mrsadler05

I finally got hot throw!! Yippeeee!!!!!!!! I am new to this and was beginning to get a little frustrated. I guess it is not meant for me to give up just yet because I just lit one of my candles in my master bath and I can actually smell it in my hallway. I used 444, eco wick and MC Berry Creme Brule. I made the candle on October 7 so I don't know if this is how long it took to cure or if it is just a combination that works, but I am so excited. If I had more of this fragrance oil, I would stay up all night making candles. I hate waiting for shipping.

Another thing I would do is make some candles with "5x the amount of fragrance oil" to demomstrate seepage. Display it next to one of your quality, correctly made candles. Seeing is believing and this will give your customers a better understanding of fo loads. Explain it in terms they can relate to- a towel, sponge, etc can only absorb so much water and no more. Wax works much the same way and wicks are a whole other book. Maybe even next to your fo seepage display you could set two bowls with water and a sponge. One saturated but not seeping, the other overloaded with water. Squeeze out your properly loaded sponge then lay the spnge back in the bowl and let it reabsorb the water.

Maybe if you have a nicely framed list of things "sleazy" candle ladies might try to pull: Beware of: Chandlers who claim to use more than the recommended amount of fo load. This can lead to seepage of oils from candle, fires, etc. Chandlers who spritz their candles, tissue, packing supplies with fo in order to fool the buyers into thinking the candles are truly superior in fragrance. Chandlers who only scent the top protion of candles and don't scent the entire candle. Oily feeling/appearing candles/tarts are usually not fully scented, but more likely spritzed with fo in order to trick consumers into thinking the products are overloaded with fo. Use everything she told you she does and print it out as a warning. Give references from candle suppliers regarding fo load and warnings. Frame a copy to display at your table and print fliers to hand out to your customers with links to candle supplier web sites. On a different page, list all of the key selling points about your products, company, ethics and guarantee. I like to slum every now and again and take the low road when someone truly desrves it. I wouldn't mention any names or make any references as to whom you are speaking of. Once customers are educated, her advertising gimmicks will be brought to light.

I mark my jars with a Sharpie and keep a journal labeling wax, wick and fo. I was happy to find out the Sharpie washes off the jars with soap and water so you can re-label them as needed.

I am very, very new to this but from what I gather on here, more people who post are using the 464. I bought the 444 because of the higher melt point. I live in New Orleans and it gets really hot. So far I have been testing the 444 and recently decided to try the 464 to compare. From my limited experience, I like the way the 444 pours and cools much better than the 464. I have not had any wet spots in any of the 30 or so candles I have pored with the 444. I poured about 6 with the 464 and they all had wet spots. All of the tests were conducted the same- same amounts of wax and FO, heated to same temp, added fo at same temp, cooled to same temp and poured into heated (170 degree) jars, then all cooled in same room on wire rack. The 444 also had perfect tops when I added coconut oil whereas 464 had a crater around the wicks. I have only just begun HT testing and can't tell a difference between the two but I think I have a bad case of CSS. The next phase of testing will be comparing for HT between the 444 and 464 using various wicks.

Until you get the heat gun, use your blow dryer on high temp but lowest speed. MAKE SURE you aim it at the candle from a good distance. I learned the hard way and bth me and my cabinets were covered in wax. Luckily I found out my husband had a heat gun (from Harbor Freight) and it works great!

Eric, Thanks for the info about the candle re-igniting if reintroduced to oxygen too quickly. I forgot about that. My original thought was to try to suffocate the flame with a wet towel giving me time to gather myself and figure out how to use my fire extinguisher if necessary. I am glad you posted this becuae it actually mnade me go find my fire extinguisher and read the directions so I am better prepared if I ever need it. Instead of trying to fit all of the information on a tiny warning label that most people will ignore, what about printing an informative flyer? You could include all fo the great features about your candles, contact info to buy more candles and then the warning and fire hazard websites. Yes, you would have to be consistent and include one with every purchase, but that is simple and inexpensive enough to do.

I know you can't spray or splash water into this type of flame, but would it be safe to cover the candle with a wet towel to try to suffocate the flame? I have been thinking of what to do personally since I am now in the test burn phase.

I'm still waiting for the 14s to cure so no tests yet. So far with the 12s the LS pumpkin pickin started off with a full met pool then after a power burn it seems to have tunneled a bit. I have it buurning now and I think it will catch up. I blended one of LS mandarin with lemon fo and that wick seems to be drowning out. The only time I got aany hint of HT was when I had it in a small bath. My husband brought a LS apple hot baked pie to work (appx 1000 sf) and he said it smelled great. As I said before, I think I have candle nose because I can't smell a thing.

Thanks, everyone. I can't wait to start th HT testing. Waiting for the candles to cure over the next few day is going to be brutal. Patience is not my strong suit. Kandlenutz, which FOs do you find to have a strong HT throw in the 444? Leigh

