AnjieBurdett Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 OK, I have test burned the gels I made with the glass fish embeds. The melt pool is too small....should it go right to the edges like a normal container candle would? My question is, do you have to use the special wicks with the wax coating on? Or can you use 'normal' wicks that you would use for paraffin? I have LX, Cotton Core, ECO and Flat Braid wicks, would any of these be suitable in gel? The wicks I bought from Hobbycraft have a very fine wire wrapped around the wick under the wax coating, is this essential??Blimey, I've just grasped the pillar wicking gumph and now I feel like I know nothing again LOL.Anjie,x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luci Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 There are special wicks you can buy for gel, but I haven't used any yet.If your wicks are coated with wax, place them on a paper towel in a pan in a warm oven. The wax will melt off of them. Otherwise, when you pour your gel it will melt the wax and make your candle cloudy. I have also just put my wicks in a little pot on the stove top and warmed them enough to get the wax off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnjieBurdett Posted April 28, 2007 Author Share Posted April 28, 2007 Thanks you, I have been told that tip before and it works very well, I haven't had any cloudy gels since *lol*. Which wicks do/can I use then? Which do you use?Anjie,x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 My experience zincs works best for me - I know some gellers use LX - but they were way too flimsy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnjieBurdett Posted April 28, 2007 Author Share Posted April 28, 2007 Aren't zincs ummmm 'bad' LOL for want of a better word. Do they not pollute the air when they are burnt? Anjie,x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 should it go right to the edges like a normal container candle would?The answer to this question is NO. Gel wax it a different beast. You can not decide on the wicking till you have burned to the bottom. The flame will draw the gel to it. You want a much smaller melt pool that a regular candle. You want when the candle is done a thin layer of gel left on the container 1/8 to 1/4 is ideal. But if it is a little thinner or thicker that is okay.Something we all seem to forget or don't think about is a gel melt pool is over 250 degrees fahrenheit. That is hot, if your melt pool is that hot so will be the container if the melt pool reaches it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Aren't zincs ummmm 'bad' LOL for want of a better word. Do they not pollute the air when they are burnt? Anjie,x.No zinc is not bad lead is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnjieBurdett Posted April 28, 2007 Author Share Posted April 28, 2007 Ah right, ok, thanks for those answers Vicky. Especially the melt pool one, makes soo much sense now. I will carry on burning with the wick I have in them now and see what happens.Thanks again Vicky - you're a top bird! Anjie,x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DhimitC Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Hi Guys,Can I make my own ZINC CORE WICKS or anything close that I can use in GEL CANDLES ?I'm based in Kenya & there's no place where I can buy ZINC CORE WICKS.Dhimit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky_CO Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 No you really can't. I will answer on you other post some information and gel and wicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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