Waste not want not

[Stella1952]

"...As I mentioned, the ASTM F2417 standard requires that candles come to the end of their useful life without any secondary ignition, excessive flame height or cracking of the container (if there is one). It does not specify how that is to be achieved nor does it discuss wick tab height."

While what the NCA considers "the end of a candle's useful life" is not defined in the ASTM standard (probably because it varies by candle type - ie. container, pillar, votive, tealight, taper), since they recommend that customers extinguish a container candle at 1/2", I think logic could easily lead one to the conclusion that somewhere around 1/2" remaining in a CONTAINER candle is what is considered the "end of a candle's useful life." Edited March 12, 2012 by Stella1952

[HorseScentS]

While what the NCA considers "the end of a candle's useful life" is not defined (probably because it varies by candle type), since they recommend that customers extinguish a container candle at 1/2", I think logic could easily lead one to the conclusion that somewhere around 1/2" remaining in a CONTAINER candle is what the NCA considers the "end of a candle's useful life."

You are 100% WRONG, Stella. The end of a candle's useful life is when it stops burning safely, and you can design a candle that burns all the way down to the bottom and consumes all the wax safely. ALL Febreeze candles and Glade candles do that! The NCA already explained the reason they say 1/2" to CUSTOMERS, but they DO NOT SAY IT TO CHANDLERS, is because they are trying to provide CUSTOMERS with an extra margin of safety because the CUSTOMERS have NO WAY of knowing if the wick is attached to the jar with high temp silicone that can take the heat of the last half inch of burn, or if the candle is overwicked and will get too hot during the last half inch of the burn, or if the glass has passed the thermal shock tests, or if the candle has a safe FO load. The chandler KNOWS all that info about their own candles!!! The NCA was clear that the advise about the last 1/2" of wax is for CONSUMERS, NOT CHANDLERS: "The public portion of the website is written for consumers, in the hopes of providing an extra margin of safety."

Edited March 13, 2012 by HorsescentS

[Stella1952]

You can argue until the cows come home, Horsescents. You can rudely write "100% wrong" in your argumentative opinions as many times as you like. We ALL have opinions and interpretations. When mine differ, I try to err on the side of customer safety and protection of chandlers from product liability. In the link YOU posted in a different thread, the author pointed out that it's very important for people to pay strict attention to the standards because even though they are voluntary, in a court of law, those standards WILL BE BROUGHT UP as if they were mandatory.

You are 100% WRONG, Stella. The end of a candle's useful life is when it stops burning safely, and you can design a candle that burns all the way down to the bottom and consumes all the wax safely.

You can do whatever you wish. It is near impossible to do what you are advocating, not in a lab setting, but in real life and common practice for every container candle, for every wax type and for every chandler. You can continue to argue but what you advocate (ie. designing container candles for a 100% burn) is irresponsible, IMHO.

[HorseScentS]

In the link YOU posted in a different thread, the author pointed out that it's very important for people to pay strict attention to the standards because even though they are voluntary, in a court of law, those standards WILL BE BROUGHT UP as if they were mandatory.

And those standards, to which you refer, do NOT say one single solitary thing about chandlers having to use a certain wick assembly height, do they?!?!!! NO!!!!

You err on the side of paranoia, which impairs your objectivity. But, that's your problem, not ours.

You can continue to argue but what you advocate (ie. designing container candles for a 100% burn) is irresponsible, IMHO.

Wrong again, Stella! ALL Febreeze candles and ALL Glade candles burn 100% of the wax. AND, I have met a few candle makers, who have been making candles successfully for years that burn all the way down to the glass, because they use the 3.8 mm wick assemblies. The fact that it freaks you out does not make it impossible.