Fern-Marie

I should check before sending this, but have you tried Papermart.com ? They have tons of that type of item. Good Luck to you. Fern-Marie

Hi Ida, DO NOT COOL IN OVEN!! Ovens are insulated, they do not get the proper air flow for proper cooling. Ever opened the oven when baking a cake or bread? When the cool air does hit the product, it creates a sink hole, or a collapse when baking. If you have the candles in the oven with the door ajar, sink holes, air pockets galore. Just set it on top of stove or where ever you are comfortable...as long as there is no draft, open windows, opening doors, fans, etc., as these all effect the way the candles will set up. You will probably be fine. I don't see that you are doing anything unacceptable other than cooling in the oven. Keep the pouring to a cooler temp for smoother tops...120 is good, recently I have been trying at 130-ish and surprised to find it just as good. This is a beautiful wax, very easy to work with..how ya doing wicking?? Best wishes, Fern-Marie

Hi, Don't despair, and don't give up. You are asking the right questions and learning. I make votives in votive glasses. This prevents any questions about how to burn them, or what to burn them in. It's a safety/educational issue with me. I absolutely do not want ppl burning votives like free standing pillars, that is not their intent. I honestly think that the free standing votive was someone's way of making money on a candle, and a separate holder, or several candles and holders for variety. Brilliant marketing, but sure is misleading. A good votive-burning glass is inexpensive, safer, and burns cooler. I find them very easy to work with, and readily available from most suppliers...even Wal-Mart sells them. I know how frustrated you are, I have been there...we all have. It is a long, tough road you will go down to achieve a good, and safe candle, but you can do it. In no time at all you will be sending out threads on your successes, I promise. I wish you the best of luck. Keep your chin up, once you are down, there is only one way to go. Fern-Marie

Satan. I am convinced Satan is doing this evil deed.

I just happen to have some zinc core wicks from my gellin' days. They're 6", but if it works, I'll cut them and give her those. Poor thing, I don't really think that she understood the amount of testing. I really think that she just thought that I could tell her which wick I use. She didn't understand that there is a big difference, and all of the variances in making caldles. I really would prefer that she work with something that I can help her with. She would too, now. I may just make her a bunch to save her the trouble, and give her wicks to test. Oy. I almost fell off the chair when she told me so proudly that she bought wax...paraffin. I hate to see her take the loss, financially. Thanks for the help, it is much appreciated.

I'm going to have to have my husband check mine...it has yet to place a wick on center. Maybe it's bent and I just can't see it. I'll have him use that leveler...(the bubble in the middle thingy). I am finding it to be a pain, actually. I have to guide it to the center. I can do that with a straw, for goodness sakes, and much faster. I have high hopes, I just would like the stupid thing to work correctly!

Thanks for your responses. She told me that she bought "Paraffin Wax" from Nature's Garden. Since they only have the mottled, Mp 145 - which is being discontinued, and Joy Wax, I took for granted that it was the Joy Wax. I will double check with her tomorrow on exactly what she got. She will be pouring the wax right into the wicked votive glass - provided we can get the thing properly wicked. Would the regular free standing votive and a glassed in votive take different wicks?? I do not make the free standing votives...I use glassware for everything. I will get more detailed info tomorrow. They retired to waayyy up Maine, about 5 hours from us. I'd love to see her develop a craft as a nice hobby, especially for the long winters. But, I really wish that she had a soy that I am familiar with. I want to help her. Thanks again, Fern-Marie

Hi, I don't use paraffin, but my mother-in-law ordered from NG. She ordered the paraffin. I can't help her with this, I have never made a paraffin. I got her a soy kit as a winter project, she loved it. She wants to refill her votive jars to her chandelier. She thought that she had to use the same type of wax that was in them. We got the chandelier and votives from Yankee a couple of years ago for her and Pops. They used the Citronellas in it - out in their screenhouse - all last summer. Can someone tell me what wick she should use in, presumably, a standard votive...(Citronella or LEMONGRASS FO...NATURES GARDEN)? I would really appreciate help. I am clueless on paraffin. Thank you very much, Fern-Marie

