michaelfulda Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I need your opinion on testing candles. I have made some candles with the same wick size and different FO. I have good results: - flame is ok - hot throw is ok/good - minimum to no soot - Meltpool not completely after 12 hours burning (there is some wax on the inside of the jar, but it is melted slowly through the heat of the jar) What would you test now? - go one size up with the wick and reduce the FO (From 6% to 5,5%)? (I thought, that a bigger meltpool will make a better scent throw) I am a little bit afraid, that the candles will soot, when it is the same amount of FO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Sounds great........well, why not do more testing? That's the name of the game.... What jars and size are you using. We love pictures! Trappeur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 You haven't finished testing the whole candle. If the wick is doing as well as you have so far mentioned I would continue to burn the candle to the very end. Many candle wax types leave some side wax until the second half or the very end of the candle when the sides 'catch' up and the whole candle ends up being consumed. Also, not all candles have a full melt pool on the first burn. Sometimes you may not see this until the 2nd or 3rd burn while some waxes you may get it on the first burn. A good candlemaker tests the burn of the whole candle to understand how well their candle application is working and make adjustments from there. You only want to change the wick out from the first burn if it is obvious it is over or undersized. Example of undersized is flame is small or burns out. Oversized is the torch, heavy smoking, sooting, etc. If the flame looks good, scents well, and creates a good melt pool with minimum soot/smoke then I would continue with the testing the wick to the end of the candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 On 1/17/2017 at 2:44 PM, Candybee said: A good candlemaker tests the burn of the whole candle to understand how well their candle application is working and make adjustments from there. You only want to change the wick out from the first burn if it is obvious it is over or undersized. Example of undersized is flame is small or burns out. Oversized is the torch, heavy smoking, sooting, etc. If the flame looks good, scents well, and creates a good melt pool with minimum soot/smoke then I would continue with the testing the wick to the end of the candle. Well said, I often get impatient and pre judge my candles before they have burned completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelfulda Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 On 17.1.2017 at 8:44 PM, Candybee said: You haven't finished testing the whole candle. If the wick is doing as well as you have so far mentioned I would continue to burn the candle to the very end. Many candle wax types leave some side wax until the second half or the very end of the candle when the sides 'catch' up and the whole candle ends up being consumed. Also, not all candles have a full melt pool on the first burn. Sometimes you may not see this until the 2nd or 3rd burn while some waxes you may get it on the first burn. A good candlemaker tests the burn of the whole candle to understand how well their candle application is working and make adjustments from there. You only want to change the wick out from the first burn if it is obvious it is over or undersized. Example of undersized is flame is small or burns out. Oversized is the torch, heavy smoking, sooting, etc. If the flame looks good, scents well, and creates a good melt pool with minimum soot/smoke then I would continue with the testing the wick to the end of the candle. Thank you for your opinion. Like ghostrider said. I need to be more patient, before judging the candels. They are now burining ... and burning ... and burning ... and what I have learned now. The burning quality has a lot to do with the wick size (If you cut before the burn ... how short you cut is before the burn). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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