JJCandlesCrafts

So, quite a few years ago I used to make and sell candles - jars, some pillars, and votives. Due to some personal issues I gave it up, with the full intention of starting back up. And here I am, 7 years later. After some life changing events, I decided that "hey, I liked doing this and I need a creative outlet again." So, I am moving my work station from a cramped kitchen to an unused bedroom and am about 75% complete with the move. I've called my supplier (Early American Candle (http://earlyamericancandlesupplies.com/), which is local to me so I don't have to worry about shipping), and found out that they don't carry any of the waxes I used to use (6006, Palm Pillar (PQ?), V) and only sell Soy/Soy blends. I know the technology in the soy has improved significantly, so I'm willing to give it a shot, but am a little disheartened that I will need to start, basically, from scratch on EVERYTHING. From the specs, I like the sound of the Xcel, but have also read some... mixed reviews of it, making it necessary to blend, etc. I'm also not confident on the Pillar blends available through him either. Since I'm starting out from scratch again, I'm thinking I'm going to "do it right" this time, and start small, perfect a few different sized glasses, votives, and clammies, and save Pillars for later when I can afford (in both time and money) proper testing/experimenting. My equipment consists of 2 prestos, 3 pour pots, digital scale (with Tare AND "Bakers Math", which sounds AMAZING!), all the minor stuff (stirring spoon, thermometer, heat gun, etc etc etc). I'm thinking of adding a presto (without a tap) to keep a constant temp of water to use as a tool to maintain pour temp (if I can't pour a whole pot at once, and for cleaning - anyone do this?). Also will be "repurposing" a griddle for warming containers pre-pour. So... not sure what I'm really looking for with this post, but are there any words of encouragement and/or pointers anyone can offer? TIA! ~ Joe

Hope this thread isn't dead, but I just found it. I stopped making candles about 7 years ago and am trying to get back into it. I have started the transformation of my (now) ex's office. I had a nice long kitchen that I used to use, but it is galley style, so not very wide. I moved my workbench upstairs and am in the process of moving everything around. At this time I think it will end up being: - 5' work bench surrounded on back and right side with pegboard walls (yes, I'm actually brave enough to hang 2 presto pots on peg board... ) - 5' x 3' desk just to the right of that which will be my pouring/curing station (the peg board wall separating the workbench from the pouring station will hopefully keep down drafts from a window to the left of the work bench). - 5' x 5' 'L' shaped desk behind for more pouring/curing if needed, plus actual "day job" work when needed - A bookshelf along the Right wall to hold molds and glassware - A Kitchen hutch-like...thing behind the bookshelf for more storage. I believe this will be a tad "full", but am hoping for a very functional space that will allow for a versatile space, even with the negatives of this room. (I know some of this may sound weird, but there are, sadly, reasons why I had to go this route to make it work). ~Joe

I don't know if some of you that live in more rural areas would be able to pull this off or not, but I've been known to tell people Michaels or the other semi-chain craft store around here. First, that is how I started when I was just making for myself and my soon to be MIL (who was burning about $40 worth of WalMart candles a week, on a fixed income). Anyone with any common sense (and a Michaels nearby) would eventually figure it out, so I don't really think I am giving much up. Secondly, the quality of stuff from there is crap, so... still works out for me. Who knows, if Michaels gets enough people getting supplies from there, maybe I won't have to drive an hour and/or order as much online ;-) lol

I try to get as much as I can from Early American in North Hills part of PGH. Whenever I need anything, they seem to either have it or have a solution to any problem I have. Very good folk there, though the supplies guys close kind of early and the retail people don't know much about the supply side, but they are totally cool with you calling and asking questions or setting aside an order for you to pick up after hours or whatever. There isn't much I can't get from them and from what I've seen, their prices are decent, even without adding in shipping... HTH

I don't use them, but I have been to EAC often enough and seen them displayed, and the hearts they have are a snug fit inside the boxes, so if the wally ones are even slightly larger, as Glowlite says, I'm afraid to say you may be our of luck.. :undecided

I personally do not think the solder will hold it, but there should be any number of places that will weld it for a very reasonable fee...

Why didn't anyone tell me about this before? I spent about that much to make my presto pot...especially with the time it took me to find the drillbit and thread tap.. You'll have to let us (me?) know how it works! Good luck on your 600 candles! WOW. Wish I could get an order that big Joe

Just seen this. If you are still in need of replys, heres mine Also, Sent you a PM.

With Spigot 1. Would give a 1. No hassel at all. 2. Manual Spigot (like others, never heard of electric)

See! Thats why I like this place! NEVER would have thought of that! Thanks Satin!! (AND you saved the tree that woulda made the "stilts" )

Hey All. Hopefully someone will be ble to shed some suggestions that I can try... OK, here's the deal. I usually use the sheet metal style molds and wick them in a certain way tht works for me and always has (use magnets instead of mold seal.. works really well for me). BUT... I have some molds that are seamless aluminum and are flat on the bottom. Being aluminum, the magnets do not stick. So, I used to just use duct tape, which seemed to work fine with parafin, but since 90% of my candles are now palm, and I'm pouring at 220-230, its just too darn hot for the duct tape (molten wax just pouring out of the wick hole... gotta love it :embarasse) I have kept adding more and more tape, just can't keep it sealed. SO.. I came here looking for suggestions. I recently got some mold plugs,, but they dont cut it either (Flat bottom + Wick Plug = teeter totter). Was thinking of cutting out some little squares of wood to raise the bottom of the mold so I can use the plug (will try as soon as I can cut the wood), but looking for other alternatives as well... if any. Sorry so long, but I always have a hard time describing what I m thinking so go overboard a bit santa wink TIA Everyone

