Antique Collector Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 Hi everyone. I've been trying to make solid, pure bayberry wax candles, but I haven't gotten the wick right yet. I've made two different types, a 12" molded taper (7/8" base diameter) and an 8" tall 7/8" diameter candle, straight sides and 7/8" thick all the way up, no taper to the sides. With the latter, I've had good luck using 15 ply flat wicking for solid stearin candles, but that wick was way too small. I tried the 3/0 square wicking I use for beeswax candles made from the same mold, and they don't burn good either, too small and soon it drips and most of the candle ends up on the holder. Okay, so I tried the 12" taper mold instead. 15 ply too small as I expected, 3/0 burned with a small flame but I had to constantly trim that wick, it wasn't burning completely in the flame, or it would smoke and drip if I didn;t keep trimming the wick. I also had a small piece of 1/0 square wick and tried that in the 12" taper mold, it also needs constant trimming. If I wanted to constantly trim candle wicks, I'd just make tallow candles. lolAnyone have suggestions on wick sizes for bayberry candles? I'd really prefer candles made in the 8" mold I have, so the candles are a full 7/8" thick at top and bottom, so they burn longer. I just can't figure out what to do for wicking. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 I have had very good results using CDN wicks for soy and palm wax. I have not tried them with bayberry or beeswax yet, but when I do take the plunge into those other waxes (I am SOOO jealous!), that's what I will start with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryk Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 IMO, you are not going to have any good luck with pure bayberry tapers unless you make the dipped "pencil" variety (much smaller than the standard 7/8" taper diameter). Even then, they are going to burn phenomenally fast. I too played around with 100% bayberry wax in tapers and votives - it just doesn't make a good candle IMO. Be careful - you may be reading about "100% bayberry tapers" on the web - read on and you'll see its usually a mix - assuming that is even stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Henry is right.........I found the best combination for a dripless bayberry wax taper was at least 60% beeswax and 40% bayberry wax and a 2/0 square braid wick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 I also played with it the like Henry, bayberry on it own doesn't make a good candle but mix with BW it does pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antique Collector Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 Okay, thanks, I'll try mixing it with other waxes, I'll try beeswax, stearin, and tallow, and see what I come up with. I know it was used in the past in normal tapers somehow, so some sort of combination should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antique Collector Posted January 1, 2007 Author Share Posted January 1, 2007 Well, I mixed in about 1/5 beeswax using 2/0 square wicking, and it was a big improvement, but not quite perfect, I'll play around more with wick sizes when I order some more, but I think the wax blend is good now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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