Fern-Marie

I did. Nothing.

I started off with the EZ - but the formula has changed and every wick that used to work no longer works. The CB Pure....Damn near impossible to wick. All of the info I had is incorrect. I was advised by supplier who spoke to manufacturer that it is extremely difficult to wick...yeah, I know. For the record, started with an LX14 and worked my way up to a 30...either no throw, or flame bounces. Now how many batches do you suppose I have mixed trying to get something to work? So....I am off now on another expedition with the more popular CB 135. ...starting all over again. I just do not have the time or the patience anymore. This has been an odyssey. 2 solid months, and into the third. I am trying LX 14, 16, 18, & 20 in jjs, mason mug, and flower votive. 1.5%FO. Never, never, had this much trouble with any wax, or wicking. I am in wick-it hell! I got away from Lemongrass, and am trying Mac Apple...stronger scent, maybe I can smell it better. No drafts around...separate rooms, no fans, no open anything. Closed everything up to test...nothing, nada. I am really just so frustrated right now I could scream. Any info. is appreciated. Thanks all.

12 oz Mason Mug, 3" diameter, CB 135, CB PURE, OR EZ SOY...Your choice of wax...I'M AT WICKS END! NO THROW, BOUNCING WICKS, OR DROWNING OUT. ...FLOWER POT VOTIVE WITH SAME WAX CHOICE....SAME PROBLEMS. I have lots of LXs - just ordered HTPs... I am truly desperate...please help!! Thanks, Fern-Marie

I must have a hundred of their scents. All work great in tarts and wickless.. But hard as I try, I cannot get this darn Lemongrass to throw with a wick in it...7 batches, 3 different waxes, and 11 wicks later....NOTHING! I'm half out of my mind trying to wick a freakin' flower pot votive and a mason mug. What on earth is going on!

1/2" is perfect...that'a exactly what the manufacturers and vendors specify. You don't want it all the way down...liability issues, the jar can get too hot and break. Read the warning label. You're doing fine.

I don't know what type of wax you use, but some of them are made to "contract slightly away from the container"...I don't have a clue why this would be a selling feature, but there you have it. If the wet spots bother you, warm your jars, or blast the sides with the heat gun.

Well, there ya go; another label warning! I like it! Can we quote you?

What are you using to burn them? Electric or the tea light? Do this: Do a test burn at home using whatever you usually use. Test from the time that the tart is fully melted, and in intervals of every 15-20 minutes...when I say test I mean TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR MELT POOL...THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IN ANY TYPE OF WAX TEST. It should not reach temps of over 170-175 for soy...if it is, you are burning too hot and yes, you are burning the wax. I don't know what the melt point is for Paraffin, but you can easily find this out where you bought it. Try not to burn higher than what you melt it to add the dyes. Lower the temp. You could have too high of a bulb in the electric, or too hot of a tea wax burning. If you make the tea lights, wick down. Keep in touch, let us know how it works out. Best wishes, Fern-Marie

I put the whole pan(s) right in the freezer. It will not harm them, and then I place a piece of wax paper on a baking tray, place that on top of the muffin tin, and turn it over. If anything still sticks, push down on the bottom of that cup with your thumb, you'll feel it release. If not, give it a good smack! Wipe the residue off with a paper towel and go on to the next batch. Not to worry.

HI Geek, I put a candle on the window sill a couple of weeks ago. It looked as though it was starting to frost, and I thought that the warmth of the sun would rectify that. My kitchen faces south, and it gets hot, even in winter. Well, HA! BRAINS! It looked awful! I couldn't believe what happened to it. Now, keep in mind, I live in Mass. and the sun, when we actually have sun, is very warm even for this time of year. So I can absolutely understand what happened to your candle, and why. Mine didn't even have the lid on. However, I didn't learn my lesson, and did it again with tea lights...thinking that I would just put them there for a few minutes....yeah, right. That resulted in the oh so pleasant 'brain fart'....probably like what Marilyn experienced. Now, I have learned my lesson. :rolleyes2 I am sure that you make quality candles and have nothing to worry about. Fern-Marie

....Smooths out candle tops, eliminates frosting, eliminates 'wet spots', fills in cracks or holes, warms jars. I also use mine during the candle testing stage to warm the wicks, and remove the coating - which can really muck up a candle if you reheat to do re-pours or if you use the heat gun to touch up a candle. Also removes paint, and varnish...no, I didn't do that...yet. Fern-Marie

