PurpleHippie Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I made some votives in a mold and after inserting the wicks I realize that the tabs on the bottom are pretty obvious. I've pushed them in as far as I can. Is there some trick to making them lay flatter or not stand out so much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wick'n'Wax Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 getting them to even stick to the bottom is a nightmare for me. I've got loads unwicked at the mo.Shop bought ones, have a warning sticker covering the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britishgirl Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 could you not save a little wax, when you have inserted the wick, re heat wax and possibly wipe the bottom of votive will melted wax?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHippie Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 I've tried that but some how I always manage to get some of the melted wax to overlap onto the top(visible sides)of the votive.:undecided Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candles by Lisa Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I've pretty much given up the ghost and just push the wick in as far as it goes so the votive stands level. Nobody has complained so far - but that's not surprising when you go and have a look at the bottom of a votive you can buy in the shop (it is like the surface of the moon - full of craters and bumps) we are definately too hard on ourselves.Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerinarkansas Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I hate to make votives but I use wick pins which causes the bottom to kind of be concave a slight bit. After the wicks in there just slap your warning label on and hope it sticks. Mine try to come off sometimes and I have to slap them back on. HTH Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlessjade Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Have you ever tried using wicks without tabs? If you wait for the votives to cool a little, you can just poke the piece of wick right in. To me it's easier than trying to get the tab to stick and be level and everything. I wait until the votive gets a slight skin on the top, because it means the bottom has partially solidified and the skin on top helps keep the wick centered, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grannyscandles Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Is a wick with out a tab safe?I wick mine like you do but with a tab on the wick. The tab in concealed inside the candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunkie68 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I use molds with wick pins and I use tabbed wicks. When I'm ready to put the wicks in, I put them in with the tab still sticking out. I heat the bottom of the wick over a flame and use a pencil eraser to push the tab all the way in. It works great for me, and the tab gets just warm enough to melt a little wax on the bottom of the votive and seal itself to the candle. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwinMom Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 When I make votives, I put the wick in and then level off the bottom on a pan with tinfoil and it usually covers up the tab and doesnt get on the sides of the candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlesprite7 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I gave up on that long ago. Noone notices except us anyway. As long as the bottom is level then you dont need to conceal the tab.A votive without a tab is not safe, the wick will fall right over as the votive liquifies, the tab also keeps the flame from reaching the bottom of the glass and starting a fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 A votive without a tab is not safe, the wick will fall right over as the votive liquifies, the tab also keeps the flame from reaching the bottom of the glass and starting a fire.Ditto...without the neck of the tab, the wick will lean against the glass - you'll could get either a broken holder, a fire or both. The wick tab does not need to be hidden IMO.when you insert your wick, hit the tab with a heat gun then push it in firmly - the hot tab will adhere to the wax. Now, the tab may be a little warm so watch your thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlessjade Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 A votive without a tab is not safe, the wick will fall right over as the votive liquifies, the tab also keeps the flame from reaching the bottom of the glass and starting a fire.Oh, thank you! :embarasse The instructions from one of the supply websites said that it was cheaper and easier to wick them without tabs. I haven't had any problems yet with the wicks falling over, but I usually don't burn votives very far down. I'll go back to using tabbed wicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeJae Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I put my wick in, push the tab in as far as you can of course. Then I use a griddle to just slightly heat the bottom, as soon as it starts to get tacky vs. liquidy (which happens very fast) I put the label on the it. It seems to adhere to the tacky wax. Kind of like glue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlesprite7 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Oh, thank you! :embarasse The instructions from one of the supply websites said that it was cheaper and easier to wick them without tabs. I haven't had any problems yet with the wicks falling over, but I usually don't burn votives very far down. I'll go back to using tabbed wicks.No problem, cant always rely on what those supply websites say, unfortunately...A lot of people burn their votives all the way to the bottom, of course we dont advise that but people do it anyway. The tab keeps the wick straight, and also keeps the flame from going all the way to the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane42 Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 We used to heat the wick tabs, then push them in with the eraser on a pencil. That got to be too time-consuming when we really started cranking them out!Luckily, we found out the the LX wicks we use from Bittercreek have a higher neck on the tab...it is a tighter fit and we were able to eliminate heating the wick tabs to get them to stay.As far as hiding the tabs...we never even thought about that. We just slap the warning label over it and they are "good to go"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wick'n'Wax Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 right, time to 'fess up and tell you how I've been fixing the bottom of my tabs in for now.I've got a bottle opener, the ones thats triangular on the end. I heat that up over the gas ring, pop it on the end of the votive till it melts slightly, slide the wick in and push :embarasse still, its sticking them lol, not ideal, but hey, its not an ideal world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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