Michi Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 when you use a presto pot for melting wax, how do you "measure" how much you're using when transferring to a pour pot? I recently purchased a pot at a garage sale ($5) and haven't used it as of yet b/c I can't figure this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon WY Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I place my pour pot on the scale and pour the wax directly from the spigot into the pour pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I put my scale next to the pot (for now) and use the spigot to pour wax into the pour pot. If you don't have a spigot, you can use a metal ladle or pyrex cup to scoop and pour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted August 12, 2005 Author Share Posted August 12, 2005 So, you would have to lift up the pot right? I mean to get the spigot up high enough?I don't have a spigot on mine, but I have a feeling I'm not gonna like the mess of using a ladel/measuring cup, and gonna have to have a spigot on it some time soon. Thanks, I knew it was a stupid question, but just had to ask, since I think I've got brain mush lately. LOLI'm blaming it on the fact that I've had a million an one things going on all at once-we got new flooring throughout the house, so I've been trying to get the house back together (never realized just how much crap I had in this house!! ) school started for my middle daughter today, and school starts for my youngest (yep, my baby is going to kindergarten ), so we had school shopping etc., plus our truck took a crap, so that's been in the shop, and a million other emotional things also.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melly Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 If im melting a small amount for ex. 1 or 2 pounds , i weigh out the solid wax pieces on my scale, then melt it and pour it all into my pour pot. If im doing large amounts, I just put my pour pot on my scare, tare it, then ladle in and weigh the melted wax. ladling is alot less messy then you think, just hold the pour pot over the presto and weigh every few scoops, you get used to knowing about how many scoops you need after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted August 12, 2005 Author Share Posted August 12, 2005 Melly, when you take the pour pot off the scale, doesn't it then weigh the pour pot when you put it back on the scale?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debscent Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 If you have the "tare" feature on your scale, you put an empty pour pot on your scale and hit the "tare" button. When you take the pour pot off, you will see the scale go to -8.6 or -10.2 (whatever your pot weight) so you are actually only getting the weight of your wax when you put your wax in. As for the spigot question. If you have a spigot on your presto, put the presto near the edge of your countertop space and put the pour pot underneath it. You should only have to lift up your pour pot if you have wax that is below the spigot. As for ladeling--it's not so bad...and you do get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melly Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I have the tare feature, my scale remembers the wiegh of the poor pot as debscent said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted August 12, 2005 Author Share Posted August 12, 2005 Ok, so it looks like I need to get a new scale, since I'm pretty sure that mine does NOT have this tare feature. :undecided I know that I CAN tare it when the item is on there, but I'm pretty sure when I take it off, it goes back to zero. :undecided I swear everytime I think I'm saving a little money (my $5 garage sale presto pot) I've gotta spend more and more money. :rolleyes2 Thanks for the help and answers everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I melt the wax in my presto but weigh and scent in another container. I have spouts on my presto pots but never use it. I use a metal ladle to ladle the melted wax out into the container that I use to weigh and scent in. This method works best for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Angela7 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 No, Michi don't go buy another scale! I have a tare feature, but when I tried it before, it didn't seem to give me a correct reading when I put it back on, so I don't use it. Before I pour the wax in the pot, I weigh the pour pot. A small pot weighs about 5.3 or 5.4 ounces. So let's say I'm weighing out a pound of wax, the total that my scale should read would be 1 lb., 5.3 oz. And I actually have to lift up the presto itself to pour into the pour pot - I can't put the pour pot underneath the spigot. But be careful, in my opinion it takes a little practice & getting used to. When I 1st started doing it this way, the wax was coming out of the presto too fast, my scale wasn't catching up quickly enough, and I ended up pouring more wax than I wanted, which would throw my ratios off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrie Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 FYI: Don't pick up the presto and attempt to pour the melted wax into your pour pot. Yep, I did that when I was a newbie. (Not saying you are a newbie.) Lets just say I was scraping wax off of the counters and floor for a long time.:rolleyes2 You will love your presto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted August 12, 2005 Author Share Posted August 12, 2005 Thanks Angela, that is a much better idea than buying a new scale. yep, I've had that problem with weighing FO's and such, it seems it takes a few seconds at times for my scale to catch up to what's actually being weighed. :rolleyes2 I can just imagine how easy it would be to be pouring away from your spigoted pot and then realize you've gotten a bit too much. Thanks for the help everyone, now If I can just find some time to make some candles........