soot and trimming

[justrightcandles]

i am using igi 4630, the max fo in this wax, and lx series wicks. I know you are supposed to trim 1/4 of a inch right? I swear i am trimming 1/8 or else i get soot like crazy. And now the wick is like shredding at the top and makes the sooting worse. i already have visible soot on my ceilings even though i just moved here 3 weeks ago. (Although i do burn several candles at once) Am i doing something wrong i don't think i can trim much more with out the candle going out. Just looking at that line of soot and flickering flame makes me want to cough and switch to soy.

[jillgunter]

I had alot of smoking problems with LX wicks and this wax. Your wick might be to big. This wax does smoke alot. I have had less smoking with Zincs. I might try a different wax next time I buy some, I luckily live 5 minutes from a major candle supplier:)

[justrightcandles]

on some of them it does not even go all the way to the edge of the jar. but soots like crazy. should i still wick down?

Do you use this wax too? You live near a supplier! you lucky duck!!

i live near snowdrift farms which would be great if i were into B&B!

[Brat]

I would absolutely try wicking down... you shouldn't have to trim it to a nub every time you light it. I might go 2 sizes down.

[justrightcandles]

Yes! a nub! that is what i have. i should wick down?

i guess i am confused about when to wick up or down. i thought since it was not going all the way to the edge that i needed to wick up some more. You know i have a lot of them at LX 28 and 30 already.

[jillgunter]

That wax just soots alot. I was using LX 28s and had problems with my wicks plus not going all the way to edge. You can always try double wicking, might not smoke as much with two small wicks.

[country creek]

Wicking down is not going to help!!! This wax soots terrible!!!! I hate this wax.

No matter what I did, wick up, wick down, nothing made a difference. I do not think there is anything you can do to make a difference. I used both CD's and Zinc and I threw the stuff out. I hate soot. What kind of wicks are you using? Try using another type and see if that helps but wicking down is going to get you the same result with the candle not burning even.

Try Just Scents 50/50 blend.....it burns clean and it is a one pour, you will love it.

[justrightcandles]

Crap!

I guess i have found wax for my wickless candles.

what wick do you use with the 50/50?

[country creek]

Crap!

I guess i have found wax for my wickless candles.

I soooo sorry! It sucks I know. Maybe someone on here has had luck with 4630 and will share their secret.

[justrightcandles]

I soooo sorry! It sucks I know. Maybe someone on here has had luck with 4630 and will share their secret.

if you are out there.....please do.....i am just at a loss:embarasse

[country candlemaker]

if you are out there.....please do.....i am just at a loss:embarasse

ok i use this wax and get nooo soot so far i must be wicking just right.what size jar are you using.here is an example ,for me on a 8oz jj i use 44-32-18z and it works just fine ,so what size jar are you useing?

[topofmurrayhill]

Funny conversation.

Wax is only one component of the candle design.

Finally someone asked about the container in question. Some jars are hard to single wick regardless of your wax.

LX 28 and LX 30 are blowtorches in that wax. I would think they smoke.

The "max fo in this wax" depends on the FO. No wax automatically holds any particular amount. Each FO has a different throw, a different level of wax compatibility, a different way of burning. You take all that into account when designing the candle. Just dumping in 10% and expecting to have a good candle is unrealistic.

The wax may hold that much ideally. If the wax is oversaturated you'll get a column of smoke for sure. Some FOs don't burn clean even if the wax isn't oversaturated, so you won't want to use too much.

So at this point you may have to look at anything and everything to get a good candle.

[justrightcandles]

yup, i am dumping 10% into my 8oz and 16oz apothecary jars. I will try lowering the % and double wicking with smaller wicks.

thanks guys!

[Michi]

Yep 4630 is tricky, but not impossible to use as someone else stated.

I use this wax and had a love/hate relationship with it for a loooong time, until I finally "learned" it.

10% is too much FO IMO-I never ever go over 8% and that's pushing it, mostly if it doesn't knock me off my feet at 6%, I don't use it, just wasting money IMO.

Wicks and containers play a large part with this wax also, it's hates to be confined (skinny necked jars etc) but LOVES wide mouthed containers such as tins and tulip type jars (which have a wider mouth).

I use only zinc and HTP wicks with this wax, and believe me I've tried others (many others), it's all trial and error with the wax, FO, wick, container combination, I'm tellin' ya.

Oh, and there will be some FO's that just do NOT work with this wax, just like any other wax, I have one that I dearly love (apple jack & peel from Peak) that just likes to smell fuelish no matter what.

Keep trying, testing, etc. I know it's a PITA, but a necessary evil none the less.

[country creek]

I told you someone would come in and help ya out! Those of us that do not have your patience totally wishes you the best with that wax. Please let us know if anything you have tried works better than other methods. I still have some that I can remelt and start over with if you can get it to work right.