SatinDucky Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Normally I love summer... cept when it comes to my pillars. I'm beginning to think I'll have to scrap the 4625 all together or save it for winter candles. All of them I've made since it got hot have developed the dang fingernails! Even the plain white unscented ones for the dried flowers. From pea sized in the white ones, to half dollar sized in the dark red of the vanilla, it's hitting them all. :embarasseAt least I've determined it's not from damp heat, since we've been in a nasty drought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashncandles Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Well if it makes you feel any better, I think it's looks kinda cool on the solid colored pillar. :smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grama Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 No - I'am with Satin Ducky - I DON'T LIKE THEM - I use the same wax and I have been having that same problem. It hadn't been happening until just about 2 months ago. You really think it is from the heat? I remade one batch 4 times and finally gave up - just picked the best. I thought maybe I had gotten a bad batch of wax, even thinking about changing pillar wax, though don't know what I would use. Now I am afraid to make pillars, because sometimes it takes a couple of days for it to show up. Let me know if you come up with a solution. I won't be around for a couple days. Me and DH are leaving in AM for a "mini vacation" he had couple days off so we are making the best of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 I can only assume that it's the heat/humidity of summer or something along those lines. This is reoccurring. Now last year, I was taking time off from candles period, so nothing to go by. The summer before, the exact same thing. Early spring, late fall and winter.... no fingernailing. It can take any where from a couple days to a couple weeks to show up after they're made.Mind you, I don't completely hate the look. It's rather interesting sometimes, I just don't want to HAVE to have it in all my pillars I've seen posts on different additives helping some, so that is next on the agenda now that the outbreak is here again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I have been hearing about fingernailing for years. I had a speck of it one time....One time....I don't understand why so many people have it except that it has to be wax that I haven't used. What a mystery this is. My waxes haven't done that. That is why I miss Candlewic's waxes. I finally had it all figured out until I moved across the world (smile).....but still....your candles look great. Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspencreek Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Wow, that is crazy that your pillars do that. Mine have never done that but I am not in a high humidty state. We are very dry here and I wonder if that has something to do with your finger nails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsaycb Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Funny, I had that years ago & never knew it was really the heat & the type of wax. Ugly as sin in brown candles. Or wait, maybe that was just the BROWN that was ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Kitty Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 It's a sad day when you can judge when a season comes by whether or not there's fingernailing in your candles. :embarasse We'll never really find out what causes fingernailing, but I know from my experience it has something to do with humidity and I'm actually beginning to believe we help it along by how hot we pour our wax. Has anyone ever found fingernailing in rustics? Or marbles for that matter? I haven't and I've poured in extreme temperatures.I'm actually really starting to like rustics more than I thought, if I can figure out a way to just get the jump lines for texture then I'm going to start doing that and not worry about the sleek candles BECAUSE of fingernailing and other issues (pin holes, warming the molds, heat, heat and more heat). I've learned to embrace my jump lines, what can I say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everito Bandito Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 The only time I've ever had that happen was with the 4625, I'm glad I only bought 10 lbs. to play with. I won't be buying any more. It really sux when you make a nice looking candle and then a few days later you look at it and it's got the fingernails.Once before when the subject of fingernailing came up, someone suggested heating the wax to over 200 and letting it cook for about 30 minutes before doing anything else with it. I never tried that. I just blended my 4625 (at about 10%) in with some of candlewic's CBL 141 and that particular batch of CBL 141 was doing the brainy thing, so the blend cured both the fingernailing and the brainy thing..lol.I had much more of the 141 hence the 10% cut of 4625. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 16, 2007 Author Share Posted June 16, 2007 Once before when the subject of fingernailing came up, someone suggested heating the wax to over 200 and letting it cook for about 30 minutes before doing anything else with it.Yup, I've heard that before. It used to be suggested alot. Doesn't work :embarasse I tried that the summer before last many times. I even tried going up to about 230 for about 45 minutes and all the ranges in between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 16, 2007 Author Share Posted June 16, 2007 Kitty, I don't think I've ever gotten classic fingernailing in rustics, but I do seem to get pockets just under the surface where the layers are thin. The yellow orange pyramid from a couple weeks ago has a ring around it of those. I'll try to get a pic of it taken in the next couple days and add it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyberry Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I agree that it seems to be from a heat/umidity combo. I pour in in extreme heat sometimes and have trouble sometimes. I actually had it happen to a batch of peanut butter cookie 16oz jars last summer and LIKED fr that jar( crazy huh) of course i havent been able to get it to do it again for the same scent/jar just in the stuff I DONT want it in:rolleyes2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryk Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 The >200F for a time didn't work for me either - I tried EVERYTHING - additives where the only thing that helped. I'm sure Satin remembers those threads!Donita, that is REALLY strange that you mentioned what you did, I've been using the candlewic waxes lately (not that I've been pouring tons of pillars), and I have NOT come across that fingernailing issue. I'd forgotten all about it actually. I'll have to try it and see if I can make them show up again in this heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breanna Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I use 4625 all the time and the ONLY time I got fingernailing was when I bought a certain fo from Ebay that caused it,,,since I stopped using this FO it has stopped the fingernailing. I dont believe it has anything to do with the heat at all,,,I believe its certain types of Fos,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 I use 4625 all the time and the ONLY time I got fingernailing was when I bought a certain fo from Ebay that caused it,,,since I stopped using this FO it has stopped the fingernailing. I dont believe it has anything to do with the heat at all,,,I believe its certain types of Fos,,,The heat/humidity can be quite a bit higher here in the south, so that may be why you don't have the problem. I dunno. I don't use FO's from ebay. The majority of mine are Peaks and Bitter Creek. And I use the same FO, even the same bottles from winter into summer, yet the ones from other seasons are clear...Yup, Henry, I remember all too well. I've yet to find anything that works here. I plan on experimenting with additives throughout this month. *crosses fingers* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grama Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Well - if the additives help please post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbuddy Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I like the "fingernails" in the green one!Irena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Kitty Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Maybe it's the aliens again, Ducky? Where's Top when you need him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share Posted June 18, 2007 Maybe it's the aliens again, Ducky? Where's Top when you need him!I thought I locked the pet door! I'm afraid even Top can't help on this one. He was in on the last go around that Henry referred to I believe. We need some one with a hermatically sealed, environment controlled room, that can simulate atmospheric conditions to do some testing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Kitty Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I've got tons of time on my hands and a thermometer in the garage where my workshop is. I'll pour some sleek candles and notate the temp, time, dew point, humidity and barometric pressure. If I get fingernails, then we can at least go off what I come up with.Hey, it's worth a shot, right? Anything to try to put these little PITA's in their place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 I've got tons of time on my hands and a thermometer in the garage where my workshop is. I'll pour some sleek candles and notate the temp, time, dew point, humidity and barometric pressure. If I get fingernails, then we can at least go off what I come up with.Hey, it's worth a shot, right? Anything to try to put these little PITA's in their place!Ahhh, great minds think alike :highfive: I started doing this yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realmarcha Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Just a suggestion, but have you tried white beeswax as an additive? Around 3% - 5%? When I was using the 6228 wax and got fingernailing, I would add the beeswax, and POOF! gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryk Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 BW rocks. Thanks - I'll have to remember this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 I know you don't want to hear this but I actually like how the "finger nailing" looks lolI think its neat looking!! I am just learning to make pillars but I also live in the south where the temps and humidity SUCK from here through September. I guess I can make the neat looking candles like this without trying. Most people don't know they aren't supposed to be there so I will tell them its a trade secret how I made that design Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbuddy Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Trade secret! I love it!Irena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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