[Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Wax and Other Candlemaking Questions

Tue May 3 03:05:48 UTC 2016

Thank you for your answers. I'm sorry I ask too many questions.

Rena

On 5/2/16, Lisa Burns via Nfb-krafters-korner
<nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> It would be cool if we could do a candle making class sometime.
>
> https://www.etsy.com/shop/ProgressiveJewelry
>
>
>> On May 2, 2016, at 9:16 PM, Joyce Kane via Nfb-krafters-korner
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I used double boilers or a double boiler system like an inch or 2 of
>> water
>> in a saucepan with the pouring pot placed in the center.  I did not use
>> anything under the pouring pot.
>>
>> I used a wooden spoon to keep stering  the wax.  I bought the one poor
>> wax
>> by the case or when starting out 11 pound slabs.  I cut it with a butter
>> knife and weighed it according to the size of the jar or container I was
>> going to poor it in.  I had gotten a talking food scale and would measure
>> in
>> grams.  I paid over $100 for the talking scale.  If you want to know the
>> name of the brand of scale send me a note off list with your other
>> questions.
>>
>> I preferred purchasing the wax in cases of 55 pounds.  You got 5 - 11
>> pound
>> slabs.
>>
>> I used cotter pins that were 4 or 5 inches long to hold the wix in place
>> at
>> the top of the jars.  I used the wix with the metal disk on the bottom
>> and
>> would put some wax on it and put it into the jar and push it down.  You
>> could feel it with your fingers if it was centered at the bottom.  My
>> husband would put the wix in the cotter pin and use masking tape to
>> secure
>> the cotter pins to the top of the jar.  If you don't secure the wix in
>> place
>> with the cotter pin which will hold it up straight the wix could shift
>> and
>> not be in the center.
>>
>> I would have to do some looking to find where I got the long cotter pins
>> -that was a trick I learned from a candlemaker in PA that told me a lot
>> of
>> info and I first got the 11 pound slabs of wax from her.
>>
>> The one pour wax is soft and more like butter.  It melts at around 120 -
>> 130
>> degrees.  I use to pour in the afternoon and leave them sit until before
>> I
>> went to bed or the next morning.  It will harden from the outside of the
>> jar
>> to the center wick area.
>>
>>
>>
>> Joyce
>> Too many questions.  This will keep you thinking for now.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Sirena Carroll via Nfb-krafters-korner
>> Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 8:03 PM
>> To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Sirena Carroll <sirenacarroll86 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Wax and Other
>> Candlemaking Questions
>>
>> Dear Crafters,
>>
>> Looks like I may be venturing into candlemaking a bit sooner than planned
>> due to an oppertunity that's popped up over here, but I had a few
>> questions
>> for blind candlemakers first.
>>
>> I wanted to know how you candlemakers measure your hot wax when pouring
>> it
>> into a container or a mold if making wax tarts, bars or cubes. I've read
>> on
>> Lonestar that you shouldn't fill the container up past the widest part of
>> the jar, but how do you tell where that is for yourselves? Do you just
>> use
>> smaller jars and liquid level indicaters?
>> Could an LLI even take that kind of heat? I like larger jar candles
>> myself,
>> and would not wish to be limited to a certain size due to this.
>>
>> Another question. When wicking your containers. To ensure centering, do
>> any
>> of you use wick-centering tools? If so, which would you recommend and do
>> you
>> find they work for you? Also, do you use wick stickers, glue dots, or
>> another method of making certain the wick adheres to the bottom of the
>> container?
>>
>> When it comes to cutting one pour wax, if that is what you use, what
>> tools
>> do you use to do it? Or do you just get wax pellets, shavings or however
>> else they're sold?
>>
>> What is a wick bar? I think I get the idea, but physically, what does it
>> look like and what is it for? You have the wick centering tool, if you
>> use
>> it, and then a wick bar which instructions say to affix as one of the
>> final
>> steps. It comes off, of course, but what is it actually for?
>>
>> Same with wick tabs. What are they used for?
>>
>> I can google all of this as well. I just figured I'd ask here.
>>
>> Oh, one more question. Do you use double boilers or a double boiler
>> system
>> like an inch of water in a saucepan with the pouring pot placed in the
>> center, elevated upon a metal trivet or an inexpensive metal cookie
>> cutter?
>>
>> Thanks for all your help!
>>
>> Rena
>>
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