First Votives, couple questions

[Wick'n'Wax]

I've just made my first 6 votives. I used 14oz wax and 0.9fo.

Theres some wax left, so will try 13oz and 0.8fo next time.

I added 1/2 teaspoon of vybar, not sure why, just thought I ought too

Could I have put less in with the vybar, or more? The scent throw is amazing.

There are tiny pin pricks on the outside of one, its already slipped out the mould, wasn't me honest

I used 135mp paraffin plus the 1/2tsp vybar and had to do 3 repours, was pouring at 175, then 2nd at 185, 3rd was whatever it flaming well was at, at that point

Last question

What other wax can you use for votives? I've got soy cb135 and pb too.

Any suggestions/advice,

thanks

btw, they are purple with a Nag Champa fo

[britishgirl]

i know you can do soy pillar votives, cause i made a boo boo and made them with container!! suffered major frosting:cry2: but nat did give good tip to gently rub the outside of them with a pair of tights! i did that and aslo blasted them with hair dryer (heat gun still to be bought)

[Wick'n'Wax]

I'm wondering about some kind of blend between para and pillar?

I've just had to get the hairdryer (need heatgun too lol) and the tops don't look too brill.

Wonder if I have any tights anywhere, do they have to be American Tan colour

[britishgirl]

i would like you could cause you can mix soy & para would imagine they would both have be pillar blend (you can bet im wrng though!!

i just hunting some vybar down now

not sure about the american tan though its not my colour:tongue2:

[Wick'n'Wax]

I made another out of what was left, weighs 2 oz, so I'm sure 12oz would do it next time.

How do you make the wicks stick afterwards? I've threaded them through, heated the bottom of the votive with hair dryer, but its still not stuck.

Don't they have to be stuck in place?

[eugenia]

They should not fall out. That's where warning labels come in handy; they cover the wick tab.

[britishgirl]

what about a glue dot?? i just used small amount of left over wax, remelted dipped the bum end in!!

there is probably a technical and correct way of doing this but it worked for me:D

[kalamazoo]

Do you think a customer is likely to put a votive in a holder with the label still attached to the bottom of the wick tab?

[Wick'n'Wax]

tbh, I think I'm going to get some glue dots from hobby craft, until I get a glue gun, (heat gun next on the list with a smaller nozzle than this hairdryer!).

I want to try doing pretabbed wicks on pillars and things anyway

[kalamazoo]

You used about 6% FO for your votives - did the vybar "hold" the FO in the votive ok - i.e. it did not feel oily. I think I am using too much stearin and not enough FO (only 4.5 - 5%) and my scent throw is not as strong as I want it to be. I also only use a straight paraffin wax.

[Wick'n'Wax]

nope they don't feel oily at all

Can't understand why the pin pricks though, I'll try a different pouring temp tomorrow

[Wick'n'Wax]

I have some LX8 wick and it says ok for votives. I've got some 20mm sustainers, anyone know if they are too big or doesn't that part matter?

50 pre-tabbed wicks cost me £3.00, so surely its cheaper to make your own

[eugenia]

nope they don't feel oily at all

Can't understand why the pin pricks though' date=' I'll try a different pouring temp tomorrow[/quote']

The pin prick holes are from pouring too hot. Try heating your wax to 180, adding your color and fragrance, stirring for 2 minutes and pouring.

[eugenia]

I have some LX8 wick and it says ok for votives. I've got some 20mm sustainers' date=' anyone know if they are too big or doesn't that part matter?

50 pre-tabbed wicks cost me £3.00, so surely its cheaper to make your own[/quote']

Sustainer size does not matter. I could not get the LX-8's to work for me with votives. I find the LX-10 and LX-12 to be perfect.

[Wick'n'Wax]

The pin prick holes are from pouring too hot. Try heating your wax to 180, adding your color and fragrance, stirring for 2 minutes and pouring.

I poured at 175 and got the pin pricks. Do you mean heat to 180, then let cool to a lower temp?

[Candle Man]

There are tiny pin pricks on the outside of one' date=' its already slipped out the mould, wasn't me honest[/quote']

I heat my votive molds in a toaster oven (see pic) at about 200*F-250*F for about 10-15 minutes, I can get 14 molds in the oven at a time, in the pan on one rack. Then with a ove-glove (see pic) I take them out, place on a cookie sheet and place in the wick pins and pour at 180*F-200*F. I get nice and shinny votives every time.

[eugenia]

Never heated a votive mold, or pillar either for that matter. Yes, if you add the FO and color at 180 and stir for a bit, it will have cooled down.

[SatinDucky]

The only time I get pin pholes is when the wax and/or molds are too hot...