Test Burn, anyone up to analyzing it?

[smellylittlemonkeys]

So I started my test burn on my first candle that I poured. I poured it on Saturday around 2:30pm and started the test burn at almost 1pm today. So that is how long it cured.

I have been taking pictures of it as it has burned and they are here: http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z225/ambernricketts/Candles/

I have titles and descriptions that should give enough information such as wax, FO, wick brand and size.

Would someone be willing to look at them and tell me thier opinion. I am wondering if it is burning too fast?

[tootie04]

Nice Pics...you should get FMP after 3hrs or so...cant remember how wide your jar is....and dont go for FMP on your first burn either. I am sure Stella will be along to help ya out.

My gut says wicks are too big. may have to go down a size or two.

tootie

[smellylittlemonkeys]

Nice Pics...you should get FMP after 3hrs or so...cant remember how wide your jar is....and dont go for FMP on your first burn either. I am sure Stella will be along to help ya out.

My gut says wicks are too big. may have to go down a size or two.

tootie

Forgot that info, the diameter is 4". You said not to go for full melt pool on first burn, so should I snuff it out?? Or do the complete burn for the four hours?

[flightoffancy]

What tootie is trying to say is that you're not looking for a full melt pool on your first, or even 2nd burn.

I personally wick my candles so that the 3rd burn will play catch up. On my 1st and 2nd burns I have a small amount of residue left on the sides of the jars but, on the 3rd burn everything catches up nicely and I end up with a clean container in the end. I've found that if I get a full melt pool on that 1st burn then my containers get too hot for my comfort level once it gets further down into the jar.

[smellylittlemonkeys]

What tootie is trying to say is that you're not looking for a full melt pool on your first, or even 2nd burn.

I personally wick my candles so that the 3rd burn will play catch up. On my 1st and 2nd burns I have a small amount of residue left on the sides of the jars but, on the 3rd burn everything catches up nicely and I end up with a clean container in the end.

Thanks! To you does it look like it is burning to fast?

[flightoffancy]

Thanks! To you does it look like it is burning to fast?

How long had it been burning in the pic of you measuring the depth of the melt pool?

ETA: Just clicked on the pic and see that it was at 2 hours. IMO that is definitely burning way too hot. I'd try going down 1, or even 2, wick sizes.

[smellylittlemonkeys]

How long had it been burning in the pic of you measuring the depth of the melt pool?

ETA: Just clicked on the pic and see that it was at 2 hours. IMO that is definitely burning way too hot. I'd try going down 1, or even 2, wick sizes.

*faint*

I was afraid of that. Since I am new and all of that, I made the mistake of just ordering one size for my jar. I asked LS what size to use and that is what they told me so I bought 200 of them, goodness gracious! Since I did that I read about the testing and going up and down. Now what do I do with 200 wrong sized wicks?

[flightoffancy]

Now what do I do with 200 wrong sized wicks?

Live and learn?

If you like the burn of the wicks you are using except for the size issue .... I'd order a wick sample pack .... that way you'll have several sizes to test. Chances are you'll have to wick up or down on some fragrances anyhow so it's always a good idea to have several different sizes on hand when you're testing.

[smellylittlemonkeys]

Live and learn?

If you like the burn of the wicks you are using except for the size issue .... I'd order a wick sample pack .... that way you'll have several sizes to test. Chances are you'll have to wick up or down on some fragrances anyhow so it's always a good idea to have several different sizes on hand when you're testing.

I'm living and def. learning...lol It seems to be burning good, just too hot I guess. I will take a picture when it gets to the full 4 hours of the burn.

So how many different sizes of wicks does everyone use in the same type of jar (depending on FO)?

[tootie04]

Buy you some test packs of wicks dont just use 1 kind when testing. I would try ECO, CD, maybe LX and RRD or HTP. That way you can have a varity to test.

Yes your candle is burning too fast. You want almost a FMP but not quite....just a little hang up on the sides.

I dont do that size jar or use your wax so I cant help ya with what wick to try next....other than going down on the ECO's a few sizes. To me double wicking is hard and I avoid it like the plague!!

The wicks you have you could keep in case you decide to do a smaller jar...single wicked OR sell em in the classified section on the fourm here.

tootie

[SpaceGirl]

Agree with what everyone else said... also I might put the wicks a tad closer together -- they were right at the border for my comfort level on proximity to the edges of the container.

If it makes you feel any better -- I think that most new chandlers overwick because we're looking for that FMP in burn #1 -- you think that's what's supposed to happen. You're going through a normal learning process. It really is amazing once you burn a candle all the way through what you end up changing in terms of your wicking.

[smellylittlemonkeys]

Buy you some test packs of wicks dont just use 1 kind when testing. I would try ECO, CD, maybe LX and RRD or HTP. That way you can have a varity to test.

Yes your candle is burning too fast. You want almost a FMP but not quite....just a little hang up on the sides.

I dont do that size jar or use your wax so I cant help ya with what wick to try next....other than going down on the ECO's a few sizes. To me double wicking is hard and I avoid it like the plague!!

The wicks you have you could keep in case you decide to do a smaller jar...single wicked OR sell em in the classified section on the fourm here.

tootie

Thanks tootie, I thought it looked like it may be burning too fast. After I snuffed it out and everything hardened back it had burned away just a tad over 1/4 inch of wax in a 4 hour time, is that too much?? I wonder if I went with double wicking using a ECO 6 would work, I actually have some of those!

Agree with what everyone else said... also I might put the wicks a tad closer together -- they were right at the border for my comfort level on proximity to the edges of the container.

If it makes you feel any better -- I think that most new chandlers overwick because we're looking for that FMP in burn #1 -- you think that's what's supposed to happen. You're going through a normal learning process. It really is amazing once you burn a candle all the way through what you end up changing in terms of your wicking.

I was using the EZ Wick Setter to do them, I set them to the second hole closest to the edge, it looked like going in one more was too much. As far as overwicking, I was not specifically trying to do that, I was just using the suggestion of LS. But like you said it is a learning experience.

[tootie04]

Try the ECO 6 and see how it goes.

tootie