cactusladycandles Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Okay, this is a new one for all of you. I have a potential customer that wants pillar candles that smoke a lot. He says the smoke from the burning candle does something he likes on paints when he puts them on canvas. I never thought I'd get a request for a smoking candle. We have all strived to make a candle that does not smoke, or not too much, anyway. So, what do I put in the candle to make it smoke like a smoke stack. Bigger wick, more scent. He said a lady in Chicago dipped the wick in something to make it smoke. Any ideas ladies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bella Rose Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Interesting!! i'd suggest to do the opposite of everything you do now.. but I wouldn't take my advice just yet, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SliverOfWax Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I would simply tell him to take his business elsewhere.It's not written anywhere that we have to accommodate all nutjobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Not sure why you are even considering doing this. I have to agree with SOW on this. Could be a safety issue to dip the wick in something that makes smoke.Why does he not go back to the other candlemaker to get his 'smoking' candle?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Overwick the hell out of it, give them one of those little handheld fans to make a breeze and get a waiver of liability signed. Cheers,Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgirl Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Tell him just to buy a fire pit and set that up in his house. That should give him enough smoke . Nutjob is right. Walk away. :tiptoe: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinPA Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I think I understand what he's trying to do. He lets smoke get in wet paint so it'll have streaks in it. I make sure my candles don't smoke and don't have any suggestions other then severely over wick one. If it was me though, I wouldn't touch that project with a ten foot wick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplybeelightful Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I think I understand what he's trying to do. He lets smoke get in wet paint so it'll have streaks in it. I make sure my candles don't smoke and don't have any suggestions other then severely over wick one. If it was me though, I wouldn't touch that project with a ten foot wick Ditto, I have done this and the effect is really nice. However, what I did was to hold a butter knife in the flame of a candle and let the resulting smoke drift onto the paint project. I would tell the customer to buy cheap Walmart candles and they will most likely get the effect wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deb426 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Tell him to light a cigarette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 If you wanted to get really crazy you could research making a tallow candle- I read somewhere before way back in the day before "normal" waxes they made them of I think beef fat....real smokey and stinky!I wouldn't go there but it sounds like it would work- beef fat....yuck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IwantItgreen Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 beef fat....yuck!It's...yummy...in soap!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 It's...yummy...in soap!! seriously?? I know nothing about soaping- that is very interesting...and what is the purpose for beef fat in a bar of soap? does it help with really dry cracked skin.....may have to buy some from you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IwantItgreen Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Beef tallow is soap is one of the very best soaping oils, although it is out of favor with most because it is animal based. Therefore most will substitute the tallow for Palm. Tallow not only provides a hard, conditioning bar, but also gives a nice creamy lather. Of course tallow is only part of most soap recipes. Sorry OP for the high-jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemylabs Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 That's Crazy! ...if you want smoke...burn incense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmism Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 (edited) Its not just ANY smoke.....Its carbon black that is the key which is virtually impossible to get from any other source than an open flame. Smoke from a cig, or incense or any other "smokey" item is not the same as that pure carbon black you get from a "smokey candle".You could try increasing the amount mineral oil in a paraffin wax votive, a non-curling wick that doesnt self trim well (that mushrooms) will increase the likely hood of smoking also.optionally you might recommend he pickup a sight smoker. http://www.sbsdistributing.com/6.html Edited January 27, 2011 by schmism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratant Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Interesting...and of course I had to google painting with smoke to see what it's about. Called fumage...quite interesting and a practice that goes back a LONG time. I'd never heard of it...but then I'm not an artist.I had heard of a sight smoker...as my H was a sniper at one time for a swat team...but had never seen one, so thanks for those links schmism. A pillar or taper candle seems to be the preferred method, from what I read, and probably cheaper lol.Anyway...ya learn something new on this site all the time. Good luck cactus lady with whatever you do on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I also agree with SOW, send him to Walmart. I can just see me explaining to my insurance company......"but, but he wanted it overwicked I never thought it would start a fire" Yep they'll believe me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricofAZ Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) I have had no problem at all getting soot and smoke from the Yaley wicks. I just finished re-wicking some candles to get rid of the Yaley's (in paraffin).Also, for some reason, the LX's smoked a lot in paraffin pillars. You could see the trail of black going up from the top of the flame. Edited January 29, 2011 by EricofAZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 I have had no problem at all getting soot and smoke from the Yaley wicks. I just finished re-wicking some candles to get rid of the Yaley's (in paraffin).Also, for some reason, the LX's smoked a lot in paraffin pillars. You could see the trail of black going up from the top of the flame.[/quote]Shoot.....I use LX wicks for most every type of candles I pour except votives. They work great in my palm pillars and my parasoy container candles so they have become my preferred wick. And I have been thinking about trying the rustic pillars using the paraffin pillar wax that several people here use and recommend from Candlewic. I bought a 10 lb. slab....and of course was going to use LX. I have just about every type of wick sold so I guess I will start with another type. I use only pretabbed wicks since I use pillar wick pins. I'm not interested in using spooled wicking...I want to do it the easy way. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Heck...that didn't "quote" right for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricofAZ Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 You don't need to go changing your wick based on my post here or anyone else. As you know, there are a lot of variables. Maybe you are using a different wax (palm for example, mine was paraffin) and maybe a different blend, and maybe a different size of LX wick. If it works and seems to be burning right and you are happy with the soot/mushroom/undesirables then stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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