Trappeur Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Trappeur I remember when I first started making candles and reading on this forum everyone saying you had to stir for 2 full minutes to incorporate the FO into the wax. It was like this rule was written in stone. Everyone said they did it. Not only that but it would be posted over and over again for several years. So I thought I had to do it too.So you aren't the only one. Funny how everyone back then copied others. I remember for a long time I would never say anything about not stirring for so long. That was also back in the time on this forum when if you would post something like that you would probably get blasted by several know it all posters. Thankfully they have left.Yep Candybee, I know what you mean about not saying things for fear of getting blasted from certain posters. Geesh when I joined here years ago, I came here for a very long time unidentified just reading and would be apauled (sp) just reading nasty posts from posters to others if they even spelled a word wrong. I got blasted a few times myself. Didn't enjoy coming here what so ever. And I found this forum to be very clicky. There are so many awesome people here and so much knowledge on this board, I never stop learning. I see a lot of people have left and yes, certain nasty ones. I'm finding it a nice thing to come home to at night after a hard days work and come here and read and post and there are really nice people here that I have met. I like that . For years I was on the BC forum and I had a total blast and so much fun and met so many nice people. But times have changed and people come and go for all different reasons. It still is a nice board but quiet. Many people didn't like going onto that board because you couldn't talk about any vendors/suppliers except Bittercreeks products. That was difficult for many and they chose not to stay, but for the ones who did, like myself, you just have to adapt to the regulations there. So it worked for me even though I didn't use all their products, but it was ok and I learned so much too.Geesh, I didn't mean to sagotage this post! Sorry..... Trappeur 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I use plastic long handled spoons. I have an assorment of them sitting in a canning jar on my kitchen counter and I just wipe off with a paper towel. Trappeur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzpickles Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I save the chopsticks that we get when we order Chinese food and those work great as stir sticks, LOL. Ha! That's exactly what I use! We have an almost never ending supply! lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWV Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I use wooden dowels--same ones I've used for over a decade. Just wipe them off with a paper towel & stick in the next pot. I usually stir for about 30 seconds or until fo looks fully incorporated into wax. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisymay66 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I too remember reading on her after I started making candles about the magic 2 minutes...well, I'm so glad this was posted cause that is the L O N G E S T 2 minutes..I'm so not doing that anymore!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Chopsticks for stiring are great & I love the never ending supply, cause I love Chinese food. If the guys here at work get Chinese for lunch, I have them trained to ask for chopsticks and give them to me! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I have chopsticks, bamboo skewers, and old wooden cooking spoons all dedicated to my candlemaking. I keep them all in an old plastic cup as my candle "utensil" holder cup. I don't think I bought any of them and they sure come in handy. Everything wipes clean with paper towels. Or if it doesn't, I heat gun it until the wax starts to melt off then wipe clean with a paper towel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 About 30 seconds for most FOs here. Yup...here too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzyK Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I think it's funny that people are admitting to not stirring for 2 minutes. I never have either! I started making wax melts almost 4 years ago and I remember reading on here that people stirred for that long but I decided that wasn't for me. I stir stir stir for not that long and then stir again right before I pour. My wax melts are strong. I've never admitted that I don't stir for 2 minutes because I thought everyone here did. It's nice to get that off my chest. lol. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I think it's funny that people are admitting to not stirring for 2 minutes. I never have either! I started making wax melts almost 4 years ago and I remember reading on here that people stirred for that long but I decided that wasn't for me. I stir stir stir for not that long and then stir again right before I pour. My wax melts are strong. I've never admitted that I don't stir for 2 minutes because I thought everyone here did. It's nice to get that off my chest. lol. lol......I just never thought people stirred less than 2 minutes....lol...love what you just said Suzy.... Now that the truth is coming out and everyone is fessing up, I'd like to see if others will fess up to when making their candles that they all don't have a 1/4" to 3/8" melt pool depth, but a little bigger.......hmmm...lol Trappeur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megandgarr Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 There are probably a couple of things that we each do that doesn't follow proper "protocol" and we just never admitted it for fear of being blasted, haha. