e911 Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 So... Here is my first feeble attempt at making tarts, and already ive found a few problems. First, I need a smaller pour pot. I ordered a 4lb one on my first order and its too big:embarasse. I cant get the thermometer down into the wax. Second, I need to not dribble so much when pouring.However, between the peppermint and the fraiser fir, I'm not sure which one is more powerful ha! It's an interesting smelling time right now in my apartment.So here are two pictures I took of my first attempt. The white ones are the peppermint with no dye. The green's are the fraisers, but I think I got too much dye in them as they are REALLY dark :embarasse I'd welcome feedback if you see anything wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Well....I don't know what you mean by feeble attempt...they look fantastic to me!!! And the dribbling....heck fire, I've been making candles for 12 years and I STILL dribble...way too much I might add, but that is the nature of the beast. I LOVE peppermint and pine type smelling scents....you took such a great close-up picture that I can just about smell them!! The colors look great to me...all of my bayberry, evergreen scents are always a dark green and that is from the recipe that the supplier had. Sooooo.....it all looks perfect to me...take a bow..ya did great!!!!:highfive: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Well....I don't know what you mean by feeble attempt...they look fantastic to me!!! And the dribbling....heck fire, I've been making candles for 12 years and I STILL dribble...way too much I might add, but that is the nature of the beast. I LOVE peppermint and pine type smelling scents....you took such a great close-up picture that I can just about smell them!! The colors look great to me...all of my bayberry, evergreen scents are always a dark green and that is from the recipe that the supplier had. Sooooo.....it all looks perfect to me...take a bow..ya did great!!!!:highfive:Thanks! I started off small, with just 8oz of wax. I'm doing two batches with each scent. One in the Ecosoya and one in the 4630 to see which I like better (really pulling for the soy). So each of my scents are eyeball poured at about half/half. I'm erroring on the side of caution and doing just a little under 1/2 bottle. Don't want to over do it, but I tell you want, I'm pretty sure my whole building can smell the peppermint!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzyK Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Woo hoo! It's a great feeling to pour your first! I still have the pics of my first ones. Though it's only been a little over a year since I made my first. I bet they smell great! I like the green. I can see the color on the drip on your stove and it looks like a great color. It's very difficult to not spill but the 2 lb pouring pots are awesome for smaller pours.I poured my clamshells right up to edge.The hard part is if you're using soy to wait a few days to let them cure. I let mine cure for about 7 days before I test. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithfulScenter Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 They look fantastic! And the color is not too dark at all. My first batch of tarts I put an entire block of dye into 1 lb of wax, let me tell you, those things glowed!! We learn from mistakes, but I think for a newbie, your well on your way to having some awesome tarts!! Great job researching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifichik Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Those look really good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktieaffair Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 They look fine. You might want to try what I do when making small batches like that.. just use a 4 cup glass measuring cup (pyrex kind, WalMart, 4 bucks).It's a lot easier to control.Also, with those two FO's you used, they smell REALLY good together. Very Christmas-y but I also carry them year round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy, USMC Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 It's a little weird trying to judge the color of the wax when it is still liquid. Colors are ALWAYS darker ... and lighten up as it solidifies. My trick is to put a drop on a white paper towel and let it dry - then place a second drop directly on top of the first. That will usually give me a ball park sense of what the final color will be. And I'd start out light-handed on the dye because I could always add more. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debscent Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I bought a 2 lb. pour pot, but prefer my 4 lb. The 4 lb. spout is more narrow, which is good for pouring. A word of advice, try not to pour wax close to your burners on the stove. I used to do the double boiler method, presto pot is the way to go. It also looks like you used aluminum foil to protect your cabinets. Try wax paper, because you could also use that to do your color test, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktieaffair Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 "Try wax paper, because you could also use that to do your color test, too" Plus it's cheaper, lasts longer, is stronger, and you can peel any little dribbles right off of it LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Thanks everyone for the help and ideas. My stove kinda sits in an odd place in my apartment, there isn't alot of counter top space, so these are placed on the furthest side away from the burner i was using to help with some of the heat issues (hopefully).I snapped a few more pictures this morning, I must have poured too quickly (i thought I poured pretty darn slowly myself) because I have sinkholes in mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 It looks like you have room to pour more wax into the clam. Then they won't break or show sinkholes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I don't know about your clamshells, but mine hold 3 ounces so I melt 12 ounces at a time. I think you will find they finish up a lot better if they are full to the top. (Mine are actually over the top while still liquid.) And, if you are using Peak's peppermint use less! I only use 4% and still get a mind blowing throw. For what it's worth, I like the darker green better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I use newspaper to cover things, then I can just burn it when I'm done. Plus it's here and I don't have to buy waxed paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Ok so i made another batch today, this time with 4630. It says working/pouring temp is between 165 and 185, except when I removed it from the heat to add the FO and color, stirred, the temp dropped below 150. The Cedar's (greens in these pics) I poured at below 150, and the Twlight woods (reds) I poured at just above 170. I also splurged a little bit on the red dye. My hands got shaky and ended up spilling 12 drops instead of 7 for 8oz's of wax.Here are the pictures. The cedar wasn't as strong as I thought it was going to be, but the twlight woods, holy batman it smells amazing in here!!Filled them up a bit this time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justajesuschick Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I think you are off to a great start! I think the colors are pretty. VERY Fall and Christmas.Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Here's a few more pics of them now that they have had time to set up a bit.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 One could say I think I have a new addiction. This has been so relaxing and interesting experience. Made another batch as soon as I got up, but realized that I better get some kind of scent label on these before I forget which is which since I only have 2 color choices.Here is a picture of what I have thus farI have tried the following scents so far:Twilight Woods (one of my favs so far)Purely Peppermint (omgosh uber strong!)Cedar (I was a little disappointed in this FO )Fraiser Fir (made this along with the purely peppermint and lets just say, my apartment was an interesting smelling place for a day and a half)Winter Wonderland (which you can see just recently poured there in the back of the picture. Yes I know, I didnt have enough wax to fill that last container, I'm keeping this one as my personal sample, but this scent does smell great) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Ok, It's official. I'm hooked. I've been messing with a few different mixes of wax. 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, etc.. Now the real test, is how they will smell and throw after they are cured and remelted in a tart warmer. The next 7 days are going to be torture.My latest mix: 60% paraffin/40% Ecosoya Pillar Blend, 20 drops of red, and Macintosh Apple. This... Smells... Divine! It has a great dark color to it while it's molten, I'm hoping it turns out well! (I know I got a lil overboard with the dye, but hey, it's an experiment )Few Pictures below. On a side note, do you all like the pictures, or should I lay off? :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Love pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 So I tried a batch of 60 soy/40 paraffin with a Creme Brulee, and if the molten throw is any indication, I'm hoping the cold throw will be just as a good! I colored these with just 1 drop red and 1 drop green. Gave it an interesting brownish color.Something's wrong with this one though, I'm not sure what THere's some kind of floatie thing on top of the wax.And I compared the red of the Macintosh Apple to the red of the Winter Wonderland's I made, and the Apple is a very nice dark red like a good apple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Could be unmixed FO? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Could be unmixed FO?I'm not sure. I mix mine ALOT.. Almost 3-5 mins of stirring depending on how much coloring I put in it. Will have to see what happens I guess when it sets up :-/ I'd give the Creme Brulee a major yes vote if anyone has been on the fence about it. It was a sample that Peak sent me and its enough to make your mouth water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Which FO has the floatie thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e911 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Which FO has the floatie thing?The Macintosh Apple. It looks better now. Here is a photo showing the Red comparison. The Darker red is the Macintosh Apple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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