fredron

Warming your molds slightly might help, but you'll have to be careful you don't start to melt the chunks. I've never had the problem, but tapping the mold after the over pour might also help. Votives set up so quickly due to the small size, that you'll have to pour & tap rapidly. Are your molds connected to something or free standing? I soldered my free standing molds to some copper plates so I don't worry about knocking them over accidentally. Free standing molds might present a problem. Fredron

Most chunky candles do not have a totally smooth exterior, due to the gaps between the chunks. Just a couple questions: Are the chunks made from the same wax-did you make them or purchase them? If they're different waxes, that could cause some grief. You didn't mention the pour temp for the overpour. Too cool could also cause some problems. I've made chunky votives & never had the problem, but I use the same wax in the chunks and the overpour. Fredron

I've been toying with a couple new ones in my head. Raspberry Orange, Raspberry Melon, and O'granate. The first 2 are self explanatory, but the last one is orange & pomegranate. I thought I'd try it for St. Patricks day. Might even make a couple green ones in honor of the occasion. The orange overpowered the raspberry in my first attempt, so I'm going to use 3 parts orange to 1 part raspberry in the next batch. 2 to 1 wasn't bad though, even my wife (inspector 12) liked it. The raspberry melon will start out at 1 to 1. I'm guessing 2 to 1 on the O'granate. Fredron

This will depend on how many you will need, and how much you're willing to pay. If you need only a few, you can buy full sized label sheets, print your information, then, using a template, cut them out by hand. If your quantities are larger, you'll have to contact someone like labelsbythesheet to see if a die could be made to stamp them. They won't do it, but might give you the name of their supplier, who might be willing to work on your project. This will be expensive. Fredron

True black is tough with liquid dyes. I'd start with the block color. All I ever get with the liquid is a very dark grey. Fredron

Most of us started with a Presto or something similar. My personal choice would be a Dazey pot if you can find one, they're better IMO. In my case it became too small very quickly, so I eventually got a Masterbuilt turkey fryer, which holds more wax. If you expect to keep at it, buy the biggest pot you can right up front. Fredron

You can slow down the cooling by building a cooling box from styrofoam insulation used to insulate houses. I built 2 and had lots of material left over from 1 sheet. I think it cost $9.00. You can cut it with a box cutter knife & glue it with liquid nails & reinforce it with duct tape. Mine are about 24" square and about 8" high. Cut a piece for the lid, which just sits on top. This stuff isn't very strong, so don't let it hang over the edge of the table-the entire bottom must be supported. Freshly poured candles will take overnight to fully cool. When I shut down for the night at 11:00pm & return in the AM prior to going to work at 6:00am, they're set up but still warm to the touch. This might help. Also maybe you might pour at a slightly cooler temperature. I haven't read all the responses to your question, but how hot is your pour? The hotter the pour, the more shrink you will get. I melt & mix FO at 190-195, but pour at 140-150, and get very little shrink. Fredron

I don't think you'll get the floater/tart out of the mold if you use container wax. I know I couldn't, using the blend I use for containers. I use a 2 piece mold for my floaters, and the votive wax I use requires a top off, so there is a repour. I use a prepared mold for my tarts, and I get 25 per pound of wax, which calculates out to .64oz per tart. They do not have wicks. Fredron

I make a new fragrance we call Chock Pep Swirl. We use white chocolate & peppermint, and sold a ton of it this fall. Fredron

Does anyone have the link for the site that lists the sources for various fragrances? I had it, but somehow discarded it. It was a site where you typed in the FO scent you wanted, and it listed the various companies that supply it. Thanks Fredron

Not to be critical, but if you like the cow smells, I don't think I want to smell one of your candles. Fredron

I have a method, which I've used for years, that does not require plugs or tape or sealers, and I haven't had a leak since I developed it. If you'll PM me, I'll tell you how it's done. Fredron

Try labelsbythesheet. Fireproof labels is something I've never heard mentioned before. Fredron

None of these things is foolproof. I have a couple of the wicksticks, but they do not guarantee a centered wick in the bottom of the jar. What I did was make a board with pieces of wood glued to form a cradle, which fit the jar jar snugly, then in the exact center of that assembly, I used a compass and drew a circle the exact size of the wick clip. Now when the jar is placed in the cradle, the circle is in the exact center of the jar. I place the glue dot on the wick clip, and, using the wick stick, place the wick clip in the circle, and the wick is centered. I then use a centering device, which I make, and are for sale, which holds the wick centered at the top of the jar. Haven't had an uncentered wick in years. Fredron

What is your pour temp for your J-50? I use it as the base for my candles, but created my own blend, and have not seen any change. You can't pour straight J-50 hot though, nothing above 150 degrees. When I used it straight, I poured at 145 into a warm jar, and never had a problem. Fredron

I'm just glad my wife doesn't even know where the candle shop is. It's so peaceful there, I'm lovin' it. Beethoven, Motzart & candles-how sweet it is. Fredron

The original formulation of Joy wax was pretty good, but somewhere along the line, it changed. I had wet spots & frosting also. I tried lowering the pour temp, raising the pour temp, and finally slow cooling in cooling baxes, but nothting worked. When contacted for suggestions, NG simply said "sometimes it does that". So I created my own blend. Fredron

Labels by the sheet also has some great labels in a variety of shapes & colors. You can download the label form in Microsoft Word and print your own any way you want them. They are pre glued, and hold very well to the jars. Fredron

634 candles for a fundraiser, followed by 25 pillars for another, followed by 125 for another. Then there's the show tomorrow! Fredron

Don't know what wax you are using, but my votives simply lift out of the mold. I've never had one stick, and when I make tarts, I simply turn over the mold and they fall out. Like you, I can't say I enjoy making votives, mainly because of the processing afterwards, but extracting the candles isn't why. Fredron

I have found it much easier to produce consistant color results by using liquid color. My formulas are all based on a certain number of drops of color per pound. I tried the color blocks early on, but abandoned very soon. Fredron

Candles and supplies lists them. You'll pay about $5.00 each. Fredron

My first pot was a Dazey Crock pot with the crock removed. As it turns out, it was the best pot I tried until my turkey fryer. Dazey is out of business now, but they made the best of the pots. You can still find them on the internet if you Google "Dazey". The Presto's are not as good, but are the only ones available. You can shop around Wal mart in the crock pot section, but make sure with the crock out, there are no holes in the bottom of the metal section. Most have a hole in the middle. If I were buying today, I'd get one with the hole, and plug it with a bolt & nut. The crock pots with the crocks out provide a larger capacity than the Presto's. Fredron

It stands to reason if you stir your mix in the pot, you'll eventually begin to wear off the teflon coating. How long does a cheap teflon frying pan last? I have never stirred in the pot ( I don't use Presto ), so I have not had the problem, but I guess even when I used my Daizey pot, it might have flaked also if I stirred there. My turkey fryer is aluminum so no teflon flakes. Anyway I have always poured my wax into a pour pot, and poured from there. Fredron

After you have poured the vitve, and is has set up, top it off and wait. As soon as you can remove the votive from the cup, push the tip of the pin against a solid surface, and it will slide right out. If you have to wait until the votive is completely cool, it's harder to do, but it will still pop out. You just have to push harder. Fredron