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueH Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I use wooden skewers to stir and I'm paranoid so I stir for about 2 minutes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrazeKelly Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Usually around 30 seconds or until the color is well blended. I use one of those flat plastic spatula looking things....LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktaggard Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 This thread is making me laugh. I'm guilty too. When I first started, 4 years ago, I would set my timer and stir and stir. Now I just stir until I think it looks good. I mostly make melts in clamshells, so I wait until it cools to somewhere between 150-160 - give a quick stir and pour. Works great! I too remember the time when I was scared to post anything. Scared of being yelled at. I remember one post where a guy posted that he was going to start selling his candles. He posted pictures of his candles. The wicks were going in all kinds of direction, not even secured. Colors were awful. Wax was all bumpy and with great big wholes in it. People attacked him and told him he was going to blow up houses and how dare he.... I got on and said that this had to be a joke and that it was making me laugh. Man I thought I was going to get lynched. Wooh - lesson learned there.Thank you - to all in this forum now. It might not be as active as it once was, but I really like the vibe here. And we still have people that really know there stuff!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redraider Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I just learned recently from this board, I could use a skewer instead of a whisk & stop wasting all those papertowels each FO change, to clean it.OMG I did not know that. I will definitely have to try that out!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Dizzle Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I know I am resurrecting an old thread here, but I find this topic fascinating. The two minute rule is RAMPANT out there on the interwebz, but I trust y'alls judgment much more. I'm still going to err on the side of caution and stir longer until I get all my scents ready, and then I will feel comfortable backing off then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I always find this to be a fascinating discussion (geek). Fragrance oil and wax do not infuse or mix (in my opinion) but rather the relationship is a suspension. You can clearly see the two oils as they are being stirred, especially if the fragrance oil has a tint. I stir the suspension from the time it is first added until it is poured into the jar. Others disagree and only stir for a short period of time, with no fear that the fragrance oil will settle to the bottom or fall out of suspension. I poured a heavy and darkly tinted fragrance oil (Tuscan Muscadine or something like that) and it settled to the bottom while cooling. Even mixing with a hand mixer did not keep some of the fragrance oil from settling to the bottom; so I decided the formulation had some filler that was much heavier than the wax and chunked it in the garbage. Quality oils are easily suspended in the wax and shouldn't require constant agitation, but I err on the side of caution and stir throughout the process. Sorry for the long response. Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I believe there is some infusion in the process but not in the initial mixing or blending of the FO with the wax. I think the infusion has more to do with the FO components themselves infusing together in the bottle. Kind of like when you infuse garlic or herbs into olive oil. Some FOs get stronger or deeper notes when they sit on the shelf longer or when you mix your own FO blend or add essential oils to it. Also, I believe the FO does infuse with the wax over time during the cure. Test a candle after 24 hrs, then 1 week, or a month, or a year later. I don't mean that the scent will continue to get stronger forever but as long as that particular scent and wax combo takes to develop in the wax during its cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 The proof is in the burning. Who hasn't bought or made a candle that wasn't so strong in the beginning but got stronger deeper into the burn? The wax melts and releases the oil, which when warmed disperses the molecules into the air through the draft of the flame. The fo becomes more concentrated in the melt pool and thus you have an increased amount of molecules heated and dispersed into the air. I'm not sure of the process that fragrance oil goes through while sitting on the shelf. Some of my older fragrances are more complex and the color has gotten darker but I wonder if the fragrance is simply breaking down. Fragrances with more essential oils added seem to be somewhat fragile. I'm just not convinced that candles "cure" but rather the fragrance builds up a concentration of available molecules for the nose to pick up. I guess that qualifies as a cure but that only applies to soy or veggie waxes. I have noticed that the majority of the name brand candles are paraffin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisLittleLightOfMine Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I was gonna ask... What does everone use to stir with? Does wood vs plastic vs metal matter much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisLittleLightOfMine Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Sorry if a stupid question... TOTALLY new to candlemaking and this forum. Just joined last night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I stir with a wooden skewer it works and I can poke with the same skewer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisLittleLightOfMine Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 So like a bbq skewer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 ...another chop stick user! And I can freely admit that I only stir in the beginning and then just before pouring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I also only stir in the beginning for just a few seconds and then periodically when checking the temp for pour and the final stir right before pour- never had an issue I use wooden spoons and stir stix made for high temp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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