Candle burns slower second time onward

[md88]

    

Hi everyone, I make my own candles. Here are the specs:

 

a: Jar - 100ml



b: Soy Wax - 75gm used

c: Cotton Wick



d: Scented oil (around 15ml)

 

 

And facing the below problem now:

 

1: When I burn the candle first time, the flame is nice and strong.

 

I used it for around 1 hour first time and it melted the wax till edges. Then i turned it off.

                     

 

 

2: Second time onward, the flame is smaller. I tried burning the candle for an hour, and it burnt with no issue, but obviously with such a low flame tunneling is happening..

 

  

 

I feel eventually in 2-3 more burns, the wick will cover under wax, or there will be deep tunnel with too much wax on the side..

 

Please let me know any solution, suggestion, feedback.

 

Much appreciated. Thanks!!

 

  

[TallTayl]

In my opinion the first burn is too hot base on the angle of the pictures.
 

If overwicked the later burns can starve for oxygen. 

 

small jars are harder to wick than large jars. The balance between air current and wick needs to burn thicker veg waxes is challenging. 

[md88]

Hi TallTayl, can you advise me what the ideal length of wick should be, before burning?

 

Thanks!!

 

 

[TallTayl]

Typically 1/4” to 1/2”. Much depends on if it is a self-trimming Wick.

 

more important is the size of the wick itself.  A wick is like a straw and draws up fuel at different rates to feed the flame at the top.  
 

if you have a different size wick I might try that. Your package of wick should have some sort of number on it to tell the size. Quite a few wick manufacturers use cotton, but here is a link to one (cotton core) to help you learn how the sizing works. Every wax will behave somewhat different with each wick.

https://www.atkinsandpearce.com/candle-solutions/product-pages/cotton-core/

this page has many common wick types, including several of cotton construction. Knowing which wick you have in specific is important. 

https://www.atkinsandpearce.com/candle-solutions/

 

Here’s another resource or two:

https://wicksunlimited.com

https://www.precisionwicking.com

 

hope this helps.

[TallTayl]

While you are learning about your new craft, experiment with different jars.  That little “neck” of your jar adds a level of complexity as air currents form differently than in, say, a jar without the neck, or a jelly jar that tapers toward the bottom.
 

prepare yourself for some intensely fun learning curve. 

[md88]

@TallTayl, we tried on your advice. In terms of wick size, we could not find lot of options in my local market here in India, all are mostly 3-5mm wicks, so I cannot change things there. The glass jar neck could be another issue like you said and we are getting our hands on wide neck jars to test that.

 

We did get a lot better performance and pool by changing fragrance load to 8% and wick size to 1/2" wick. (Thank you). 

 

However there is a little wax lining that gets left on one side of jar after first burn (of 2-2.5 hours). Does this suggest anything? When i try to prick it with a toothpick, its kind of soft elastic. 

 

[md88]

@TallTayl, sorry update to last line.......When i try to prick it with a toothpick, its kind of like a soft, membrane

[TallTayl]

I would not worry about that. It should clean up as heat continues to build toward the bottom half of the burn. It could  be caused by the air current in the room where it is burning, or a curl in the wick itself.

 

Some people twist the wick a little when sticking it into the jar to turn the direction of the flame as it burns.