I decided to try to start some small, controlled tests to see which combination of wax, wicks and additives work best in the Libbey 13.25 oz Double Old Fashion Tumblers. I am using the Lone Star Pumpkin Pickin FO in all combinations to test for HT. Products being compared are: 444 v 464 Eco 12 wicks v Eco 14 wicks Vybar v Coconut oil Test Batch A: A 1 & 2- 18 oz 444, 1/2 teaspoon Vybar, 1.5 oz FO. Heated wax & vybar to 180, added FO at 174, poured into heated (170) tumblers at 130. A 3 & 4- 18 oz 464, 1/2 tsp vybar, 1.5 oz FO. Heated wax & vy to 181, added fo at 174, poured into heated tumblers at 134 Cooled all on wire rack in small laundry room with heater to keep room temp around 80. [ATTACH]20737[/ATTACH] A1- 444, Eco 12, Vybar- crater around wick but rest of top looks smooth, no wet spots A2- 444, Eco 14, Vybar- crater, slightly bumpy, no wet spots A3- 464, Eco 14, Vybar- Near perfect top- some evidence o tiny air bubble that surfaced around perimeter of jar; half-dollar sized wet spot on side of jar A4- 464, Eco 12, Vybar- crater around wick, slight roughness, one half dollar size and one dime size wet spot on side. Test Batch B: B 1 & 2- 18 oz 444, 1 tsp Coconut oil, 1.5 oz fo. Heated to 181, added fo at 174, poured into heated tumblers at 134. B 3 & 4- 18 oz 464, 1 tsp CO,1.5 oz fo. Heated to 180, added fo at 175, poured at 134. All cooled on wire rack in heated laundry room. [ATTACH]20738[/ATTACH] B1- 444, Eco 14, Coconut oil- perfect top, no wet spots:yay: B2- 444, Eco 12, CO- perfect top, no wet spots:p B3- 464, Eco 12, CO- small crater by wick B4- 464, Eco 14, CO- small crack in top, when heated had crater beneath crack. As for appearances sake, The best results were seen with the 444 and Coconut oil combination. I will begin the HT test after these cure for a few day.

Eric, I have been following your tests and really appreciate the info. I just received some 464, Eco 14s, Vybar, coco oil and large bottles of LS Pumpkin Pickin FO. I will be conducting my own experiments comparing 444 and 464, Eco 12 and Eco 14, Vybar and Coconut oil to see which combination gives me the best HT from the 2 jars I mentioned. Once I get this part narrowed down, I will probably test different wick types. I guess that is the hardest part. I have read a lot- maybe too much- so I am really trying to decide between CD, LX, Zinc and CSN wicks to test against the Ecos. And I thought this was going to be easy.:rolleyes2

Thanks for the encouragment, Pixie. I must be suffering from some serious candle nose because I cannot smell my candles when I am in the house all day. I forgot one of the LS Pumpkin Pickin burning and went to run errands today. When I got home about an hour and a half later I was amazed at how good the house smelled.

Wow. I guess noone likes this wax. Figures since I went all gung ho and bought 50 lbs of it. Well, I did get 10 lbs of the 464 in today so I can start testing to compare the two against each other.

Thanks, again, for keeping us up to date on your findings. I can't wait to see what your final results of the HT test are. Leigh

I am curently testing the Eco 12 and I am waiting for a shipment of Eco 14 wicks. I want to order other types of wicks to test and hope to get get some suggestions of where to begin from people who have tested with 444. I have searched and searched an searched and I am confused now. It seems like every thread that starts off asking about a certain wax type gets misdirected and people start giving advice for other waxes instead. I am using the GW444 and have both the Libbey 13.25 oz double old fashion tumblers and the Status (12 oz I think) jars to test in. I would like to test wicks for the strongest HT from 444. I have coconut oil and I am waiting for some USA and Eco 14 wicks to come in. I am trying to gather as much info as I can so I get started in a good direction. I am thinking of ordering CD16, 18 and 20 wicks becuase I read that several people have been happy with the HT with them. If anyone has tested 444 in these jars, I welcome any advice or suggestions you may have. I also have a few pounds of 464 on order to compare HT. For me, hot throw is the number 1 concern. I don't mind using a heat gun to smoothe out tops if necessary and I don't use dye. Thanks!! Leigh

Thanks, Coconut. I appreciate the info!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is the kind of post I have been searching for. I know everyone has their own opinion about the wax they choose but it has been hard to find someone who has done exact comparisons with each wax like you are doing. I am completely new to candle making and currently I am working through a case of 444. I bought it because of the high melt point. I live in the New Orleans area and the heat and humidity will be a real problem most of the year. It seems like most people are using the 464 and like the HT. I have been thinking about trying it too. I can't wait to read your findings!

Thanks for the info. You answered the question I should have asked. I would prefer to be able to pick the FOs after actually smelling them rather than waste so much money buying samples from all over the country. Now on to searching for glassware.

That look really nice. Good luck!

I like the glass better as well. The labels are very well done.:smiley2:

Can anyone tell me if there are any candle making suppliers near New Orleans? I have searched online and the only one I found is Cajun.

P.S. The messy wax splash all over the candle is from getting too close with the blow dryer. I walked around all day with tiny bits of wax in my hair. I called my husband after that fiasco and asked if he had a heat gun and, yay, he does. No more messy splashes.

You are so right! I am obsessed. I have been reading this forum and searching different vendors websites all week. I want to try so many different fragrances but I know I have to get my pour right first....baby steps. My second batch I poured last night look amazing!! I will post another thread with the pictures. I messed up with the FO blend, though. I had a 4 oz bottle of Mandarin/Tangerine and a 1 oz bottle of lemon chiffon that I mixed. I had no idea the lemon was so overpowering. Again, baby steps. I really love the scent of the Pumpkin Pickin from Lonestar for the Fall. It is not overpowered by some of the spices that have turned me off of other pumpkin pie scents. I can't wait until that batch finishes curing so I can test the HT.

Hi. I am new to this as well. I hope it will be as enjoyable as I think it will and I hope my daughter will get into this with me. Good luck and happy wicking!