pillar candle Massive cavity/sinkhole in large pillar candle - Help!

[Quidifer]

TLDR: Massive cavity around wick within beeswax pillar candle, probably due to cooling and shrinking - Help needed.

Hello all,

I've made on some other forums without much response so thought I'd try here too. I am learning the ropes for making large pillar candles (at the moment, 3x24") and tried my first one recently. It came out with some problem on the surface with bubbles and other things, which I have been able to solve. However, when I broke the candle apart today to reuse the wax it became apparent that the problems went all the way to the core. This time I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to proceed, and would very much appreciate advice.

The problem is hard to describe, so I will link pictures below: 
As you can see the big problem is that for the top 8" or so of the pour (bottom of the candle), there was a large cavity around the wick that seems to have formed as the candle cooled and shrunk.

Here are some details of the candle and process, please let me know if further details would help. I was making a fairly large ~3x24" pillar candle with 100% beeswax. I brought about 3kg of beeswax up to about 80°C/180°F, and then poured at about 65°C/150°F. I used two pots to pour, with a minimal delay between pours (<15 seconds). In retrospect, my pouring technique caused a lot of bubbles (which may have contributed??). I also gave it a top up of about an inch after it had begun to cool after about 20min, I have since read that waiting for the candle to fully cool before topping up is best.

I am at a loss as to what to do from here, and it is quite concerning that such major faults can remain hidden within the candle with no way of knowing without destroying the candle.

Thanks for reading.
Quidifer

halp

[TallTayl]

Your wax was too hot.

[TallTayl]

When wax is too warm and sinks as it cools poke relief holes through the mold opening so you can fill.

[Quidifer]

26 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

Your wax was too hot.

Hmmmm, I thought I poured at about 65°C/150°F, but perhaps my temperature reading from the water wasn't properly reflective of the temperature of the wax. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

[TallTayl]

The wax got too hot during melting which makes the cool down trickier.  I bring my melter to about 150-160 tops when working with beeswax. Just above melt point works best for me.

 

Also are you using mold release?

[TallTayl]

And do one continuous pour. Seconds count with beeswax

[GoldieMN]

5 hours ago, TallTayl said:

When wax is too warm and sinks as it cools poke relief holes through the mold opening so you can fill.

Are you poking relief holes in semi-hard wax that is starting to set up or in wax that is completely hard?

Goldie

[TallTayl]

4 hours ago, GoldieMN said:

Are you poking relief holes in semi-hard wax that is starting to set up or in wax that is completely hard?

Goldie

With beeswax I begin to poke as the surface firms. When a skin forms about 1/4" thick.  Poke all the way to the bottom.  Repeat until the candle is almost fully set. 

 

When the wax is the right temp at pouring i rarely need to poke.