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Angela7 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 FYI: Don't pick up the presto and attempt to pour the melted wax into your pour pot. Yep, I did that when I was a newbie. (Not saying you are a newbie.) Lets just say I was scraping wax off of the counters and floor for a long time.:rolleyes2 Having a spigot makes it a lot easier. I just don't have a way of leaving the presto where it is & putting a pour pot underneath. My left arm has gotten a bit stronger from doing this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJo Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I use a glass measuring cup and ladle it in. One pound of wax is equal to 20 oz in the measuring cup. I find it easier for me to use the glass measuring cup when I pour and not worrying about using a scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrie Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Having a spigot makes it a lot easier. I just don't have a way of leaving the presto where it is & putting a pour pot underneath. My left arm has gotten a bit stronger from doing this I have spigots now. Don't know how I'd survive without them. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaVA Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I do really small batches and so I use a glass measuring cup as a ladle. I put my scale (which is inside a plastic food storage bag) next to my Presto, put the pour pot on the scale and tare out the weight. Then I use the measuring cup to ladle to wax into my pourpot until I get the right amount of wax in there. It's not too messy since my scale is right beside my pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtngrl Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 Here's a way totally different from everyone else's...When I 1st get a mold, I coat the inside w/ vegetable oil, wiping out the excess, pour plain, melted wax into the mold & top off as if I were making a candle. When the wax is solid, I remove it from the mold & weigh it. I then make a note of the amt of wax that particular mold can hold. I know some vendors will include the amt of wax a mold will hold, but I've found there are some inaccuracies.When I'm ready to actually make a candle, I know the maximum amt of wax to use, & just weigh out that much wax on my scale (or just a little less), & then put it in my presto to melt. It's always my hope to end up w/ just the right amt of wax, but there's always some left over, especially since I usually add FO to the mix. I'm still new enough at candle making that I make no more than 4 candles at a time, & that's only if I'm feeling particularly mentally sharp that day. Most the time, I just make 1 or 2 at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Angela7 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 When I 1st get a mold, I coat the inside w/ vegetable oil, wiping out the excess, pour plain, melted wax into the mold & top off as if I were making a candle. When the wax is solid, I remove it from the mold & weigh it. I then make a note of the amt of wax that particular mold can hold. I know some vendors will include the amt of wax a mold will hold, but I've found there are some inaccuracies.When I'm ready to actually make a candle, I know the maximum amt of wax to use, & just weigh out that much wax on my scale (or just a little less), & then put it in my presto to melt. It's always my hope to end up w/ just the right amt of wax, but there's always some left over, especially since I usually add FO to the mix. How do you figure out your ratio(s) with this method? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtngrl Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 How do you figure out your ratio(s) with this method?I'm sorry, your question is a little unclear to me. Would you please rephrase? What I can I say, it's Friday & it's after 10 pm. I think I'm entitled to be totally stupid now. :rolleyes2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 When I 1st get a mold, I coat the inside w/ vegetable oil, wiping out the excess, pour plain, melted wax into the mold & top off as if I were making a candle. When the wax is solid, I remove it from the mold & weigh it. I then make a note of the amt of wax that particular mold can hold. I know some vendors will include the amt of wax a mold will hold, but I've found there are some inaccuracies.That's a lot more work than you really have to go through. Just weigh water in place of the wax and multiply by .86. If you want to add a fudge factor to make sure you have a little more wax than you need, multiply by a slightly larger number like .88 or .90.For a regularly shaped mold you can even calculate according to the dimensions. There are some calculators at http://www.candletech.com/calculator/. You might want to use the dimensions of the finished candle though. For instance, if you're using a 3x4.5 mold to make a 3x4 candle, then calculate based on 3x4 and add a little fudge factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtngrl Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 That's a lot more work than you really have to go through. Just weigh water in place of the wax and multiply by .86. If you want to add a fudge factor to make sure you have a little more wax than you need, multiply by a slightly larger number like .88 or .90. Yeah, I know ... too much math! What can be easier than melting, pouring, waiting, weighing & making a note? See, no calculator required!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 What can be easier than melting, pouring, waiting, weighing & making a note? See, no calculator required!!! Hmm... clicking on a link, typing in 3 numbers, clicking calculate button... sounds much easier to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawaiiansun Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 3 pages on this thread a nd you guys still haven't figured it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 OK, since we're up to page three, I MUST chime in. I weigh the amount of wax I need (solid), and dump it in the presto. I have the amount of wax I need melted. End of story.e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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