I just made my first batch of lip balm. I am having some serious doubts. I made just 4 ounces to test and get an idea of how this would work. I am adding just a couple of drops at a time to this and each couple of drops I taste, and I can't taste anything. I got up to 16 drops, and I still can't taste anything. My lips are burning, but that could be from wiping off each taste test. Also, the balm is very hard....I don't know what I'm doing here, someone please help me! I used Strawberry Flavor from The Chemistry Store. Thanks, Fern-Marie

AHHAAA! Good one, thanks for that Candle Man! I do have gritty little things at the bottom of some tarts. No matter how much I clean that Presto, I can't get rid of it...it's maddening! So, um, where'd ya get the panty hose?

Bren, it's not you. Retail is in a bit of a slump right now...the gas prices are scaring ppl away, I think. Beautiful job, very eye appealing...you're doing everything right. Possibly, the school failed to advertise, or ran the show when other events were going on. I would have thought that the locals would have been more supportive of the school's event. They'll remember you...don't give up.

...I'm sorry, I should have specified...I was using Orchid dye chips. The purples too, yes you are right, I have seen the green. But same thing..I made sure that the chips were fully melted, dissolved, and well blended... even by putting them in a bit of wax and melting them apart from the batch. I think that is what happened with yours, they are not melting and blending fully.

I had the same problem about two months-three ago while trying to get 'Spring' florals made. The lilac....same thing. What I did was to heat to 175, and add the dye, and stir gently, but three times longer than anything else I normally would do. Then, I added the FO at 140 instead of my usual temp, and did the same. It was more time-consuming, but in the end I was satisfied that the extra attention alleviated the problem I only had the problem with Lilac. It was almost as though the color was coming apart(?), but I had pinks showing up. Now, it certainly didn't look like that in the pot, nor when I poured. It was the next day when I noticed it. I thought that maybe I hadn't blended it long enough. Well, it worked for me. It was an odd thing to see.

It's the heat, Fern is absolutely correct. Next time you burn the candle, take the temp of the melt pool, compare that with the temp of the melted candle on the warmer...you will find your answer. Lisa, it depends on the scent sometimes. Cinnamons and those in that catagory seem to last forever. I have to get rid of them just because I am sick of it. But for the most part, they will last at least twice as long as burning a candle. My neighbor's son had one burning from mid December until February....non-stop...he never shut the thing off! Kids. :rolleyes2

My understanding is that Refined Shea has many of the natural healing properties removed along with the scent. The UNrefined is the better of the two.

Lynne, what was the name of the Yankee fragrance...was it Balsam Fir, or did they run it under another name? Fern-Marie

Is it possible that you added the FO at a different temp? Are you stirring long enough? Double check your FO%...could you have not added enough to factor in the additional amount of wax? What % are you putting in?

...Just thought of something else, make sure that you are at least rinsing out your glassware. Glassware is manufactured with a glazing that washes off. Its purpose is to prevent dust, and fingerprints from adhering to the glass. I have seen wax pull away from the glass due to the glaze. I do not preheat my jars, and pour slowly to prevent bubbles. If you think it's a problem, tap the jar down...place a towel on the stove, and tap the filled jars a time or two...gently...this also releases air bubbles...just like baking.

Add scent, depending on what temp I will pour at, 140 is fine, 130 is fine...just make sure to stir thouroughly, and above all gently. For tarts, 130, and pour at 120, for larger holders I add higher and pour higher. This is a very user-friendly wax, very flexible. I have used several others, and I like this one very much. I am glad that the non-oven thing worked for ya! I used to do the same thing. I learned too. OY! What a mess...the frosting was horrendous, sinkholes, what a nightmare. I just put mine on top of the stove and threaten my DH not to open the door or I'll damage him. I try to do the pouring when he is not around. As great as this wax is, it can be very particular about its cooling process...like most. Hope all is well for you.

....see, it wasn't just me!

Congratulations, that is outstanding news! I'm so happy for you. After reading your posts for so long, and taking in your experience, I know how hard you work. So nice to see something happen for the good guys once in awhile! ....and now we know who to go to for marketing advice! All the best to you for the success you have achieved, and earned. Fern-Marie

Waaayyy cute! I don't know what part of the country you are in, but the candle prices seem low to me. Are the flowers dipped? or wax? Nice job.