customer they've had with a problem. I've spoken to them several times; my last call which included an order for wicks, I had asked to speak with Cindy. i was told she was on another call and would call me back. That was two weeks ago and I'm sure she was told. Then I sent an email; no response. I'm pretty pissed. I'll be willing to try the XL, maybe; after I hear some final results from the posters that are testing. As for the pillar blend; that could be a huge problem for me as well cause I pour a few hundred votives a week! Right now I'm testing with some other wicks, but I'm also going to start testing with the C-3 again as well. NGI and C&S aren't scoring real well these days! Please continue to post any updates to your situation!

Sometimes it's fun when you guys 'fight nice'. I'll admit, this time I didn't read every line. It's late, I'm tired, and frankly I'm still really angry (sounds better than pissed) at the fact that I am still sitting here with over 1000 lbs. of CBA that doesn't burn. They make great wax; period. However, this time (just like the last time) something got tweaked and they failed to pass that fact on to those of us that use the stuff. THAT'S what pisses me off. Not answering my email, pisses me off. Not returning my calls (when I've left messages) pisses me off. Having industry reps not call me when requested to do so by their distributors, pisses me off. Basic communication is all I've asked for. See, from my perspective, since they did the tweaking, they should have a clue or two that might actually help us out here. That might be a reach, but certianly they should be a bit more responsive to us, the end user of their product. Seem reasonable? I love the finished product I get with their wax. Or, I did. And you know, as far as scent throw; nope, doesn't put out like a Yankee, but I still managed to muster up 30+ scents that sold well enough, so I was pretty ok with that. If it didn't throw, I didn't pour it. Not a deal breaker. OK; I'm done ranting over this, but I will keep an eye for posts about their waxes and hope for insight and the end to this issue. In the meantime, I'll be drafting a letter to NGI about customer service, and about working WITH those of us using their products. Seems pretty reasonable coming from someone who been carrying on about this for so long.:smiley2::smiley2:

Just curious; and directed at the more 'seasoned' in our craft; how many years before this kind of stuff stops pissing you off?

BTW- many of you commented it took you too long to get where you are with the wax you're currently using. Mind saying what your combinations are? Wax, container size, wick type & size?

UMMMM; What's so different? Seems to me that as the years tick by, the directions for any of them get longer. That's pretty understandable just assuming that we are all learning a bit more as time goes by; right? I don't know; I think we all basically know that consistency in our temps (all of them) make a huge difference in the end product. Maybe those facts weren't so spelled out as recently as a few years ago, but; well you know what? I won't be ordering a pallet right away. Here's what seems strangely familiar to me; remember when the first round of CBA came out and many of us loved it. Then they 'improved' it, except they failed to tell us other than the enhanced label on the side of the box, and it was garbage; and then then they slid back to the 'original' before the riots. See I was caught up in that; didn't shower for two days because I was SO caught up in trying to get my candles to actually burn again, because they had still failed to admit they 'tweaked' it. What part of that seems reminiscent to what's going on now? The 1200 pounds of CBA I'm sitting on that is obviously not the same wax as the previous 1800 pounds I poured through. Up until a month ago, I loved CBA. I'd love to love it again. Soon. I'm getting tired of this. It was good. It was fine. It didn't need to be improved, or revamped, and it didn't need the newly designed label for the side of the box. When I noticed the label had changed, I'll admit a little voice in my head said 'oh shit!', but then quickly followed with 'nah! It'll be fine'. HA! Why is that little voice always right?

Geez people! Don't get so excited! Yeah, they're rustic. No, I'm not nor are my candles, however; if these were not colored at all, I think the look would be pretty cool. I will tell you that the sides and bottom of these are as smooth as silk, and I do like that. And, that in of itself, intrigues me. Votives are a pet peeve of mine. If these are defined as rustic, so be it. They certainly sell well beyond what probably most of us are doing. Just exploring.

Never mind; just found it! (Didn't read far enough) They say it's soy, palm, and beeswax. I just like the look. I also like the shape of the votive. It's a tad taller and the bottom has a rounded edge. Very smooth.

They're votives from Swan Creek Candle Co. and they say they're soy, but is that 'just' soy? [ATTACH]18522[/ATTACH]

Hey, thanks! Are you suggesting without any additives? With some of the test candles I did over the weekend; actually all that were with the C3; they set back up with that slight bumpy-lumpy look. I'm not used to that. Is there anything that resolves that?

