Is there another way?

[vberkesch]

Is there another way to heat up your candle jars besides using the oven??

My oven & my candle making room are not in the same room. I'm sick of going back and forth. Does anyone do anything differently to keep jars warm until they are filled up with wax??

Thanks for the replies, Vanessa

[Blest2BAmerican]

The only thing I can think of is a heating lamp. At least that's what I would do.

[Stella1952]

Some folks use a heat gun to heat the cotainer right before pouring. Those roaster ovens are nice to keep the jars warm right in your pouring area - no running back and forth to the kitchen. Or you could heat a bunch and store them in a styrofoam cooler until ready to pour... should stay warm for a while... HTH:)

[topofmurrayhill]

Get a convection oven for your candle room -- preferably one with a thermostat knob that you can set to any temperature (the ones with electronic controls usually start at 170 like a regular oven). A roaster oven (the sort with a lid on top) also works if you don't need too much space.

[islandgirl]

Heat Gun...

Shoot that baby in the jars for a few seconds and it will warm them right up..

[xxxtennillexxx]

I use a heat gun as well. Until I started making candles I had never used one, now I'm addicted to it!

[chuck_35550]

I have a toaster oven on the work bench that holds about 12 jars at a time. I just keep adding jars to the oven as warmed ones are used. It keeps them nice and toasty and I don't pull and wick them until I'm ready to pour. I got it at Walmart on close out for about $20.00. HTH.

Steve

[nursenancy]

I second the roaster oven.

[grama]

Until you get a heat gun or oven, what about your blow dryer? I don't have to heat mine unless they are very cold and then I use my heat gun, just a quick blast is all it takes!

Edited January 23, 2010 by grama

[vberkesch]

Thanks all for your ideas!!

From your ideas I came up with this. I am going to try using my portable space heater - you know those small units, only about 1 foot X 1 foot. I will set it in the room and aim it at the containers. I could do a good 12 containers at a time with this!! Then I can keep this in the room just to keep the room somewhat warmer and maybe this will help with continued adhesion through the following 24 hours.

What do you all think? Vanessa

[NewOrleansLady]

I also use a heat gun but I was thinking a heating pad should work okay...you could actually turn the jars upside down so the inside would stay warm.

[vberkesch]

Hmmmm...Interesting idea, NewOrleansLady!

[candlebug]

I use a presto griddle, great for heating jars, melting wax for repours and I use it to melt dye flakes before I pour wax in the pouring pot. Works great and not that expensive.

[Lightkeeper]

I used to use a toaster oven in my work shop which works great, but a hassle to always rotate jars in and out. Recently, I found the Oster Stainless Steel warming plate which is completely flat, very light weight and made to hold to 13x9 pans, so I can hold 24 jars at one time on it.

THe only downfall is it doesn't have a temp control just one temp which is a little warmer than I would like, but I am moving them on and off fairly quickly, so doesn't seem to be a problem so far. I think it is a big time saver for me not having to squeeze them in and out of the oven.

Even though it doesn't heat the jars all over, like the oven, the heat does disperse through the glass, and it has not been an issue at all. So far I have been thrilled with my new find!