Katcameback Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Hi! I made a 3x6 Chunk pillar tonight, and I'm not happy with it. Where the bottom of the mold wass, it's all mottled, and then the top half is fill of pits and air bubbles, which I suppose can't be helped because of the chunks. I was wondering what if I was to put it back in the mold and then slightly warm the sides with a heat gun? Do you think that would make it look a bit better? Or is that as good as it's gonna get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Well what you're likely to get by putting back in the mold and using your heat gun is a bunch of white, caused by bubbles. Harder to explain, not that easy to show either, but it'll look like a soapy foam pressed into your candle (which btw looks pretty cool sometimes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katcameback Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Ok thanks. So I guess it's best to just leave well enough alone then? Is this normal for larger chunk pillars? I have never made one bigger than a 2x6 before, and votives. And they all usually have the white jump lines, which I figured was normal because of the chunks cooling the overpour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Well no. I think the pits are trapped air this time. The mottle well would have to see it, but probably just need to try an additive to get rid of it, but I think a chunked mottle might look pretty cool. Lot of other factors to acct. for the mottle, such as how much FO used etc. When I've poured chunks I just stuck my chopstick in there and poked inbetween what chunks I could to get and air out that I could get to. You can try it again with your heat gun. Fun of candlemaking is playing around. I just didn't think it would fix your surface flaws is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katcameback Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 I will see if I can get a good pic of it and post it. The mottled parts aren't really mottled. Hmmm....how do I put it......it's just on the surface, and it's only on about the bottom half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Is it crusty? (that word sounds bad lol)A pix would be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katcameback Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 I hope this doesn't take up too much room. I kept the pics big so that you can see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBaker2 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Looks like it was trying to do the rustic frost which is from pouring at cooler temperatures. Scented might be able to answer that better than I can, but that's what it looks like to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molly Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 That looks like it was trying to be a rustic, that's not really a mottle, it's more like frosting. If you heat your wax a little bit hotter that should go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janette Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Pour hotter and hit the outside of the mould with a heat gun as soon as you pour it, this should end the jump lines and help fill in surface holes. Poke relief holes as soon as possible to release any air. I pour my chunks @ 180.Your almost there!CheersJanette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katcameback Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 :highfive: Awesome! Thank you so much for all the info. Now I wanna go make another one to try it out, lol. But I just made some Saskatoonberry 4 oz containers and tealights. I live in Saskatoon, so I have been dying to try it...but I'm not happy so far. I had gotten the FO from CanWax. Is there another supplier that carries SaskatoonBerry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 When I was teaching candlemaking.....I did chunk candles and even let 5 year olds take the class (with a parent and a signed permission slip)....To be sure they were safe.....they were pouring at about 160 and to make sure that is didn't become rustic or get stuck, I added 1/2 tsp pp of gloss poly. That makes the wax more opaque but it makes it smooth. I also wanted to pour cool so they could go home with their candle that day. I had them in and out in two hours. You will have to play with the wax you have and see if that is what you want to use....I have used many kinds over the years. If you want it translucent, then don't use the gloss poly, but do the heat gun on the outside, but remember that if you over do it, you will bleed the colors too. Make sure that the colors are complimentary....I don't worry about it now because I "crackle" all of my chunk candles (most of them) and then they come out shiny. But that is just my signature candle and what I sell the most of. Good luck.....and have fun......at least you made some candles. That's cool. Now....try burning them. That is another trick. If you do add the gloss poly, then you might have to wick up for that. We old candle people experiment a lot.....really.....a lot. Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliette Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 You might also try tapping the mold with...well I use a wooden spoon after I pour. This seems to release the air bubbles trapped around the chunks. HTHJuliette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ShellyRobyn Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I tap my mold with a wooden spoon too as I heat it a bit with the heat gun. I need a third hand to turn the mold while I heat and tap. I heat my overpour to 190. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katcameback Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 ok.....what is glass poly? How do you "crackle" it? What do you mean by "wick up" When you pour the overpour at 190*, doesn't that melt the chunks?Oh wow! Now I am full of questions, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.