I agree on all counts with both of you; truly. I have what I think will get me by for right now. I had two rooms in the shop totally 'lit' over the weekend! I ended up with the CBA, Premiere wicks for two sizes, and a CD wick for a smaller tin. I'm comfortable with the results but not thrilled to the point of doing handstands. I am grateful for the timing only because now I can take a couple of weeks to continue testing at a not-so-frazzled pace, and hopefully get to 'thrilled'. I usually see a break in business from about now until January 15th. I'd like to continue to share my results and hear your feedback! You guys are great!

I think the sweating was related to temperature so I'm not going to worry about that; it did seem to dissipate anyway. I melt to 180; add fo at 1oz. pp; stir lots; pour at between 150-160. That's always been my norm. You're right! Lots burning at one time, but I am trying to be organized about it. I guess I'm venting as well as wishin' and prayin' that someone is going to chime in "hey, just do this!", and it'll all be good. Yeah, I know; just dreaming. However, and I've said it before but maybe not during this episode of drama; I was very lucky from the beginning of my candle career. When I first started out, I did what the supplier suggested to me and it all worked. I've done many a test burn in my day, but probably not to the extent that many of you have. I'm not as interested in the 'broad' scheme of things, as I am in 'my' scheme of things. I was doing what was working for me and happy that it was! Really sucks when it stops! BTW, I poured them all last night, and lit everyone this morning; late morning. Thanks again for all the input. It helps tremendously!

It's times like these when I hate my job. Just thought I'd start there; Good morning:cheesy2: OK so I have a gazillion testers poured, solid, and now burning; ye-ha! I've got C-3 with CD wicks and Premiere wicks. I've got the same scenario with CBA; and I have a few CDN wicks but those are only with C-3. Several, most I would say, are jumping up and down like a bouncy ball; what's up with that? And that was from the onset; they've been burning for 30-45 minutes (It took a while to get everyone lit) Some have settled a bit; some have not. Is that too much wick when I lit them? I noticed that the Premiere wicks mushroom pretty quickly, so maybe I just started them with too much wick. They are all sweating too. I never had either problem before. I have two that are on there second lighting (first was yesterday) that are not sweating like the newer ones, and not mushrooming like the newer ones either, but they did yesterday. These are : 4" jar- CBA- Premiere 798 w/vanilla based scent, and, 3"tumbler- CBA- Premiere 795 same scent. They are both doing quite well; did yesterday too. I do think the tumbler size may be able to bump down, but I've got every conceivable option burning as well, so time will tell. DId I mention I hate my job right now. Ugh. Gretchen

What's the USA do? And the uv stabilizer; never used that either. I do have one scent in particular that with turn a bit yellow (I don't add color) as soon as it sees too much sunlight.

I TBLS USA? Huh? Other than the obvious USA (as in 'where we live') what ?? Thanks for the wick suggestion! At least I have a place to start.

Since my ecosoya experience is heading south, and C-3 is available to me locally, might as well give it a try! Sooo.... Which wicks? I'm using a 3" tumbler and a 4" jar. I was wicking the eco CBA with CD-12,14 (tumblers), and CD-16 or 18 (jars); and yes, single wicking. Was beautiful for years, but not now:confused: So, I am open to a wide array of suggestions;! I have the CD's, an assortment of Premieres, and a few HTP's. TIA! Gretchen

Chuck- no sputtering, just tunneling and drowning (w/o crisco) , and burning rather well for a while with it, then drowning.

I did call and speak to my supplier twice now. She's the one that recommended the crisco. I added it bumping up one size on the wicks. They seemed to burn better for a couple of hours but the melt pool was a little shy of the sides and they were on the path to putting themselves out. So I called again and we decided that they were definatly softened a bit to help the wick burn the wax, but need a little more power behind the flame to keep it going so I bumped the wick up one more. So what used to be a CD-12 was now wicked with a CD-16! Worked great again for a couple of hours, but then started getting weaker & weaker as i watched it. (I really HATE watching a candle burn because I have to!) This is really the worst of timing! I just got this wax order a couple of weeks ago; 1800 pounds; 36 boxes. That's a lot of ca-ching! And the new account is Whole Foods. I think I'm in line for a stroke! OK- suggestions guys! Please! I'll call NG tomorrow. I really don't feel like I can double wick; it wouldn't be what they approved. I'd rather delay the candles part of the order. But, I still need to figure this out!

