Wessex

I'm never in a bad mood :rolleyes2! I learned a long time ago to never post angry, LOL. If I am PO'd about something I will wait until the next day and see if I still want to say something. Usually not :smiley2:. Cheers, Steve

Just wanted to add another irritating thing I just noticed: people who have been members for years but with only a few posts. And all the posts are asking things like "what are your bestselling..", "any ideas for new...", "where do you get your..."! You get the idea. All take and never give. Come on people, this is a sharing board! I know I try to share my limited knowledge, and there are members here who do WAY more than their share of helping. Sorry, ranting again. Snowed in and nothing to do but pour different tart blends and bitch, LOL. Believe it or not, I'm actually in a pretty good mood! Cheers, Steve

For about the past week I have been searching every post possible regarding soy and parasoy tarts and clamshells (going into testing phase as soon as all the companies open back up and I can purchase needed supplies). I have been AMAZED at the amount of posts asking what is the best wax, what are the best FO's, how do you do it (want all the particulars explained), etc. Most are from relative new members, but some have been from members with lots of posts. (Oh, and as an aside, one person claimed to have made soy candles for years, but then asked what the GB stood for in GB415!) I assume some people just don't know that the search feature exists or how to use it, but please! Do some basic research and testing before asking how to do specific things. Then ask questions if you encounter a problem or issue. Yes, it is expensive and time consuming. I guess I just have no tolerance for people wanting to take unearned shortcuts. Hell, for me this board has been a great shortcut!! So much great and useful information here. Don't know how far behind I would have been (in both time and money) if I had not come across this board (found it while researching, LOL). I'm sure I asked some stupid questions a few months ago :smiley2:. But please don't put a wick in some wax with something that smells pretty and sell it! Sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah, rambling on. I think people get what I am saying. Just had to post after realizing how many people have come here through the years and asked how to do something so they could be at a craft show next weekend, or sell on Ebay, or wherever else. BTW, I definately appreciate all the people who contribute their time and knowledge to this board. Cheers, Steve

What wax are you using? As far as shipping cases, 1 case will go in one box. So each case you order is just another box, so no price breaks. If you order by the pallet, or LTL (less than truckload), you can usually get better shipping rates. Same goes for the hundredweight deals through UPS. Ask your supplier about these. Cheers, Steve

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like I will be buying a bunch of these. Hopefully I will actually use them, LOL. Cheers, Steve

Here's a funny story. Last month I had a store owner contact me and wanted me to supply some candles wholesale (would have been several hundred dollars). She basically wanted a bunch of fragrances I have not tested (did not want any I had tested). Told her there was no way I could get them tested and delivered in time for the holiday rush. She was understanding, but asked what was so hard about it. I already made the size jars she wanted, just change the dye and fragrance. I told her it did not work that way. Her response was that the supplier she sold now did it that way when she needed a new fragrance! Wow, wonder if she ever tried any of the candles. Makes you wonder how many candle makers are out there like this. Cheers, Steve

I am by no way an expert at candle making. I can make a good, solid Palm candle because I spent many months concentrating on just that one wax. I did as much research as possible, and only asked a question when I ran up against a problem I could not resolve with research and testing. I did not ask for specifics, like many newbies do. I definately did not expect anyone to tell me EXACTLY what I needed to do, LOL. Would not expect people who spent lots of time and money to hand me their solutions! If I see a newbie asking a specific question and then explaining what they have tried, yes I will try to give them an answer that has worked for me. If someone comes on and wants it handed to them with no testing and research, HELL NO, LOL. I am going to be jumping into parasoy and soy tarts and clamshells in the new year, and do not expect anyone to hand me an answer that I can figure out for myself. I have already researched my butt off and come up with about 10 wax combinations I want to try. Already have most of the waxes, and am going to order the rest after the holidays. Gonna cost me lots of time and money. And that's the way it should be. I'm sure I will be asking for some opinions and tips somewhere down the line, but I will try to figure it out for myself first. AS IT SHOULD BE, LOL. Sorry, I'm rambling here :smiley2:. Have to go pour a couple testers if I want to make an easy million dollars next year . Happy Holidays All, Steve I guess I should add that I had a good grounding in paraffin candle making, so the learning curve wasn't horrible.

They should be fine for a couple days. Just check the bags now and then to see if any color is migrating to the bags. If not, you should be fine. I wouldn't worry too much. Enjoy the holidays. Cheers, Steve

Found these while surfing the web. Anyone have opinions on if they would work for tarts (or soaps) and if the price is decent. I have little experience with using silicone molds. http://thecookwarekitchen.com/premium-baking-pans.html Thanks, Steve

Hopefully your tarts will come out good for you! I am getting geared up to start testing tarts and clamshells in the New Year. Been doing days (weeks) of internet research on it! Luckily I have 6 different soy and paraffin waxes already, but still need to order 3 or 4 more types. Apparently everybody has a favorite blend that works for them and no one else, LOL. So I figure I have a lot of blending, pouring and testing ahead of me. But I actually like the development part (when I am not pulling my hair out). I will have to supply a tart warmer to all my testers, so to OBI I go (gotta figure a while to write-off this on taxes)! And knowing myself, I will end up getting about 20 from OBI for me :rolleyes2. And of course need some clamshells, so might as well get a case while I'm at it, LOL. So if I decide not to sell clamshells, you will be seeing lots of clammies in the classifieds! Ah, a testing we will go... Again, congrats on your tarts. Cheers, Steve

C&S has a couple that are listed as mottling, but no IGI number. Aztec has IGI 1274. Cheers, Steve

That's the other place I saw it. Losing my brainpower, LOL. Now does anybody know where to get the Superior 600 series? I will contact Wickit about it, but with the holidays it will probably be a while before anyone is home. Cheers, Steve

