VickiB in CA

Thanks! Can you tell me how you wick yours? I'm double wicking with LX18s in a 16 oz apothecary and was burning beautifully but now I'm noticing what happens so often for me. The melt pool on the sides of the jar starts to gradually shrink and then the wicks are getting shorter and shorter and shorter . . . Do you know what causes that? I'm going to try 20s instead and see if that doesn't give it enough "gas" to keep it going all the way down

Thanks so much for the info regarding using dyes in this type of blend.

I'm playing with a 70/30 soy para blend I've made myself. For any who've used this ratio of waxes, how would you say the dyes work in it? Do you have to use much more dye as you would for a paraffin wax? And would it frost at all considering how much paraffin is in it?

Thanks for the help

www.jarstore.com

They're on the east coast. In Texas, Fairway Glass will frost them for you if you order 1000 (I think that's the minimum). The website is:

www.fairwayglass.us

Don't know about the J223, but I have noticed a big difference in the latest batch of J50. It sizzles as it melts-sounds like deep frying french fries. It appears different as it is stirred also. No appreciable difference in scent throw, but the surface of the poured candle sometimes has little air bubbles, which I have to heat with a hear gun.

I noticed when I was pouring a test batch of the J50 that there were what looked like little water bubbles sitting at the bottom of the melted wax.

We bought 10 cases of J223 back in mid-April from Lone Star. I've been so busy pouring candles, bookkeeping, that I didn't pay that much attention to the wax. When we were melting it yesterday, noticed how pretty & white it was, seemed different, no water in it, no debris. We usually have to add soy to it to hold down the wet spots. I tried pouring a few containers before I added the soy. WOW!!!! It poured perfect, flat top, and absolutely NO wet spots today. The scent throw is fabulous. Could it be I have found the perfect OLD wax? Anyone else noticed this new change? especially if you have lately bought 223 from Lone Star? Wish I had a pallet of this batch. Carole:D :D

The 2 cases I ordered from Lonestar a few months ago are yellowish. I got an 8 lb slab of 7 year old J223 from another candlemaker. She sent it to me so I could compare to the new. It's nice and white. I wonder if Lonestar would take this yellow stuff back??

Thanks! I ordered samples of both of those types :smiley2:

Could someone give me a starting place for the soy blend I'm working with? I mix 75% GB 415 and 25% CB3 (soy/veg blend). I add 3% BW. I love the way the wax looks but having trouble wicking. I've only worked with zincs, premier 700s (fizzle out) and Ultra Cores. Do I need to add more wick types to my testing??

Thanks!

ps - I use a 4" frosted apothecary - no color and 1.4 oz FO max.

Can you tell me - are you wicking with zincs? I'm double wicking 44-24s and 24-28s in a 4" apothecary.

I use 1.3 ozs of FO, which is normal for me.

I've been talking w/another candlemaker about the J223 today. She said hers is smoking a lot lately where it wasn't before.

I told her I didn't think it had changed. But then I haven't really burned any straight J223 candles for a while since I'm working on adding soy to it right now. I lit a few of my J223 candles off of the shelf and I'll be darned if 1 didn't smoke and 3 of them the wicks fizzled out after the melt pool was full.

Is anyone else having problems or am I just imagining something weird here??:undecided

It does seem a lot softer than usual but I just attributed that to the heat of summer.

I used to sell a good amount of incense in my shop. I bought tall glass straight-sided bud vases from the 99 cent store and they hold about 100 sticks or so. I pour the 3 ozs of DPG/FO mixture in the bottom, slide in the sticks in and in a day or 2 they would be saturated to the top. This is what worked for me.

This way is also space-efficient as you can line up several on the counter and do them all at once without taking up too much of your workspace.

I would also love to have this one. It truly smells like a sprig of fresh picked mint leaves.

Candlewic carries clear wax. I see that the pillar wax holds 6%. I think there's an overlay wax too??

www.candlewic.com

I used to do a coffee and cinnamon blend and call it Cinnamon Espresso - you could also call it Mexican Coffee.

Thanks for the responses. I'll try the 4786 and see how it works for me.

On the 70/30 - isn't that the free sample GL was sending out a while back? I've been waiting since Feb for mine :undecided Maybe it will show up one of these days??

Thanks again for the responses. I think I actually have a sample of the 4786 laying around the shop somewhere. I'll have to look and see if that's the one I have for sure and give it a try.

Thanks again!

I've used the J223 since I first started 4 years ago and have recently wanted to switch to a harder container blend. I don't care if I have to do a second pour. I just want a wax that you can't make a hole in the top with your finger but has a decent scent throw. Even a para/soy blend would be good if it's not more than 50% soy.

I've been working on a custom blend where I'm adding 25% pure soy and then some polyboost to harded it up a bit but my wicks aren't happy with me They seem to dance more and throw a little tantrum there in the jar Tried 3 or 4 different types.

Any suggestions would be so appreciated.

I'm here in central CA and the best I've been able to do it Fairway Glass in TX. They carry top notch jars and Ron will treat'cha real nice

www.fairwayglass.us

Mine aren't on the list - just recently discovered JBN. Woo hoo! They're awesome! Them, along with KY are my tops suppliers for my soy/veg blend.

I LOVE MMS (thesage.com) Juicy Pear. It's super strong in my 50/50 para/soy blend. I think I read on their site that they have even improved it since last time I ordered so I'm sure it's even better.

Of my 20 suppliers, in order of importance to my business, they are probably #2 or 3.

And they have excellent customer service. They usually ship out the next day and I have it in 2 days! Love those guys!

People know me as "The Candle Lady". I love it People close to me call me "The Mad Scientist". When I go into "tweak mode", it's a pretty scary sight:p

I too am addicted to samples. Whenever I place an order and didn't order at least one little 1 oz bottle of SOMETHING, my heart sinks when I open the box. I feel like - Man! Just a bunch of stuff I've already smelled!

Thanks - just the answer I was hoping for

Is BCN's Univ Additive the same as ones listed as Universal Soy Additive? Is BCN's soy based? What I'd like to find is a paraffin based one if there is such a thing??

Thanks!

I like your system for finding the facts

I've tested 3 so far and did let them cure for 3 days first and all 3 are burning too quick with the 50% addition of soy added to the J223.

Is the 415 a pure soy?? Maybe that's the problem??

Or maybe something weird and scientific happens when the soy hits the J223 container goop??

Thanks for the responses

I was tired of the look of the J223 and wanted a smoother non-vaseliney look & harder wax and loved the way the CB3 soy/veg looked in the jar. But it burned funny and had a lot of soot with white lines around the edges and what not.

So decided to add soy to the J223 to make them look better and like it so far. I won't be advertising them as soy - just doing it to make better looking, burning candles.

BTW - I thought soy was a harder wax. Why are my old wicks burning quicker with the addition of the soy?? Doesn't make sense.

Thanks for the help!

After adding 50% pure soy to my J223 (I love this blend! )

My zinc wick I was using in my J223 is now way too big and I'm deciding whether to just go down on size or test other types.

What works best for you?

Thanks for any input

I get all my packaging and wrapping supplies at papermart.com. They're in LA and here in CA, I have my order the next day! They have many sizes and types of boxes. I used to get their 3x3 boxes in both the Kraft and the clear plastic. Good quality.