JJCandlesCrafts

I don't know much about this particular product, capacity-wise, but thought the deal looked ok. It's at least pretty...

From the specs, looks to have temp controls from 125-375, drain valve, and can hold a 14 lb turkey. $64.99 + $5 shipping - am sure there's cheaper, but thought I'd share in case anyone has any feedback on this particular model. http://sellout.woot.com/offers/masterbuilt-butterball-turkey-fryer

This deal will be over after only one day, so by end of day THURSDAY it won't be around anymore. Anyone have any insight into this particular fryer?

Instead of telling her to Google something, I'd send her a link to http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+make+wax+melts or something. Then I'd give her totally wrong info on the scent combo you use, as if you were being super helpful. But I'm an a$$ like that

I like HTPs in Xcel.

This is awesome. A freind of mine was thinking of appenticing under me cause he has all these great (i.e. UNSAFE) ideas for putting these herbs in and those stones in etc etc. I mentioned Hurricanes as a possible work around, but I had never done them myself, so didn't have much to offer. This is a great way to accomplish his results, while still having a safe candle!

Oh I love this!!! I'm going to have to shop very very soon. I did my first craft festival and was semi-embarrased that the wax was a bit messy around the clamshell.

Was it this past weekend? In Franklin PA? And no, I'm NOT trying to say "Messy Tarts - I remember YOU!!!" ;-) Just wondered if anyone from the board was there - haven't read anything.

I was so annoyed with frosting that I went on to use Ecosoya Xcel CB. The website info says the following: EcoSoya® CB-XceLtm is 100% soy and molecularly blueprinted to control polymorphism. It has extreme resistance to bloom (white frosting) and “wet spots,” while producing an excellent scent throw with fragrances. It maintains an even burn pool with consistent color retention.

While I was at first skeptical, I have found this to be the case. I generally get no frosting or minimal frosting when I use this wax. It is a bit more expenisve than the wax I was using which was GW464. I refuse to use paraffin and so I was determined to find a solution.

When I re-started I looked around and found that my closest supplier (damned if I'm paying shipping for wax if I don't have to!) ONLY sells Eco-Soya. Couldn't find any good information on the Xcel outside of the manufacturer's statements, but gave it a try. Yes, it is more $$$, but MINIMAL frosting, and adhesion is great.

I heat to about 155, pour into heated jars at about 135-140 and have had minimal issues (all I can explain away - drafty window left open, didn't wipe out my glass well enough... etc). When I do what I'm supposed to do, I'm loving the wax.

"You have really nice paintings. Can you make me this Van Gogh? I really can't afford the one in the museum..."

I tend to buy what *I* like in scents, or what *I* think would be popular. I have gotten "type"s, but because I enjoyed them. I take suggestions for "themes" or "generics" (lemon-y, apple pie, etc), but haven't run into a "Make me THIS!"

If anyone is wondering, a Turkey Baster DOES NOT work for this...

What'syour name? Joe

How old are you? 35

Where do you live? Pittsburgh, PA

How long have you been making candles/soap/whatever? I’ve been at thisfor about 8 years now, though there was a long hiatus in the middle there.

How did you get started making candles/soap/whatever? I used to makecandles as a kid as a craft with my 4-H club (colored with Crayons no less – oyI cringe thinking back to those). So, asan adult, my wife and I were walking through a craft store and saw a kit andstarted talking to reveal that SHE made melt-in-bag candles when she wasyounger. So, we got some supplies, found them to be crap, found a REALsupplier, found this board, and … well, you get the idea.

Are you married? Any kids? Married for another 4-5 weeks or so. No kids.

If candle making isn't your primary job, what do you do? I run the NorthAmerican support center for a number of applications for a software company.

Anything else we should know? My soon to be ex used our spare bedroom asher office, since she worked from home. My candle stuff was, for the last few years, sequestered in a corner ofthe kitchen, above the kitty litter – Not the best of work environments, whichis why it’s just been sitting there. So, with her gone I a) needed to dosomething with “her” room, and needed an (artistic?) outlet. Played withsome ideas, but kept coming back to all the supplies I still had for candlesand how much I did enjoy it way back when. After a few weeks of some research, I started putting my workshoptogether. I got some new supplies, got my old equipment dusted off, and for thepast few months have been re-testing to make sure things didn’t change “TOO”much. A few tweaks here and there, and…well, we’ll see where it ends up.

Also, I’ma metal head, but am corporate enough that no one can tell. I do miss my hair though L Noone that looks at me would think I’m a chandler, which is kind of cool in itsown right.

Well, ok then. Sounds like I just got unlucky and they may be deserving a second chance. Thanks for the input!

Now to see if I can get a coupon for my trouble ;-) j/k

Hi All.

So, I placed my first order with Candlewic on 9/2. Between then and the next 2 days, I placed orders with 2 other suppliers, 1 of which I've dealt with before, the other was also a "first time order". Both of the other suppliers had the goods at my house within 4-5 days. I keep waiting and waiting for CW, and then thought "well, I know I got the order confirmation, but I don't think I ever got any shipping information". I finally contacted them on 9/18 (I've been busy and also holding out hope it was just slow UPS man - normally wouldn't let it go that long). I got a pretty quick reply basically saying "I tracked the order and we sent it to someone else. I'll ship it again and it should be there by 9/24".

I know poop happens, but, since I've had great service with other companies, and I'm lucky enough not to need to ship often (local supplier), just wondering if others have had similar situations with them, or if I should give them another chance?

