drllama Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 I did it! I managed to hold out until the Presto Pot arrived! I have no idea how I managed I'm now (im)patiently waiting for my very first candles to cool to the point where I can light them up and oooooo and ahhhhhhh and whine when they aren't perfect I did three for my first ever batch. All three are in jelly jars, no fragrance, one with a C-60, one with a C-65, one with a C-70 wick. I'm fully prepared for all three to end up as disasters, though I'm hoping I get a decent burn from one of them! I've started my candle making journal, to record lots and lots of notes about these. Now for the next challenge: Holding out long enough to give these guys a chance to be tested before digging in and pouring a set with FO... It's official, I've joined the loonies here! Cheers!Bruce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmakinsoap Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Nice! I'm gonna try my hand for the first time soon too. Soon as I fit my pot with a spout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisymay66 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Hmmmmm LOONIES? Lol yep, I resemble that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Good job! On the road to total loonieness and fun. Next time don't put the wick in until the candle sets up so you can just change the size after the first burn if it's too much or too little.I think you're going to find those wicks are too big, but I don't know what kind of wax you used so they may work. I use a C-60 or C-62 in a 3 1/8" wide jar depending on fragrance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Feels good to make your first candles doesn't it? I think its that first one that always remains your favorite even after you learn to make them better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drllama Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 These wicks are definitely too big. The 70 is throwing soot, and the 60 had a full melt pool after about an hour and a half on the first burn, all three are mushrooming like mad... Still though.... my first candles!!! I totally forgot about not wicking and poking a wick in to see what works. I'll definitely have to try that. Woo hoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoegal Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Congrats on making your first batch. Let the madness begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 It's all fun! Also after a 2 week cure they will burn differently than they do in just a couple of days cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drllama Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Couple of days? What couple of days? I think they were fully cooled by the time I lit them the first time, maybe.... Did I mention that I can be a tad impatient at times? Honestly, the first batch was totally intended to be throw-away, do everything wrong once. My next batch will be more serious, I'm going to do up two with C-50 and C-55 and 5% FO (probably Lavender), maybe do four, two each with C-50 and C-55 and two each with 5% and 7%. Those will definitely get the full two weeks cure time, while I slowly but surely burn my first set to the ground in a blaze of glory (well, hopefully not too much blaze!) Oh, and definitely do the "Poke a hole for the wick so you can pull out one that's over/under powered and try something else without having to repour the whole thing", uh, thing. What the heck, I'm having fun, and that's the whole point! Cheers,Bruce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Got a pair of needle nose pliers? If so, get a good grip on the wick and give it a jerk...might have to jerk a couple of times but the wick should come out & you can replace with the next size you want to test. (I'm the queen of impatience) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixx Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 My first candle was a Budweiser beer glass, complete with froth in 8th grade art class. Could not get away with that today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drllama Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Got a pair of needle nose pliers? If so, get a good grip on the wick and give it a jerk...might have to jerk a couple of times but the wick should come out & you can replace with the next size you want to test. (I'm the queen of impatience) Even better: Forceps! I've got a C-50 and C-55 in now, let's see how that goes. Thanks! Should have thought of just giving them a sharp tug, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 I have my own pair of needle nose pliers on my work bench and my family members know (beyond a doubt) that if I ever reach for them and they're gone....someone will PAY. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belinda Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Congratulations and welcome to your new addiction! But, you are in great company LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drllama Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Thanks Belinda! For those keeping track (hehe), I yanked out the C-65 and C-70 wicks and replaced with C-50 and C-55. Major difference! A little bit of mushrooming on the 55, and the merest hint of a mushroom on the 50. After 2.5 hours (the jelly jars are 2.5 inches across), the melt pool on both was about 1/8 of an inch from the glass. Looks like we may have a winner! Now, can I focus on work and not fire up and pour my first scent to cure while I play with these two? Maybe....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoegal Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Always better to try to be patient and give it a full two weeks before you light them. The difference is night and day. When I first started, I was excited too. I made candles every single day so that it when the two weeks were up, I could try something new everyday. Your burn in two weeks will be so much different than it would be right now that you'd be doing yourself a disservice to burn them too quickly. I know it's tough because this is super exciting, but try to hang in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drllama Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) That's the plan, Shoegal. This first batch is just to give me an "Oo, shiny!" while I get a real batch done and curing BTW, I like the idea of doing something every day so that in two weeks, I'll have something new to try every day! Edited June 10, 2015 by drllama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 When you add fragrance to the equation it will probably change your wicking requirements a little. Many times, fragrances heavy with vanilla (bakery scents often have a lot of vanilla) will require an incrementally larger wick than other fragrances, but sometimes a non-bakery scent will shock you too. Now that you have a baseline you will still have to tweak it a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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