Making pillar bottoms flat

[moniek]

Can you use a candle warmer for this? Or what is the best way to do this?

[Tara]

I use an old griddle. Some use a cookie sheet over a pot of hot water like this Leveling

This is from Peak's site showing leveling a hurricane but same concept is used for pillars. I know they make special leveling equipment you can buy but I am sure this works just as well. HTH

[yourmysunshine]

I use an old griddle. Some use a cookie sheet over a pot of hot water like this Leveling

This is from Peak's site showing leveling a hurricane but same concept is used for pillars. I know they make special leveling equipment you can buy but I am sure this works just as well. HTH

I use this method two but for some reson when I set the piller down if it's not even it don't melt even how do you do thats?

[Tara]

Might want to get yourself a level too. you can pick one up at Wallyworld. That helps with leveling too. If I see I am not level on say the right side of the pillar when I level it on the griddle or cookie sheet I know to put more pressure on that side. I hope that made sense. If you get a leveler it does help a whole lot. I couldn't do it either until I got one of those.

[realmarcha]

Here is what I do. I have a griddle on my pouring station that I use. Once the pillar is ready to slide out of the mold, I turn my griddle on between Warm and 200*; I take all tape and putty off of the mold, and then make sure the pillar is going to easily slide out, but do not take the pillar out of the mold; leave the pillar in the mold. I take a paper towel and put it on the top of my griddle. I take the pillar; still in the mold, and place it on top of the paper towel. Once you see wax starting to form on the paper towel, lift the mold a little bit to make sure the pillar is still sliding out and then press the mold down into the paper towel. Lift the pillar and mold every now and then to see if the flattening is complete. When it is, take the pillar and mold over to some wax paper and set the flattened side down on it; then lift the mold completely off. I have a perfect level pillar bottom each and every time. You may have some small pieces of wax around the edge of the pillar bottom...I just take the pillar in one hand and use my other hand to brush them away. If I get a stubborn one, I wait for the wax to cool down a bit and then get it off with my fingernail, or the flat side of a butter knife.

I'm not sure this will work with every pillar wax, but it works with the 6228. Also, I am using round molds. It is worth a try since the mold acts as a level for the pillar while it is flattening. HTH

[Deb]

If it's not level, don't put it down flat. Tilt it toward the uneven (longer) side until it melts down and is level with the other side. Then finish leveling it from there. Sometimes all it takes is a little common sense!

[Sweet68cam]

I would not use a candle warmer, these are for container candle use. I use a cookie sheet over boiling water or a hot plate for leveling if it needs it....Good Luck!!!

[Tara]

Here is what I do. I have a griddle on my pouring station that I use. Once the pillar is ready to slide out of the mold, I turn my griddle on between Warm and 200*; I take all tape and putty off of the mold, and then make sure the pillar is going to easily slide out, but do not take the pillar out of the mold; leave the pillar in the mold. I take a paper towel and put it on the top of my griddle. I take the pillar; still in the mold, and place it on top of the paper towel. Once you see wax starting to form on the paper towel, lift the mold a little bit to make sure the pillar is still sliding out and then press the mold down into the paper towel. Lift the pillar and mold every now and then to see if the flattening is complete. When it is, take the pillar and mold over to some wax paper and set the flattened side down on it; then lift the mold completely off. I have a perfect level pillar bottom each and every time. You may have some small pieces of wax around the edge of the pillar bottom...I just take the pillar in one hand and use my other hand to brush them away. If I get a stubborn one, I wait for the wax to cool down a bit and then get it off with my fingernail, or the flat side of a butter knife.

I'm not sure this will work with every pillar wax, but it works with the 6228. Also, I am using round molds. It is worth a try since the mold acts as a level for the pillar while it is flattening. HTH

That's an interesting method. I may have to try that one. Thanks

[jenniejr]

Neat idea realmarcha! I may have to try that.

[Scented]

I wouldn't use a candle warmer. I use my heat gun. Make a pool of wax and slide the wick back and forth through it to get some build up, place the wick, zap the surface and let cool.

[mary_jennets]

Scented, do you drill your wick holes? Do you zap it while it's in the mold?

Realmarcha, way cool. If that works for me it'll cut down on a ton of work.

[Rsvlbrat]

I slide my pillars across a 'warm' pan until they are level. (Or as level as I can tell). This also melts the wick in with the wax.

Someone had a leveler made out of sheet metal, I think. It was a pretty cool device but I can't remember who.

