racooper Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Become so CONFUSING???After I got out of the military. I needed a hobby. I decided that since I love candles so much, that I would enjoy making them. Which I did. I found some place online that gave basic instructions. This much steric acid, that much scent per how much wax. Now I am in a very high stress job, and my managment told me I need a hobby. I actually got marked down in my annual review for working too much. After much thinking, I remembered that I do have a hobby! I loved making candles!Now this has become so confusing, testing wicks, testing wax. I have a lot to learn from this very compitent group. I have been looking at your FAQ boards, so, so, so very much to learn! Thanks in advance for any assistance . Do any of you have a recommendation of where to start again?Oh and to start my self back off again.... my hubbie threw away all of my old molds!!!Sorry for being long winded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accents Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Welcome back to candlemaking! Think of all the testing as a challenge instead of work. I'm sure those basic instructions still work, there's just a lot of variables. I'd look for a kit. If you get one for pillars, it should come with a mold. Good luck! There's lots of great information and knowledgeable people here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Yeah I thought the same thing at one point so I got to be a wick junkie and then a FO junkie while also becoming a mold junkie and a color junkie. Put 'em together and I should be all set right? Welcome back. Start from the beginning and wade your way through. You may find not all that much has changed. It just looks like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fern-Marie Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 "When did candlemaking become so confusing?"Hmmm, let's see, for me it started somewhere around last week. Yep, I'm pretty sure. No, now wait a minute, now I'm not really sure, let's see maybe it was...oh, no that was something else, ummmmmm.....hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racooper Posted July 27, 2006 Author Share Posted July 27, 2006 I just purchased a starter kit!!! We will see how long it takes to come back to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndMyPuppyDog Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Pretty much because there is so much mis-information out there and also because there is a lot of junk out there for people to buy. You have all these different "pre-blended" waxes -- gone are the days of some para and some ster. acid. (or Vybar) -- and fragrance. Today the carrier for the fragrances are junk that clog wicks and cause trouble. People got scared of zinc (don't trust it to not be lead) -- so you have all different paper cores, etc.Things have just gotten complicated, because there is a more complicated list of things out there.If you stick with the basics:Wax (raw para)Vybar (Sterine if you're super-crazy hardcore)Wick (sized to size of mold or container)Scent (if scented)Dye (Powder or chips for newbies)Don't forget your can of silicone spray.UV If you must... but I think Vybar helps -- most don't agree.(Clear Crystals -- makes wax glow more, is fun to toy with)Anyway... have fun, and play. Don't look at it as testing = bad. Look at it as the mad scientist. I've been making candles full time for almost 20 years. I've watch A LOT of trends... in the end, you can do almost everything and anything with the basics.I know I don't make friends here by saying this, but do yourself a favor and don't waste your time or money on these "blended" waxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racooper Posted July 27, 2006 Author Share Posted July 27, 2006 all the advice! I will need all of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudsnwicks Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Welcome! Yeah, it sure is more confusing these days because there are so many types of waxes and wicks available, compared to in the past where there weren't so many varieties and choices. But these more complicated ingredients do make better performing candles, so it is worth it. Maybe if you like what you get in your starter kit, you could continue using those same ingredients; it would certainly simplify things that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyl55 Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Just wanted to welcome you to the CT family. However you decide to start up again, be sure to document what what you do with each test candle. Makes it so much easier to repeat a candle when you get a winner. Good luck and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamperme Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 It was always confusing..you just did not know it yet...Wait till you do Bath & Body stuff..that is pretty much confusing from the start.Try a kit..peaks has some..if you want to jump back in from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisyd'Light Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 That's why I figured candle making is right up my alley, I am always in a dazed and confused state of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racooper Posted July 27, 2006 Author Share Posted July 27, 2006 have to start all over again! My husband threw everything I had to make candles away!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 So let's spend his money lol! :tiptoe: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamperme Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 So let's spend his money lol! :tiptoe: :laugh2: LOL..yep..got get yourself a container kit, a pillar kit, a votive kit, ahhhh heck throw in a lotion kit and a lib balm kit while your at it..thats what he gets for throwing perfectly good candle stuff away.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Back when I started (when I was a teenager), all that was available were some basic paraffin slabs and stearic. Now we have so many nice wax blends available ... blends for containers, for pillars, vegetable waxes, etc. Yes, a bit more complicated and challenging, but the results are so much nicer. It's worth the effort to learn, IMO. Happy candlemaking, and welcome back to one of the coolest hobbies ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molly Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Aw come on, it's not THAT confusing. It's just that everyone has their own way of doing things but also has to try what everyone else does just in case it works better and and and um.... nevermind! Welcome aboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giedre11 Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 I've always said, my passion is making candles and soap. I can get lost in it for days! I have gotten so engrossed with it, I sometimes forget to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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