Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 How often should you need to trim the wick in a two hour period? TIASab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I usually try to test burn in 4 hr increments. I trim the wick before each burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 So the wick should not have to be trimmed during the burn? I'm getting a lot of mushrooming and have had to blow the candle out for a few seconds to trim. Guess I'll go back to the drawing board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 No, you shouldn't need to trim it during a burn. And if you're burning for 2 hrs or less and getting that much mushrooming you probably need to wick down and make sure when you trim, that you trim to 1/4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 Thanks for responding. I'm using the HTP 105 and will try wicking back down to HTP 83. I wicked up because I wasn't getting a complete melt pool. This is so frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Here's a wick suggestion chart: http://www.candletech.com/cgi-local/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Discussions;action=display;num=1074230291It would help if you could tell us the kind of wax, wick, jars, FO, color,additives or anything else you're using. Then someone that knows specifically about that wax could offer you more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 Ok-I'm using JSB 50/50 with 1 oz pp of FO - I've tested in the following JS FO's: Katie Jo's Pink Lemonade, Winterberry Wreath, Balsam Wreath, Candied Blueberries. BC FO's: Green Tea, Spiced Cranberry and Ginger.I'm using 8 oz apothecary jars and 16 oz tins. I've tried no dye, 2-6 drops dye pp with same results. I'm not using any other additives.Wicks I've tested: The following smoke:ECO 10, 12, 14 RDD 40, 47, 50, 55HTP 105HTP 83 does not smoke but it doesn't give me a full meltpool in either container. I tried it in an 8 oz tin and it was perfect. In the 8 oz apothecary and the 16 oz tin the meltpool seems to go towards one side of the container. The other side never catches up.Did I miss anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 If the wick starts "dancing" and smoking/sooting (and it's NOT burning in a draft), then it's time for a trim. At least that's true for the wicks/waxes I use. :smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I don't use that wax but I used to use the apothecary jars and had to double wick them when using soy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 What wick and size did you use for double wicking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I think most of the time I used HTP 83, but that was with 100% soy wax. Right now I use 70/30 soy/paraffin blend and using the LX wicks. I tried the HTP wicks in this blend but the wick would burn hotter on the side of jar the wick was curling towards, causing something similar to what you stated. It was leaving a hang up on one side of jar, and sometimes sooting on the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 I ordered LX wicks from Candle Science but wouldn't you know they forgot to include a bunch of stuff in my order when it was delivered today - the wicks were one of the missing items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Did you try double wicking? I get my wicks from Peaks usually. They are always consistant, nicely labeled, wicks are straight and packaged nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 I'm currently testing a zinc - 51-32-18. It's not smoking but after burning for 15 minutes it's got a huge mushroom. Will I ever win this battle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Girl Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Just like wetspots in the jar, sometimes ya gotta embrace the mushrooms too. Especially with zincs. Have you tried some of the low smoke zincs from WSP? They are supposed to help with the smoking and mushrooms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Becky from Just Scent is sending me a handful of the zincs they use in this wax. I placed a 10 sample scent order to make it worth the shipping. I'm trying to decide if I should place and order with WSP for low smoke zincs as well or just wait until after I test the JS zincs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 I poured another candle - same wax but with 1/2 oz scent hoping the mushrooming wouldn't be as bad. No luck - it's still bad. On the bright side, I have a nice smooth candle, excellent scent throw and a full melt pool after 3 hours in a 3 inch diameter candle with no smoking. Am I being too picky about the mushrooming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 If single wicking with zinc makes it mushroom badly, maybe you should focus on the high flame temperature flat braids like HTP, CD and ECO. You don't have to try them all, just pick one and test different sizes.I suspect you're focused on getting a full melt pool off the bat and haven't burned the testers down very far because the wicks don't seem to work well. Consider that sometimes a wick that gives you a full melt pool on the first burn can prove to be too large when you test the whole candle. Why don't you find the largest flat braid that burns well for 3 hours (even if it leaves some hangup) and do a bunch of test cycles with it to see how it performs as the candle burns down.If you don't arrive at a good solution that way, you may have to change your plan in some respect. Sometimes we envision a great burning candle with a particular wax and container and wicking strategy, but the combination just doesn't come together as a good system. If you're committed to the containers, you may have to double wick or change the wax.Designing an exceptional product can be a LOT of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sab Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 I have tested ECO 10, 12 and 14, RDD 40,47,50,55. The problem is that they smoke excessively. In order to prevent them from smoking I have to keep them trimmed to 1/8 inch. I'm concerned that when I get to the point where I'll actually be able to sell the candle, the customer will not keep the wick trimmed to that length. I have burned many of my "smoking" candles for several cycles and I always end up with a lot of soot on the glass. You can literally see the wick smoking. I don't think the RRD or ECO wicks like my wax.I've tried HTP 83 (works well in my 8 oz tins) and HTP 105 in my 8 oz Apothecary jars but I don't get a full melt pool. It never seems to catch up - just sort of tunnels through lopsided leaving a noticable hang up on the sides of the jar. But I'm going to take your advice and burn the candles to the finish to see what happens.Maybe the apothecary jar is not for me. I've been thinking about trying a straighter jar. I have some other wicks enroute though so I'm not giving up quite yet.Regarding the wax, I'm testing several: JSB 50/50, J223 combined 50/50 with C-3 and I just started testing J50 combined 50/50 with C-3 today. It's happening with the first two waxes, haven't burned the J50 combo yet. After test burning the J50 combo tomorrow I may start testing them in a 70/30 combo. I'm not experienced in double wicking at all. I wouldn't know where to start size wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Maybe an ECO 8 would work.Or just plain J-223, which is a very proven product.Or the Greenleaf 70/30 if you must have vegetable ingredients. People seem to be having good luck with it.Personally, I don't go for blending pre-blends, which is what you're doing with those mixtures. A lot of design work goes into those products. Mixing them is throwing that out the window and taking a shot in the dark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breanna Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Also this has helped me in the pasthttp://server.com/WebApps/db-view.cgi?id=71493 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.