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

Tue May 3 16:45:07 UTC 2016

Jodi,
I have not spoken about these things as I really feel you have to be really up on these things to do them, and I have done some in the past. I always used to secure my wicks on the bottom of my molds and on top rolled the wick around a pencil and secure it evenly on top of mold.

Terry K

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jody Ianuzzi via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 11:35 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Cc: Jody Ianuzzi
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Wax and Other Candlemaking Questions

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
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org Facebook page:
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
> Krafters-Korner Blog https://craftingblind.wordpress.com/
> "Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind 
> Don't have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on 
> Twitter. Go
> to: Twitter.com/craftingblind To unsubscribe, change your list options 
> or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/blind
> hands%
> 40aol.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org Facebook page:  
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
> Krafters-Korner Blog https://craftingblind.wordpress.com/
> "Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind 
> Don't have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on 
> Twitter. Go to: Twitter.com/craftingblind To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/thund
> erwalker321%40gmail.com
_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
Krafters-Korner Blog https://craftingblind.wordpress.com/
"Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind Don't have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on Twitter. Go to: Twitter.com/craftingblind To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/tknox6%40sc.rr.com