Hi Bella, I am really glad that it worked out for you. It is expensive, but one thing that may help a bit, Candle Science has wick test kits. There's 5 of each wick in a series, ie, they carry LX, so you'd get 5 of each of the LX series wicks, ECO is there also. Could help with some of the testing. EZ soy is a pretty forgiving wax. I used to use it and found that once you have the formula, you have it for pretty much all of the FOs. However, I have a new batch and I am finding it completely different wicking from the one I had back in October. So, I am going with the test kits myself. It will level out for you, the $$$, you will find that once you have your FOs in sufficient quantity, your ordering will ease up. Do try to get the larger sized FOs if/when you can. I wish you all the best, Fern-Marie

LMAO....TOPS YOU ARE JUST TOO CLEVER. YOU, YOU'RE GOOD!

www.instawares.com Especially if on sale or clearance. Lots of glassware.

Just a caution on the electric burners: If you are making tarts with a high melt point, the smaller watt bulbs do not work, and higher watt bulbs will burn the surface it's sitting on. You will not get the expected hot throw from your tarts. Check your melt temp on the soy wax you are using...if it is high, especially in the 165-170 range...don't even waste your time with the electric burners. Take a temp reading on the melt pool of the tart once it is melted in the electric burner to be sure that it is compatible with your wax. Too hot will cause that smokey/steamy thing - this means that it is going to burn off your FO too fast and it will not last very long. I just finished a month-long experiment on this. A friend was using a blend to make tarts...over 300 of them, and couldn't get a scent throw on the electric burners, and making a tea light which was compatible with her tarts was a very long and tedious process, and frustrating. 300 is a lot of time, money and product to lose. You would be shocked at what I have discovered on the varying heat temps of different burners and tea lights. Check your temps. Good wishes to you. Fern-Marie

I pop 'em in the freezer to remove them from the molds, and I have absolutely no trouble putting the tart warmers in the microwave for 60 seconds to soften the soy tart, then just wipe it out with a paper towel. I do this nearly everyday, and never had a problem.

Hi, if you do a search here, Soygirl makes what she calls appearing scenes(?) ...she attaches fishes to the bottom of a glass, using silicone glue, and then she adds a very clear soy wax over it and puts them on the candle warmers. As the wax melts, the scene appears. She has a web site where she sells them. The thread is on here somewhere, I think it starts with something like: 'the most awesome candle I've ever seen' ...something like that. Anyway, I'm sure you can check out her web site from her profile, or PM her and she will direct you. They're really cool. I would stay away from the sand thing myself...been there, done that. It is very dangerous, and from a liability standpoint you could be biting off more than you want to chew. Good Luck with your project. Please post pics if you can, I'd love to see them. Fern-Marie

Can I just say that you have made about the prettiest soap that I have ever seen. ALSO: As a consumer...I am always feeling 'left out' because of the beautiful things that I see on the market and especially on this site. You all would be surprised how many ppl out here have allergies...skin allergies, eczema, and psoriasis, and various other dermatisis problems. NO ON IS MARKETING PRETTY PRODUCTS FOR US!!! I think that everyone of our soaper friends should consider making just a couple of things and add it to their line...FRAGRANCE FREE. My skin burns from fragrance, I mean like burns to peeling. I also have eczema...I'm a mess. Yet everytime I look at the beautiful stuff you gals make, my heart just yearns. So, maybe you look at this as a mistake, but honestly, that's how most of the world's greatest inventions and achievements were born. As for me, I could just kiss your husband!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, SOMEONE MAKE PRETTY STUFF UNSCENTED FOR ME AND MILLIONS LIKE ME. :embarasse

I have the paraffin spa. And somehow, it seems ok to me because you dip and put the plastic bag on, and then peel off the wax...that's what it's made for. But these ppl, according to one of my customers, are dipping and rubbing it into their skin! And some of the younger college-aged girls aren't just using it on their hands, it has become a new, well how do I put this delicately, 'couples' enjoyment(?). I find it worrisome. However, this is exactly what the ppl pushing this stuff should be concerned about - from a liability standpoint. Let's face it, there are certain places that wax, of any type, simply do not belong! I highly advise against it when the girls ask me...and you would not believe how many there have been...all college-aged girls.

I have heard nothing but good reviews from a lot of ppl who use this wax. Also: I think that it is a testament to the wax that Candle Science chose this as a new item - with all of the other waxes and choices...they chose this. Something there.

