Double Boiler vs Presto Pot. Pros & Cons

[grogo67]

Hi all. Thanks for your suggestions on suppliers. I almost have my initial order complete. One last thing I am debating is whether to use a double boiler with a pouring pot or using a direct-heat method such as the Presto Pot. I would also use a pouring pot with that one too. I am wondering what the major pros & cons are to each method. Is there a general concensus among you veterans on which one is better or does it come down to personal preference?

[valerie6]

Hi when I switched from a double brolier to a presto pot w/spigot it was AMAZING the wax melted so much faster, holds more wax in general in speed up the process!!

Valerie

[candlesprite7]

Definitely go Presto. It'll cut your downtime in half waiting for the wax to melt. I have 4...one for each wax.

[judyvega]

Presto for sure. Double boiler method takes FOREVER.

[Starr]

Presto!!!

It's so easy and wonderful to use.

If you're not overly handy, shop eBay, I managed to get mine "used" (it just needed a cleaning) and it's worked wonderfully for less then what the pot and tools to modify it would cost.

(It's that large drill bit that can get costly.)

[Steph in tx]

Oh you really want to get the Presto Pot!! I only use the double broiler to heat up the wax I need for repours due to the wax I use. I could never just use just the double boiler anymore!!

[grama]

Presto Pot for sure and with spigot. I only use double boiler for repours like Steph in Texas. I always make sure I have wax left over from a pouring and pour it in tarts. I only heat up the tarts I will need for the repour and then bag the rest to sell.

[grogo67]

That's what I thought. I'm definitely going with the Presto Pot now. I think I may already have the drill bit so my only tool expense would be the tap. Thank you all for your input!

[Georgia]

There are no pros to the double boiler!

[JAVAEBOY]

I started out using a scientific hotplate that I still use when I try to keep something hot before pouring...

More of an add-on question here. I have been using a Presto pot for awhile now.

When you guys talk about a spigot, what did you do or buy to make this change? That is the one thing I don't like about the Presto Pot. What I have been doing is melting in the Presto Pot and pouring my gel into a 1000ml (1 liter) Pyrex beaker (similar, but large than the one in the picture. I also have some smaller ones that I use for other pouring needs. The nice thing about this, is it lets me see my colors better, but it really is a PITA. Any help would be appreciated on adapting a spigot...... SteveG

[Scented North]

I use pyrex measuring cups as pour pots and for fragrance measuring. They warm nicely in between pours and last until you drop them on a cement floor

[Camay]

JAVAEBOY, here is a tutorial for adding a spigot (from the Peak website):

http://www.candletech.com/general-information/do-it-yourself-wax-melter/

[JAVAEBOY]

Thank you for the tutorial. I think I have almost all those things laying around the house. I'll have to borrow the tap from my father, but it's good to have a mechanical Father. This should keep my room everything much cleaner. Not to mention all the drips I have down my Pesto Pot trying to pout the gal into my Pyrex ware. SteveG

[NewOrleansLady]

Just in case you decide you don't want to tackle putting in the spigot yourself....taylored concepts sells them ready to go with spigot.

[Georgia]

and make sure you think about which side you want your spigot on! I had to rearrange my work space because a friend put one spigot under the handle and one between the handles....plugs wouldn't reach the outlets!

[Stella1952]

They warm nicely in between pours and last until you drop them on a cement floor

:laugh2:

I DO love my 2# aluminum pour pots with handles! They stay warm on an old electric frying pan and bounce real well when they hit the floor. The dents just add character!! :laugh2:

for fragrance measuring

You are WEIGHING the FO instead of measuring, right?

[Caroline Rapagnola]

Any thoughts on the presto pot versus the electric wax smelters that sometimes comes with the candle making kit?

[TallTayl]

17 minutes ago, Caroline Rapagnola said:

Any thoughts on the presto pot versus the electric wax smelters that sometimes comes with the candle making kit?

Depends on how many does you wish to make in a session.  Prestos come in at least two sizes and are very responsive for fast heating of larger quantities of wax. The biggest presto size allows me to make 30 8-oz tins (6.5 oz of wax per tin) in a single melt session, taking at most 30 minutes start to finish.