OK; I know I don't show up around here often; usually when I've got a problem. This one is starting to feel like the biggie some of us had with ecosoya what, 3-4 years ago? All of a sudden I've got a crapload of candles that won't burn! Didn't change anything. I've bumped up the wicks; didn't help. I added crisco at the suggestion of my supplier; didn't help (could not even believe that I was adding crisco to a candle! About killed me to do it!). In the morning I am going to try bumping higher without the crisco. I have a bunch of those freebie premiere wicks from a couple years ago; maybe should try those. Basically I want to know if anyone else is having problems and what, if anything, you might be trying to rectify. I just landed the mother of all accounts; haven't started delivery yet; and this is exactly what I don't need. The timing is more than troubling. Because I know the question is coming; I use the Eco CBA; three inch tumbler with either a CD-12 or 14; and a 4 inch jar with a CD-16 or 18; size dictated by scent; and I scent with an ounce per pound. For those who want to say I need to double wick; never did and honestly got a great 3 and 4 hour melt pool from both sizes. Never used any additives; don't know much about using them (probably why putting the crisco in was kind of gaggy). I'll entertain any thoughts, suggestions, criticism; whatever. Feeling rather desperate (and tired!) TIA!

Hey, I just want to say to everyone on this board how incredibly grateful I am to have this forum to come to, and for a variety of reasons. The support, technical advice, experience that so many of you have and are willing to share; it all really just blows me away! (OMG- can't believe I just used that phrase! Sorry!) I don't log on daily, sometimes it can be weeks. I rarely post; ok, maybe I go in spurts, but compared to many of you, I rarely speak. When I have a minute, I'll do a quick check. When I have a question or problem, or if I'm looking for some 'thing' related to 'what we do', I come here. Someone always replies; there's always suggestions and advice offered. Bottom line: What a great group! Thank you ever so much for being here!

OK- I've read all the responses, checked out the sites mentioned; was it Wicks Unlimited; I went there and they offer up allot of info, but it doesn't seem that you can buy from them. Also went to Bitter Creek and found the tabs, so it looks like I'd be making my own wicks with those. At the very least I thought I'd order in their smallest quantity and see how they'd work for me. If they work out, I'm guessing I can order the wicks already put together from someone. I like the idea of the cardboard circles with the hole in the center! However, I can't imagine trying to line up 100-200 of those after pouring. I have the cups side to side in cardboard flats, touching, rows of 20's. It's a work in progress for sure! You guys are great! Thank you so much for all the help & suggestions!

Wow! What a difference a day makes! Didn't realize there were so many responses! Thanks for all the advice & suggestions! An afterthought, I was hoping someone would mention the self centering wick tabs! I will give those a shot. With the wick pins, it was never as big of a problem getting the candle out of the mold with them; that was usually easy. (Although that's when I'd get cut too) It was banging out the wick pin, and I've tried every kind of spray. Losing a 1/4 inch here and a 1/4 inch there was just a waste of time and wax. We've been pouring without the pin then going back in with the wick; but they've been just the standard small-ish wick tabs (the size escapes me at the moment); and my supplier said that their customers 'hated' the self centering tabs so they stopped carrying them. Thanks for telling me where to look or those! I'd still like to try the silicone just to see! (Maybe AFTER Christmas!) Thanks again to all who offered up! Much appreciated as always!

It is a lot of votives! (Talk about mindless, little to no talent required; but, never under estimate steady cash flow!) Jeana- Good idea;I'll try that; thanks! In the long run though, I'd really like another alternative to these crappy metal molds! They're wicked! I have scars on my hands from them!

I'm using a CD-5 scented and unscented. Working very well.

We're pouring between 200-600 votives a day; it happened kind of quickly and a bit unexpected; votives are kind of a pet peeve of mine. My problem with them are the molds. The metal cups are lethal, and the metal pins a royal pain in the butt. Half the time when you bang out a wick pin, a 1/4 inch of the votive cracks off. So, we started pouring without the pins and after pouring a batch of 200, about 10 minutes later we can start placing the wicks into each mold. It's a bit tedious centering and keeping the wicks centered until they hold their own; but it beats banging out wick pins. So I started looking for a silicone or rubber mold. They look great but at best I found a mold that holds like six; I need to pour 200; at a time. The idea of silicone seems like the answer, but the cost is a bit ridiculous. I guess what I'm asking for here is suggestions, ideas, words of wisdom; whatever you're willing to share! I'm pouring with Ecosoyas votive/pillar blend; wicking with CD wicks. I was also wondering about the really big wick tabs. Anyone using them? TIA guys! Gretchen