FragileXmom Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I made TWO huge mistakes yesterday. I turned my presto up too high AND then left it on when I left the house!! The battery in my car died and I didn't get home until 5 hours later. (yet another story) The wax temp was up to 220 degrees.It's 4794 votive wax. Is it ruined? Can I just make some tarts with it? UGH! HELP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 If you didn't scent it and burn off all the scent, it should be fine. I would just let it harden back up, then remelt at the correct temp, make a few votives (or whatever you were going to do with it) and scent and color as usual, and then test them.. I'll bet they will be fine. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breanna Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 OMG I am glad you did not have a fire!!!! What does you wax look like?? Smell like??? Asking because you may have been lucky and it isnt ruined,,I keep my presto pot on all day but not @ that temp. Whooppsss Jcandleattic answered .....LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FragileXmom Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 The wax looks fine, it wasn't scented or colored yet. I just remelted it and it looks normal. Thanks for your help. I'll do a few test votives. You're right! I'm SO lucky I didn't have a fre, have learned my lesson for sure! Whew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceCarvesWax Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 You should be ok on the wax, if it were that temp for a few days it might break down some. Wax should not become flamable until you hit close to 400F so you were ok on that point also (depending on the wax). I have had 145mp straight wax up to 300F making sand candles and didnt have a problem. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 My wax has often gone up to that temp when I'm melting it, just not for that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 The only bad thing that happens to straight paraffin at that temperature is that the wax oxidizes and will gradually discolor. That actually happens whenever you melt it, but the rate increases with temperature. I don't know about additives, but there might be a few that would break down and stearic definitely oxidizes.It takes a while for wax oxidation to become visible but I've managed it by keeping the wax at 190 for multiple sessions. It was still perfectly usable, but there was a slight color shift that you could see. Probably would no longer have been ideal wax for a white candle.For short periods, 220 will do no harm and can be helpful. That's the perfect temperature to melt certain additives like polyethylene and Fischer-Tropsch. It will also dry out your wax if you get water in it (one of those hazards of hurricane crafting, for instance). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alohagirl Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 You're so lucky you turned the dial only to 220. A few days ago I absentmindedly turned mine up to the highest setting, 400. Thankfully, it was only a few seconds before I realized what I had done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FragileXmom Posted October 15, 2005 Author Share Posted October 15, 2005 Thanks so much everyone, I feel much better and SO much more informed! I learn so much from this board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 Let me just add, if you ever need to get it up to that temperature on purpose, for instance to drive off water or melt additives, you want to stir it gently so you don't create vortices and dissolve extra air into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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