Aztec carries the Premier 700 line. I've seen them elsewhere but can't remember where. I have been trying to find the Superior 600 line, but can't seem to locate anyone that carries them. Looks like I may have to contact Wickit. Cheers, Steve

Most of my HT testing is done by volunteers, LOL. I test several candles at a time for wicking. When I have the wicking where I want it, I "send out" a candle to two of several people who will burn it for HT. My sniffer is not what it used to be, so I can't rely on it (IMO). I do some testing for HT here, by putting the candle in my master bath(about 120 square feet), closing the door and coming back to it in 5 or so minutes. If it fills the room in that amount of time, I consider it good and only send out to one tester. So far, the ones that pass my testers have gotten rave reviews, so I am happy. If a candle is "pretty good", I shelve it and will revisit it later (except for the seasonal scents, which I concentrate on). I have to admit that some excellent FO's I have not been pleased with and have not offered (Pumpkin Souffle among them, love it but can't get a really consistent burn). I do currently make 12 different sized containers (hence so many candles tested). Yes, way too many, but I love the testing part and love lots of different jars. Have narrowed selection down, BTW. Plus votives and pillars (pillars take a LONG time to test, LOL). And beeswax votives and tapers. Next year I think I will start testing tarts. Can't wait to start that wasp nest up, LOL. Oh, and just went back to see how many I have actually tested (by counting my index cards) and it is not 600, closer to 500. It may seem like alot, but you have to consider that the same candle is tested at least 3 times. Oh, and I have so many bottles of FO here that have not made the grade, need to put them on classified, LOL! Sorry for the ramble... Cheers, Steve

I have found that sometimes yes, sometimes no. You have to retest any candle whenever ANYTHING is changed. That includes some retesting when you get a new batch of wax (even same wax from same supplier) or new batch of FO. Yes, it is a large pain in the butt and costs money. But if you want to have consistently good candles, you have to constantly test and retest. That's what takes so much time and money. There is definately no easy money in candle making, LOL. Cheers, Steve

Cool looking candle, but I would not leave it unattended! Looks like an accident waiting to happen, LOL. Of course now I am going to have to try to make one :smiley2:. Don't think I would EVER feel safe selling something like that, tho. Cheers, Steve

Agree about the people with new businesses and 300 scents! I have about 20 FO's that I would be reasonably comfortable unleasing on the public! And that is after testing using many cases of wax. Think the inexperienced chandler thinks all FO's react the same. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but after looking through Etsy, Ebay, etc, and seeing the crap out there (and wild claims), I am a little disgusted. Seems for every decent chandler there are 2 or 3 sketchy ones. I don't know...don't want to get off on a rant. Cheers, Steve And if they want to get rich...better pick another business. It would take me a long time to just make back what I have spent testing and playing! But I am having fun and I enjoy the testing (glutton for punishment, LOL).

I do things kinda like Stella. Every single candle I test is recorded on a large index card. I include jar size, wick, FO, wax (including batch number), date, temperature, etc. (different times of year can affect your burn if all other things are equal). Also note which supplier all materials are from and when purchased (helps trace any batch problems). File cards by FO, ordered by container size. Pillars and votives have their own files (again by FO). On the cards I keep track of each time lit and put out (I generally do 4 hour burns if not power burning), and all notes for each burn. Lots of precise notes will go a long way when looking over cards months from now. I know I have test burned over 600 candles this year! Of course, this is just a basic outline of how I do things. It will take lots of money to make good candles. And lots of time. Don't get discouraged and don't jump in too quick. Lots of learning involved. Cheers, Steve

Strictly speaking, they are made with cotton and paper, thus natural materials (paper is made of wood!), sort of, LOL. I would say the are "natural" wicks, but not "all" natural wicks. At least I wouldn't call them "all-natural". Of course I think I just like to split hairs, LOL. But they are good wicks! Cheers, Steve

Just a heads up - ECO series wicks (as well as almost all wicks) are chemically treated to help with various certain burn characteristics. Thus not all natural. Steve

You might try these, not really close to you, but I don't really do business with anyone in your neck of the woods. http://www.jarsupplier.com/ http://www.jarstore.com/ http://www.fillmorecontainer.com/Candles/ Might be able to get a better deal, but shipping might be too much. HTH Steve

What part of the country are you in? The shipping is what really adds to price. Alot of times, even if you find jars cheaper, the shipping will make it more expensive than slightly higher priced places that are closer. I am on the east coast, so my suppliers may not be cheaper for you. Cheers, Steve

I believe that you can call it soy if it is over 50% soy, just like most "beeswax" candles out there are 51% beeswax. To me it is a shady practice, but seems to be employed alot by the big companies. We're better than that. Cheers, Steve

I don't know why everyone is suddenly hung up on not blowing out a wick. I know that it is best to use a wick dipper, but probably 95% of people don't do this. So when I test candles (and I have tested hundreds), I blow out the wick. Have absolutely no problems. No sooting, no afterglow, nada. I am using GG and mostly CSN's, which are pretty dang good wicks! I agree it would be nice to educate the public, but I even gave my Mom a dipper and she still blows her candles out So anyway, I think a properly wicked candle will suffer no adverse effects by being blown out. Just MHO. Definately not trying to step on anyones toes. As I tell soldiers going overseas (in regards to finding and neutralizing IED's), it is A way, not THE way. Cheers, Steve

The way I look at it is that all candle waxes are a byproduct. Paraffin of the petroleum industry, soy of the soybean industry, palm of the palm oil industry, etc. None of these industries will alter what they do or how they do it if the waxes are not being used for candles. They will just use the waxes for other uses. Simple. Cheers, Steve