scntdwik Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 I am using a silicone mold of a VW bus (we are VW addicts and I sell these candles at the VW shows) and I cannot for the life of me get one to come out of the damn mold without pits or bubble on it!I just poured 3 aluminum molds and 3 silicone earlier today with the same batch of wax and the candles that came out of the silicone molds look like crap and my pillars look awesome!I have tried different pillar waxes, less additives more additives and so on..Could it possibly be the silicone molds themselves?They are smooth as could be inside so Im thinking its not..Can someone please help me?????????thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 What's your pouring temp? Believe with silicone molds that they do need to be poured hotter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scntdwik Posted April 13, 2006 Author Share Posted April 13, 2006 I am pouring the same as my pillar molds, about 165-170. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Pour hotter. See what happens at 190 and then at 200 etc. THe silicone molds are supposed to take the heat. When I poured a few I poured in that range and got mostly the rustic crusty looking stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 You could also have a poorly made mold. It's very hard to make a mold without tiny air bubbles. Inspect the inside very close, you may need to use a magnifying glass to see it better, and see if there are tiny surface air bubbles. If there are surface air bubbles those will always show no matter what you do. If that's the problem I would send it back for a refund.I have used the silicone bakeware and they are smooth on the inside. I found to get the best results I have to preheat the inside of the mold, with a heat gun , just before pouring. Than pour at a hotter temp, for best results.I've tried 2 different mold maker suppliers and both have surface air bubbles or imperfections. So I haven't tried any others because I don't think anyone knows how to make a quality mold. Sure it's easy to pour a mold but very hard and expensive to not have surface air bubbles. To avoid bubbles, in most rubbers, requires a de-gas chamber and those things can run in the thousands.I have taken a mold making class in Dallas and have made a few molds. I know, first hand, how hard it is to make a quality mold. It's much harder and much more expensive than candle making.Hope this Helps Candle Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barncat Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 You can also try microwaving your molds. Throw it in the microwave for 2-5 min, depending on the size of it, until it feels warm. Then pour at around 190. Works for me everytime, I have problems with a mold like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scntdwik Posted April 13, 2006 Author Share Posted April 13, 2006 I will try some tonight pouring at 190 and see what happens...I did pour some more last night and added more vybar and stearic to the wax and they came out alot better. Could this also have been the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyberry Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 definately pour hotter and if that doesnt help you can also hit the finished wax piece with a quick blast from the heat gun if you need to take some of the "frosting " etc. away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scntdwik Posted April 14, 2006 Author Share Posted April 14, 2006 I poured 6 of them last night at 190 and added more stearic and vybar and did the happy dance when I took them out of the molds this morning! Scared my husband, he thought something was wrong and come running down the hall!Thanks everyone! Worked perfectly!Except the they dont have a real strong smell to them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I poured 6 of them last night at 190 and added more stearic and vybar and did the happy dance when I took them out of the molds this morning! Scared my husband, he thought something was wrong and come running down the hall!Thanks everyone! Worked perfectly!Except the they dont have a real strong smell to them...That could be from to much vybar or the combo of both equals to much. IMO - you don't need both additives vybar alone is enough and you can get a better throw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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