kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I am rather new to candle making and this is my first time using dyes.Wax has melted but dye does not disolve. What am I doing incorrectly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malystxy Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 What temperature is your wax at? I dont; add the dye until my wax is at 180 to 190 degrees, and I pour at 180 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMT Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 your not heating the wax hot enough for the dye to disolve. Heat up to at least 165-190 and dye will blend. Put a candy thermometer in the wax and just wait till it goes up in that area.You are just starting out. So be patient and all good things will come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 I bought a candle making heating pot from hobby lobby and it is set at highest heat. Don't have thermometer to test and no heat temp indicator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 You sorta need those and guessing a higher heat and the dye will melt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC on Maui Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 What kind of dyes are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldehearth Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Yikes! That's way too high of a temp. What kind of dyes are you using (blocks,chips,flakes?) and what brand are they? Also what wax are you using? With this info, we could help pinpoint the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 I bought a candle making heating pot from hobby lobby and it is set at highest heat. Don't have thermometer to test and no heat temp indicator. The dyes are not disolving!The dyes are Liguid from Something Fabulous Luquid Dyes. I am using paraffin wax and I had the temp control set at max whidh is suppose to be 240 degrees. Earlier answers were that my wax was not hot enough.I am completely confused??!!Hobby Lobby lists these dyes for candle making so I don't know what is wrong. When I add the dye it just sits at the bottom of the pot in little particles but never disolves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Well one, don't scorch your wax at 240, but a thermometer would be able to make sure that it's really heating to that, not to mention that would be plenty hot, enough to cause some smoking and the higher the temps, the more likely to have a fire!Second, get some dyes worth something. HL dyes aren't quality and definitely not cost effective IMO. Third, you could have pigments which I've seen some not dissolve very well, even with a liquid dye, I get some that settles at the bottom, but I still get color.And some won't show their color till the wax cools -- i.e. the hot pink I use and the magenta both do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 Could I not be adding enough dye? It is suppose to be concentrated and they say to use sparingly. Could the temp be to high and therefore cause problems. At the high setting the wax seems to have some boiling going on. The wax has a melting point of 133-135 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Possible that you aren't adding enough, but extremely possible to expect a fire shortly at the temperature you've got the wax at. Hope you have baking soda on hand to snuff it. Seriously, turn the temps down. Your wax doesn't need to be that hot unless you're playing outside in sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 The dye bottles are 3-1/4 oz and I have been putting in about a half dozen drops. There is only about 9 oz of wax in pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravity Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 6 drops of color should be enough to see SOMETHING... sounds like you've got some crap dye. The dye I use is noticeable after one drop!And if your wax is BOILING.. you've got it WAY too hot! You NEED to get yourself a candy thermometer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 Well I guess the only thing to do is check with the HobbyLobby.I have twenty pounds of wax that I wanted to make Christmas Candle out of but it is late and I need some sleep.Thanks to all for helping. If you think of something new please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 If it's sitting on the bottom, you have the wrong kind of dye. Candles require solvent dyes. Buy something made for the purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaGA Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Top, I was wondering if Ken had purchased candle pigments.Wish we could see the package.Ken, if there is an 800 number on package call them. I doubt the employees at HL have any idea how to use most of the HL products. my 2¢ & good luck,donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Top, I was wondering if Ken had purchased candle pigments.Pigments might settle out or clog the wick, but initially they'd seem to disperse just fine. I don't know squat about coloring soap, but I know HL sells separate products for soap and candles. That seems like a reasonable explanation.I spoke to a dye manufacturer once and they said the kind of thing we use is called solvent dye. That makes sense. It dissolves completely in certain kinds of solvents, which is why our liquid colorants work so perfectly. It dissolves with more difficulty in wax, stearic and oils, which is why chips and blocks often leave speckles and why dye powder can be so hard to use. But still it mostly disperses.If it's sitting on the bottom, it's just the wrong stuff entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scntdwik Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 If you're using crap dyes from places such as Michaels, they will not dissolve completely.I ran out of a color one time that I had to have and needed quickly and resorted to a color block from Michaels. Could not get it to disolve for the life of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldehearth Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Don't use the wax that was boiled next time you try again. It's no good anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenbandur Posted November 2, 2006 Author Share Posted November 2, 2006 I purchased soap dye Got the right dye today. Thanks all for your help. Beginners luck I guess. Well off to make twenty pounds worth of Christmas Candles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth-VT Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Well off to make twenty pounds worth of Christmas Candles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceCarvesWax Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scntdwik Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Possible that you aren't adding enough, but extremely possible to expect a fire shortly at the temperature you've got the wax at. Hope you have baking soda on hand to snuff it. Sorry, but I couldnt resist laughing at the way you put this! LMBONever heard of anyone letting thier wax get that hot:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillgunter Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 You are stirring it correct? 240 is way to hot, that could be dangerous. I am surprised they sell something that goes that hot. I use the double boiler method, and its very easy. You do need a thermoter, they are really cheap. You can get one at walmart. Good luck:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest amynleebishop Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Are you using soap dye to make your candles?? I went back and re-read all of the posts and I am still confused as to what type of color you are using. 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.