[Scented]

No, I use wick pins. I don't zap in the mold. Occasionally the bottoms are a little off, but with wax made soft by heat gun I just trim it off.

[mary_jennets]

No, I use wick pins. I don't zap in the mold. Occasionally the bottoms are a little off, but with wax made soft by heat gun I just trim it off.

Ohhhhhhhhh. I get it now, thanks.

[Glowlite]

I tried using a candle warmer many moons ago and it didn't work. Doesn't get hot enough. So I use an old frying pan

[realmarcha]

You are welcome jenniejr and Tara!

[SatinDucky]

Thats a neat idea realmarcha, I'll have to remember that

[Elizabeth]

Here is what I do. I have a griddle on my pouring station that I use. Once the pillar is ready to slide out of the mold, I turn my griddle on between Warm and 200*; I take all tape and putty off of the mold, and then make sure the pillar is going to easily slide out, but do not take the pillar out of the mold; leave the pillar in the mold. I take a paper towel and put it on the top of my griddle. I take the pillar; still in the mold, and place it on top of the paper towel. Once you see wax starting to form on the paper towel, lift the mold a little bit to make sure the pillar is still sliding out and then press the mold down into the paper towel. Lift the pillar and mold every now and then to see if the flattening is complete. When it is, take the pillar and mold over to some wax paper and set the flattened side down on it; then lift the mold completely off. I have a perfect level pillar bottom each and every time. You may have some small pieces of wax around the edge of the pillar bottom...I just take the pillar in one hand and use my other hand to brush them away. If I get a stubborn one, I wait for the wax to cool down a bit and then get it off with my fingernail, or the flat side of a butter knife.

I'm not sure this will work with every pillar wax, but it works with the 6228. Also, I am using round molds. It is worth a try since the mold acts as a level for the pillar while it is flattening. HTH

Yep, leaving it IN the mold is the easiest way I've found. I usually just use the bottom of a presto and then pour off the remaining wax into a tart mold LOL

[realmarcha]

Yep, leaving it IN the mold is the easiest way I've found. I usually just use the bottom of a presto and then pour off the remaining wax into a tart mold LOL

Great minds think alike! I tried everything to get a LEVEL, flat bottom and this works GREAT!

[eugenia]

I've found that by adjusting the mold before my final pour with my little level,

I don't need to level the pillar as it is perfect.

e

[Dee]

If you are near a Home Depot, they also carry a little level - about 3" in length.

[klo]

I use a cut off saw, was taught this by someone who has been in this industry over 30 years. Have gone through 2 in 8 years. You must buy a quality one because when my last one died from "wax suffication" lol and I bought a cheap one and couldn't get it lined up square. Also the bit tip needs to be fine and a high speed blade, its all in my studio so I don't know all the spec's off the top of my head.

[tlc26]

I would not use a candle warmer.

I do mine several different ways..depending on my mood. Sometimes I use my heat gun and leave it in the mold. Sometimes if I have been in a hurry to ge tthe candle out of the mold to get another candle going, I will use a cookie sheet and my heat gun. The level really helps. I learned that hard way that my counter is not level..teheehheee

[Lil Black Sheep]

When my pillar is ready for the second pour, I take my wick off of the wick holder and trim it down below the mold.

Then I heat up my wax for my repour and "overfill" the mold. This will actually bring the level of the candle a tad bit above the mold. Once the wax is cooled down, but while still a little bit warm I take a large kitchen knife (sacrificed to candlemaking) and slice off the wax that is above the mold and use the mold as a leveler and guide.

There you have it. A pillar leveling job that will be perfect everytime and your wick is no longer exposed.

Hope this makes sense.

[tlc26]

When my pillar is ready for the second pour, I take my wick off of the wick holder and trim it down below the mold.

Then I heat up my wax for my repour and "overfill" the mold. This will actually bring the level of the candle a tad bit above the mold. Once the wax is cooled down, but while still a little bit warm I take a large kitchen knife (sacrificed to candlemaking) and slice off the wax that is above the mold and use the mold as a leveler and guide.

There you have it. A pillar leveling job that will be perfect everytime and your wick is no longer exposed.

Hope this makes sense.

wouldn't that leave a line from the diferent fill levels? wouldn't that also leave your wick pretty unstable? even though we can warn people to stop burnhing at 1/2 inch someone may forget and then you have a floating wick in the bottom of a candle that would hopefully put itself out, but may not!