gingerinarkansas Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Well, I tried my luck at sand candles today...not sure if the wax wasn't hot enough or the sand wasn't damp enough but any way I have a blob of wax lightly covered with sand. Any thoughts of what I might have done wrong? My wax was around 250 degrees...maybe not hot enough and I thought the sand was fine...wet enough to make an impression and stay put. Not a pretty sight but at least I tried to make small one so not much wax lost. Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Here is some sand candle links...http://www.mycraftbook.com/Sand_Candles.asphttp://www.candlehelp.com/?content=sandhttp://www.bry-backmanor.org/oceanfun/oceancandle.htmlhttp://mama.essortment.com/candlesmakingi_rdfv.htmhttp://www.mojomoon.net/makecndl.html scroll down to findhttp://www.charlestoncandlecompany.com/index.cfm/fa/subcategories.main/parentcat/26/subcatid/64Google how to make sand candles you will find lots of info.Also if you do a search here on the board it has been talked about beforeHTH - Candle ManBTW - You have to pour wax at a very high temp 225* - 250* so be very careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerinarkansas Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Thanks Candleman, My wax was 250 but I had read somewhere...maybe Donita...that it would sizzle when you poured and I didn't hear that so maybe the sand wasn't wet enough. Right now it resembles something you would find in the cat's litter box. I'll do more reading and try it again. Thanks, Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane42 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Right now it resembles something you would find in the cat's litter box. LOL - there goes the coffee all over the 'puter.....I have never made these so I can't be of any help, but I am interested in knowing what the problem turned out to be....keep us updated! Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Try it again with damper sand would be what I would tell you since you were pouring hot. Not a chance that the thermometer was off is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerinarkansas Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Anything is possible...but it is usually working fine. I read on one of the site Candleman suggested and it said for a thick "crust" to use dryer sand and for thinner layer use damper sand. I only came out with a very thin layer so isn't that telling me my sand was too wet? I'll just have to keep playing with it until I get it figured out. I had the AC on out in my little shop area but it was getting quite toasty so I shut down for the day. I'll try later tonight or early in the morning. This 100+ degree weather is really terrible. I share the shop area with my husband...he's a machinist and does work on the side. He doesn't cool his part but my little ac isn't cooling my part too much so you have to set your hours according to the weather. Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Depends on how reliable you consider that site to be. <shrug> :undecided Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 I pm'd you. Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in KY Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Right now it resembles something you would find in the cat's litter box. Thanks, GingerNow that was funny!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryk Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Maybe it wasn't that your sand wasn't too wet or dry ... maybe it was too cold - and even though your wax was hot - it just cooled too quickly before it was able to migrate through enough sand to give a good shell before it hardened ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceCarvesWax Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I have done them with 300F wax and that works great. Just have to keep a close eye in the wax and not leave the room! The sand should be like wet sand that you would want to make a sand castle with... that wet. Very fine sand doesnt work very well, you dont want the real powder looking stuff. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetacea Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Maybe it wasn't that your sand wasn't too wet or dry ... maybe it was too cold - and even though your wax was hot - it just cooled too quickly before it was able to migrate through enough sand to give a good shell before it hardened ?That was my thought too. With the A/C on the water in the sand might have cooled it off too quickly. You could try it using warm water and keeping the sand out of reach from the A/C. Your wax is hot enough. HTH. Let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerinarkansas Posted July 19, 2006 Author Share Posted July 19, 2006 I don't think it was too cool because even with ac on it was still warm in my work area plus I had my sand sitting in the floor so it was getting anything blowing on it. It's sooo hot here in Arkansas (102 around 3:30 this afternoon) that nothing stays cool too long. I start a new job through temp service tomorrow so I won't be trying this again until maybe this weekend(?) or next weekend. I'll let you know how the next one comes out. Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luci Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Ginger, did you ever figure this out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerinarkansas Posted August 15, 2006 Author Share Posted August 15, 2006 Hi Luci, I haven't had time to try it again. I've been taking care of my grandson this summer while he's out of school and it's hard to accomplish much with a rowdy 6 year old around. School starts next week so I am hoping to have more time to do things if the weathers stays cooler. I can't work in my shop area if it's 100+ degrees. Nothing cools and end product isn't good. I just have small window unit and it doesn't cut it sometimes. I will try again soon and I'll let ya know how it comes out. Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyberry Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Thanks Candleman, My wax was 250 but I had read somewhere...maybe Donita...that it would sizzle when you poured and I didn't hear that so maybe the sand wasn't wet enough. Right now it resembles something you would find in the cat's litter box. I'll do more reading and try it again. Thanks, Ginger Well dang....... i needed to clean the puter screen anyways...just not by spitting coffeee all over it!!!!:rolleyes2 Keep us posted on the experiment results, i have never gotten them to work for me either:cry2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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