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

Tue May 3 15:35:06 UTC 2016

I would like to add two more suggestions for candlemaking. To hold the wick at the top I would cut metal hangers into short sections and wrap the wick around the top.  

I would also cover the burner with aluminum for oil which could be quickly removed if there was a spill.  

JODY 🐺
thunderwalker321 at gmail.com

"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."  DOCTOR WHO (Tom Baker)

> On May 2, 2016, at 10:16 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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