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

Tue May 3 16:52:06 UTC 2016

Hey Greg,
Need your input on this one. Went to AC Moore the other day and was real
interested in taking one of their classes. Started asking all kinds of
questions and they told me Take the class, to make it short. Then when they
realized I was blind told me they did not think I would be able to do the
class. They discouraged me from taking the class and wanted to check with
the teacher. They would not answer my questions and I guess they would have
taken my $25 for the class I could not do. We certainly get a lot more on
this list then most places.
Terry K

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of ncbootman--- via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 12:02 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Cc: ncbootman at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Waxand Other
Candlemaking Questions

We are all adults. We have to make decisions about what is safe for
ourselves based on our abilities and limitations. Some people I know
shouldn't be turned lose with a plastic canvas needle. They might poke their
eyes out. Then they could join this group I guess. Are we here to share
knowledge and help people learn or are we here to tell people wait till we
think you can handle the knowledge? Joyce, thank you for sharing since I did
learn and my goodness. My hot water is hotter than the wax. So, I don't
think I'd get cooked lol.

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Knox via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 11:18 AM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Cc: Terry Knox
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Waxand Other
Candlemaking Questions

Joyce,
Too much info...Are you teaching a class on line? This was a lot of answers
here, all of this has it all swimming in my head and I am a seasoned
crafter. Candle making is a craft that as you know can be most dangerous
with Hot wax and really studied for a sighted person and tricky for a vision
impaired person. You really know how to do this well I would caution advice
given to anyone on hot wax crafting without hands on class or emails one on
one.
Just my non important opinion.
Terry K

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Joyce Kane via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 10:17 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Cc: blindhands at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Measuring Hot Candle Wax and Other
Candlemaking Questions

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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