Thoughts? TIA

They look nice and sharp. Have you tried a matte white background with the same products?

Not except the very first pic. For some reason I really love the contrast with the black, though I need to try the white a little more in a controlled environment instead of outside. Maybe because I'm color blind?? :-)

I asked a question. I only needed 1 person to answer and say yes. I didn't need 50 people telling me yes.

Now if I asked an opinion about something, then yes, 50 people replying would be great because they each have there own experiences. BUT I didn't ask for an opinion, I asked a question so I only needed 1 answer, NOT 50!!

Really? Cause you've been given that answer "50" times and you're still asking the same questions. Chill the hell out, stop jumping all over people who are trying to HELP YOU so that you don't kill someone. You don't make the rules here. If you ask a question, everyone has the oportunity to answer. Whether or not you like their answers, man-up and take it, or GTFO.

Set 2:

While my photographer buddy was in town, I was asking him about professional light boxes for taking product shots and prices, etc. He found some DIY site awhile back and decided he would make me one. About $10 later we had: A big cardboard box, some tape, some thin white kitchen garbage bags, and some colored poster board. I used a flood light I had sitting around on the second batch, but the first batch of pics were just taken outside in the sunlight, with my phone's camera! Considering we were just screwing around, i think these came out AWESOME! (Yes, I know I know. Wicks, bottoms, blah... Was literally "Grab something before the sun goes down!

Dab nabit. I just had an Order with Peaks. And one from Candlewic and thought I was done for a little while.

Now I have one with CS too.

AWESOME! I was looking at something similar at an art store, but was intimidated. She makes it looks pretty easy. Now, all I need is some artistic talent...

Buying in bulk REALLY helps bring costs down. Especially with the heavy stuff where shipping will kill your expenses. Plus, I've seen Oz bottles of FO for, say, $2.50, where 16 Oz is "only" $15-20. HUGE savings. Double or Triple using long wicks helps a lot too.

Luckily I have a supplier within about 30 mins of me where I don't have to ship much, sadly you state that that isn't the case for you. I know a lot of people here have to have their wax shipped, so maybe someone can give some pointers?

The amount for you labor: I'm sure you have a formula that had you come to $1.50/per candle. I may get flamed for this, but:

What I do is figure my "hourly rate" if you will. For ease of math lets say $10/hour. Now I calculate how many candles I CAN make in that amount of time. Let's say, with my Presto holding 7 LBs of wax, and with heating, pouring, cleaning etc. I get one Presto "fill" per hour - I'm hustling. With 7lbs, I can make about 15, 8 Oz Jellys. That would work out to about $0.66 a candle. Just because I don't have the orders to justify making 15 candles per hour, I can't really pass a $10/jar fee to a customer, nor can I change my prices for every batch I make. Yes, I'm cheating myself out of a "decent wage" when I'm starting up, but I think it is fair for the consumer as well as myself once I start with some real bulk.

As others have said, spreadsheets really do help. I list my scents on one page and calculate a Per Ounce Price for each one. I use the highest price FO I carry for all further calculations.

On another tab, I have my waxes listed, again in a Per Ounce price.

On a third tab, I list each container, how many oz it holds, and price per piece. Excel calculates the ounces, figures how much scent is needed (based on a 1 oz P.P.), how much the cost of the wax is by determining how much wax is needed * cost of that particular wax. I use a set price for Color, Wick, Label, etc. of a round $0.50, and add my "rate". Excel adds it all up, gives me "My Cost", "Wholesale", and "Retail" prices, as well as figures out my per ounce highest profit margin items. Of course this isn't "written in stone" on my prices, but gives me a good idea where I stand with everything.

HTH and I wasn't just rambling

~ Joe

Hi QT. I am using Xcel with decent results. In the 8oz Jellies, I'm using Xcel and HTPs and getting a good burn, with decent HT and CT. Mind your temps, pre-warm your glass and don't over-scent it and it's a good base to start narrowing down your testing.

HTH

I've found that it's a taboo wax, since no one really talks about it (except when mixing for tarts), but I am getting really decent results with Xcel. Minimal frosting, decent tops, decent HT... I'm really impressed, considering I can't find anyone that likes it.

Thanks guys. I appreciate your input. She just placed some orders yesterday and today. @ Kitn...She said, with regard to firemountaingems, "Oh man, that site is dangerous!"...LOL! I had to laugh because we all know that feeling, don't we!? She just made a few of these and they are already sold. And, more orders are coming in. We went out to run errands a little bit ago and people are asking about her jewelry. I'm very excited for her. Thanks again

My soon to be ex-wife used to place large orders from Firemountain, and sell what she didn't need/couldn't use on ebay to help feed the addiction. She had good luck buying the bulk packages that they have for cheap, sorting out the creme-de-la-creme and reselling the rest. This may help with the over priced retail of Michaels/JoAnn/etc. Also, those places' sales/coupons can help get their prices more reasonable.

I'm a big, burly, scary looking guy and *I* worry about this and don't feel comfortable putting my full address on labels.

Yay I helped! (Thanks Chandler. I really need to pay more attention).

You found something I think Ladysj has been looking for! Ooooh Ooooh cool beans!

Ok, so I knew it was SOMEONE'S.post... ;-)

I have never used this company, but randomly came accross this today and thought of this post. http://sunshinecontainer.com/ If you click on "Clear Cover White Votive Boxes" they have some cute "7 votives and a cup" type packaging solutions. Again, I've never used them, or this company so maybe someone else may be able to say if they're good or not - Just an idea.

HTH

~Joe