Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Good afternoon, I want to make my first pillar candle soon. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Make sure you cover your work area with newspaper, have a thermometer for your wax and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks. i hope i dont mess things up to bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 The first one is always the most difficult. Just make sure that you let it cool completely before you try to remove it from the mold also. That alone is the hardest part. I pour mine late in the day and leave them until the next morning before I unmold. So far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks for the tips prcandles.was it expensive to make your first few candles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Its still expensive to make the candles. I just got 200 pounds of wax delivered today. Not including the FO's! If you are using craft store products you will be paying alot more than if you order from an online supplier. Its all relative at this point for me though. There aren't suppliers near where I am, so everything from wax to molds to wicks comes from on line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 How much did that 200lbs of wax cost you?Do you have any suggestions of online suppliers? i want to get everything online so i am not paying retail price so that i can profit when i sell my candles. Thanks again for all your help:cheesy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysj Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Make sure your mold is sealed realllllllllll good lmao Ask me how I know. I usually set mine on a cookie sheet just in case it runs out which believe me it will happen eventually. Most of all have fun with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks for that tip! maybe i till put mine on a cookie sheet just in case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Nita, for the 200 pounds plus shipping it was close to $300. But I ordered from KY candle supplies. Vickey is really wonderful and I love the wax that I get from her. It is granulated so I don't have to use a hammer and beat my wax to death just to use it. Depending on what area of the country you are in, you might have a supplier closer to you. As for who I recommend, it all depends on where you are and what kind of wax you want to use. I have used candlesandsupplies in Pennsylvania, but shipping was too much. I have heard great things about candlescience, farmhouse, and all the rest.HTHPat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Wow! $300.00! i would hope that would make alot of candles. I am still new to this so i am not sure just how much it takes to make one candle!!!I live it Texas so i want to find a supplier that is close to me so i dont have to spend an arm and a leg!do you sell your candles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlessjade Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 My advice would be to expect to make mistakes and try to learn from them instead of getting upset about them.But I guess that applies to any craft, and even to life in general! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 So far I do not sell them. Most of the ones that I have made have gone out the door as testers and gifts. If you are trying to figure out a way to make extra money, this really isn't the way to do it. I have been making candles for 5 years and am only now thinking of selling. Until I can afford the necessary things like insurance, though, that is still just a thought.To figure out how much wax a candle mold needs, there are instructions on this board. I think its under general information, or techniques and ideas. Either way, there is alot of help here. Just remember, it isn't about heating up wax, sticking a wick into it and selling it. You have to test them from top to bottom and make sure you are sure you can replicate them. I have found that my 3X3 pillar weighs about 1 pound finished. HTHPat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindanelson Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Hi Nita;www.bittercreek.com is in Texas. There are other also. www.lonestarcandlesupply.comThese will you get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Insurance? i learn something new every day. i didnt know you had to have insurance to make candles and sell them.thanks linda for the websites for the suppliers in texas:cheesy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindanelson Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 You are so welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Linda,How has your candle experience been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Bug Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 My thought is to get a sample size of a wax to try first and then another if it isn't what you like. If you order a large amount of a wax and then feel it isn't what you really want...you have a lot of it left...ask me how I know. It takes more shipping charges, but in the long run, I think it is worth it to do it that way. Same with FOs. I sometimes get caught up in a sale and find the oil I now have a pound of just doesn't work for me. I have a mantra...sample, sample, sample. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks Beth. That was really helpful.I was thinking of buying 50lbs of soy but i am not quite sure what kind of product that wax makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prcandles Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 There are different types of soy for different applications. There is a separate section on the board for vegetable waxes. If you do a search there for the soy wax for pillars, you might find which ones people here like or don't. I am a paraffin user myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks. I hope i can find the right solution so i can have fun making these candles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patience Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Hi Nita, have you thought about buying a kit? It really is a good way to start. Also, read "Basic Instructions" and "Techniques & Ideas". The links are on the left side of the board. There are excellent instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nita Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks Patience.I have thought about a kit but i am stuck on which one i really should purchase. They all offer so much different stuff at different prices. I know i want to do pillars but i am just trying to find a kit that has everything i need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysj Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 This company is also in Texas. Great customer service and I love their container wax. They also have pillar wax. http://www.greenleafcandlesupply.comHTH Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindanelson Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Linda,How has your candle experience been?Hi Nita;I started making candles around June of last year. I did a lot of research and studying for about 3 months. Then I bought a soy container kit. I was hooked after that.I thought that I was going to stick to containers only. BOY was I wrong. I soon started doing votives and pillars.Candle making relaxes me.I did my first craft show last November. It was hetic getting ready for that, but well worth it.I'm doing my first open house in April. My girlfriend in Spokane has agreed to have it at her house. It'll be fun.I just got a catalog made and started getting it out. Got my first order last week from that. Now...to get a website going.A lot of testing and research go into every candle I make. It doesn't go out my door until I am happy with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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