I have had some instances where they were the person was apprehensive about wholesale so I offered a trial consignment until they saw how well they sold, then went to a wholesale account. I would try to go for wholesale, and if they are worried about the upfront costs, this might be another way to get your foot in the door. Set up maybe a month or so for them to try your candles out... HTH. Joe

I have 2 Prestos and both have spigots (or rather the ball valve, but have a feeling thats what people mean???) Anyway. The first one I made, the spigot is at a sharp angle and I guess I didn't put the threads on deep enough, and I have some dripping issues (kinda cool how when I put a pour pot under it catch the drippings, it turns into a stalagmite(tite?)) The other one work WONDERFULLY. Very little drippage. I use the dripping one for my pillar wax, since it comes up of my table easier than container wax in case it doesn't drip inside the pot. Long story short, I wouldn't know what to do with myself without the spigot. Only way to go, IMO.

Thank you all for your advice!! Looks like I have a lot of samples to order/sniff Thanks again!

Hey all. I was wondering if anyone knew where to get a good, authentic Nag Champa scent? Gen Wax in Hollywood, CA has a nice one, but they KILL me on shipping to east coast (PA). Ideas?

You might also want to check ebay. Been looking for these myself, and they seem pretty cheap... HTH

GREAT! Thanks! I copied some of the instructions onto my label, and will put a candle warning on the inside. Think that should work??? Thanks again! Joe

Hey all. Sorry, I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info... I am looking for what all is needed for warnings/instructions for melts. Trying to get these things ready, but kinda new to them, so need as much help as possible lol.. TIA

Don't know if this helps or not, but I was getting 6 pack boxes from earlyamericancandlesupplies.com (I actually am close enough that I just drive up and browse). And of course, when I looked at the website, they are sold out of the 6 pack boxes. You could always look and see if you like them and contact to see when reshipment is... But I also found that they have 12 pack clear "trays", which are kind of cupcake holder looking, but they are $60/100 trays, which works out to $0.60 each, or $0.05 for each votive. Don't know if going for 12 per package would help at all, or even if the 6 (when they get them back), but some options??? HTH Joe P.S. John and Scott at Early American are amazing to work with! Am sure they will do what they can to help you out.

Well thanks everyone for pooing on my parade Had a feeling they were "to good to be true" for the price lol. Thanks for the advice! Joe

First off, Beautiful colors and layout! Nice job!! Noticed a couple of typos: Welcome page: "So sit back and relax and enjoy our site. " Should be, IMO, So, sit back, relax, and, enjoy our site." Too many "and's" Also, on same page "Hey everyone, as an introductory offer. I would like to offer everyone a 20% discount off of your total order until the end of this year." This shouldn't be 2 sentances, or at least you need to add to the first one to complete it (or a comma instead of a period after "offer". I agree that the logo might use some "pop," but is very beautiful! On the description for each pic, I would suggest having them vertically aligned in the center of the pic, that way on the ones where there are 2 lines of text, it wont run underneath the pic (an easy way for this would be to use a table, 2 cells wide, the left for the pics and the right, vertical alignment=center for the text). Maybe a mouse roll over might be a nice touch as well for the pics?? And last thing I would suggest would be the image size of the pics. I agree that they take WAY too long to load, but I think the cause of that is because you loaded the full size picture and having the HTML resize it for you. I would be *TONS* faster to upload a smaller pic. The pic "bar_soap" for example, is 116 kb. if you just run it through photoshop, and adjust the size to 106 picels wide (which is what you are having HTML shrink it down to), the pic is then only 18.6kb. This will help those pics load a LOT faster. Overall, I think the site is wonderful. The things I mentioned, I feel, are just "Minor tune up" things, nothing major. Good Job, and HTH Joe

Hey all. I was just wondering if anyone has every used www.acandleco.com or http://alndeealapacheimports.7p.com for tart warmers? I know they both have a minimum order as well as a min case per item, but wondering if anyone has dealt with them either indivually or through a co-op? TIA Joe they can be seen http://www.acandleco.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/parentcat/1908/endrw/0 and http://alndeealapacheimports.7p.com/wholesale___oil_burners.html

Ok so just got home from the show. Turns out they didn't have enough crafters sign up, so they turned it into a FLEA MARKET & craft show. Of the 6 people inside, 5 were crafters, but there was only one person outside that was a crafter (13 flea market people). Still though, I think I did the best out of everyone inside. 1 person made table price, and one made $3.00 over. I myself made 5 X booth fee in sales, 4 x in profit. The best I have ever done (compared to straight flea markets). Also, I got to know some of the local artists and found out bout 4 other shows (one of which is next week.... think I'm skipping that one as it is in the Wally World parking lot). But, all in all, I think it went suprisingly well. Thanks for all your good wishes!! Joe

Hey all. I haven't posted much, but have been reading alot and almost feel like I know most of you already I have my first craft show in about 7 hours. Not expecting much, as it is a poorly advertised little "thing" at the local Boro building. But hoping for the best Nothing seems to be going right tonight (labels wont stay adhered to the containers, Presto Pot decided that it doesn't want to be sealed anymore, and in my haste of pouring, I poured a sample pillar that when cured decided that it didn't want to stay in one piece... etc. etc.) Well, going to bed so I won't be totally useless tomorrow. Wish me luck! Thanks, Joe