Ya know, I just heard this a couple of weeks ago...I've never tried it and don't know if I would advise it. I'm still trying to get past the "can I dip my hands into it" idea that someone in my area is touting. YUCK! Yeah, we buy all kinds of crap to open and clean out pores...and you wanna cover yourself in wax!! HELLLOOOO!!

I find that whatever the room decor is will be what most ppl want in that specific environment. For me, well, right now I have a Lavender going. I'm on a Lavender kick. But generally, I do like florals, or anything fresh airy smelling, and earthy stuff....Sage for instance. Something that matches the theme of the room. Ppl decorate a room to give a specific feel, a theme. When you put that much effort into the specific theme of a room, fragrance can be a big consideration. ....no, I'm not anal, I'm not anal, I'm not anal....lol

I use these exact same plates, and I re-sell these plates. Specifically, these plates are the ones I have had the least trouble with. JoAnn's Fabrics...every one returned with cracks! Michaels, malfunction at least 20% of the time..and they over heat to a dangerous temp. However, even when I have heated the soy to 200*, I have never had a pop, much less an explosion....Thank God for small favors! However, I do not use additives. I have tested the temp of the fully melted soy in the jars...I use 8 oz tureen jars for a quicker melt on wickless candles. The melted soy temp usually is not more than 165*...this is a good temp. Considering that I melt my wax to around 170* and then add my color, I think that this 165-170 is good. Good Luck to you.

If I lived in Texas, or down that way and going to check out Bitter Creek... I would - hands down - go for the EZ Soy and no additives are needed...they are one of the only companies who carry it, and it is goooood stuff. Excellent scent throw, easy to work with, and one of the most frequently used soys. Also, you can save money by going to Wal-Mart and purchasing muffin tins for your tarts. Soy is very soft, and with the pretty, floral-looking type molds...they are just too delicate and the edges of the tarts will break off and look like crap....yep, I tried it...wasted a lot of money on pretty molds too. Pop the tins into the freezer, once the tarts are set, and they will drop right out of the muffin pans. You may want to start not using colors until you feel comfortable. A lot of ppl do not use color in tarts. Best wishes to you, and welcome to the board. Fern Marie

I had a problem with the room temp causing cracking, and a sinking type look. Turns out I'd forgotten that I had an open window in the kitchen. Although it was one of those warm days, it definitely took a toll on the tarts. I can't understand why you would not be able to fix it though. That must stink! All that work down the tubes. No luck with a heat gun?? Tried warming the pans/molds a bit? I'm truly sorry for your troubles.

LOL I'm glad that you feel that way. Well, I thought that maybe if I weighed the tarts in grams it would answer the questions that I had in my mind. Forgetaboudit...not even close. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had the same tart pans, and the same scales. Hope all works out for you.

Ahhhaaa! Di, that may just be it. I knew something wasn't right. I bought those mini muffin pans at Wal-Mart, but it is possible that the ones you bought are different from mine. I don't know. I bought 3 and a couple of months later, had to go get more - they were a different brand the second time. I was a little panicked, but it ended up that they held the same amount. I shouldn't asume that because you got them there that they are the same as the ones I got. I have a scale which weighs in either grams or % and I am going to check on what my 5/8 weigh in grams. Just to be on the safe side - and for my own peace of mind. Like I said, I do not put the weights. Keeps me from having to answer a multitude of questions. I just avoid it. I weight the tarts so I know that they are all equal. It's gotten to the point that I can pick one up and sense immediately if it's under weight. Anyway, I am glad that you weren't mad at me for pushing the issue. I would not want that, but more importantly, I would hate to see you in a pickle. I will let you know if I can figure out the gram weight and what it comes out to. Fern Marie

Hi Diane, I just don't want to see you in any kind of trouble. Two of the 5/8, or two .9 oz of the tarts = 1 1/4 oz. I think the confusion is that ounces are not measured in tenths. You can measure in 1/8ths, 1/4s, or 1/2s....all numbers which are divisable by 16, 16 oz = a pound. No matter how it's done .9=5/8....5/8 +5/8 =1 1/4oz I promise you, I am only trying to help you. I hate to see a sister crafter have a problem over weights. Is it necessary to even put the weights? I do not. I put my tarts in a candy jar type container, and let ppl pick them out on their own and bag them. I have little white, wax bags for them to put them in. Best of wishes.