For those, who are already familiar with the candle-making activity, the importance of a wick sustainer tab is obvious.Wick tabs are made of steel and will make your candle-making a lot easier, and they are an essential ingredient to customized wicks for container candles. They allow the wick to adhere to the base of the container so that it does not float free when making or burning.You can find them in various sizes, and the most popular is the 20mm, which can apply to most candles.They are used for securing candle wicks well as protecting the bottom from becoming too hot by controlling how far the wick will be able to burn down. It can snuff the flame when the candle is near the bottom to avoid accidents such as shattered glass due to overheating. So you can see why they are crucial when making candles.Wick tabs can be purchased in small packs or by the pound. It is more cost-effective if you buy them by the pound, but it depends on how many candles you make in a year. Sometimes you can get by with a smaller number. Your wick tab size is determined by the type of candle you are making. 20 mm is the standard size. 15 mm is for tealight size or small candles.
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You'll know it's time to say goodbye to a candle when a 1/2-inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar.Burning a candle past this point can damage the container or the surface it's sitting on. Learn how to get wax out of a candle jar with a few household items and our four no-fail methods.Once you've removed any remaining wax, polish up your container with our cleaning tips before reusing it in your home.Learn how to get wax out of a candle jar and our no-fail methods. Once you've removed any remaining wax, you can reuse your candle jars in your house.The foolproof candle wax removal method is freezing, which shrinks the wax.First, start by placing a spent candle jar in the freezer overnight, and in the morning, take the container out of the freezer and flip it upside down—the lump of wax should pop right out, and if it doesn't, use a spoon or butter knife to press down on one corner of the candle wax to lift and remove.Another strategy for getting leftover wax out of a candle jar is to let the candle jar soak in warm water.First, put in a drain stopper and fill your sink with warm water. Next, remove the lid, if it has one, and let the open candle jar sit in the sink for 30 minutes.The water will release the wax at the bottom of the container and make it easy to pull out. Keep in mind that this method will likely remove the label on the jar.
TUNNELINGIt’s important to point out that tunneling, which occurs when wax forms a tunnel around the wick, can happen with candles that have been poured or made correctly and is dependent on achieving a full burn across the surface of the candle more than anything else.If this problem continues to persist across all the candles you make, you might try making future candles with a wider wick. DROWNING CANDLE WICKIf the cause is related to the wick, it could mean that the wick is too small for the container/candle size.Could also be a result of overfilling the container with wax. FLICKERING FLAMEUsually means the candle wick is too long, which leads to a large, too-hot flame.Try this: extinguish the candle flame and trim the wick; if the same flickering immediately appears the wick size is incorrect. MUSHROOMING WICKA mushrooming wick occurs when the wax in the candle isn’t able to burn fast enough to keep up with the wick that you have chosen.In most cases, the cause is a wick that’s too big. Try trimming the wick so that’s it’s shorter and molding it so that’s it sits straight above the wax. SMOKING WICKSUsually a sign that the wick is too large, as a too-large wick will burn up more melted wax than the wick can burn.
You put a lot of care and attention into creating candles your customers will love, so you’ll want to put just as much into making sure those candles arrive safely. Here are two tips to pack candles for shipping that ensure they reach their final destination in prime condition and look their best when customers unbox them. 1. Choose the Right Shipping Boxes Most candles are poured into a glass jar or tin. This makes them highly susceptible to damage from the bumps, drops, and jostles inherent in the shipping process. Selecting the right shipping container protects your candles during their journey, ensuring they make it to their final destination in pristine condition. An ideal box for shipping candles is one made from sturdy, corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard has an outer and inner layer separated by a fluted middle layer. These three layers provide ample protection and cushioning for candles in transit. Finally, the right shipping box for your candles should be slightly larger than the candle itself. This ensures there will be enough space for packing material inside the box. 2. Pack with CareWhile corrugated folding cartons provide a strong outer layer of protection, they don’t eliminate the need for interior padding. Packing material like shredded kraft paper or bubble wrap keeps the candle from moving around inside the box. The more movement, the greater the chances the glass jar will break or the tin will dent.
Derived from the soybean, soy wax is a hydrogenated vegetable oil that turns to a solid at room temperature. After they are harvested, the beans are cleaned, cracked, dehulled, and rolled into flakes. Soy wax contains nothing artificial, which makes it a better alternative to old-fashioned paraffin wax. Soy wax candles are a type of natural candle made from soy wax. Soy candles are natural, nontoxic and environmentally friendly. As a result, they have become quite popular over the years. Soy candles are much cleaner than regular ones. Compared to paraffin wax, which is the ingredient in standard scented candles, soy beans are a renewable, U.S.-grown resource. They are typically nontoxic and paraben-free, vegan and cruelty-free, and have natural, rather than synthetic, scents. Plus, soy wax is supposed to burn longer and more evenly than paraffin. Soy wax is fairly cheap to produce and takes longer to burn, which is why these candles have a longer shelf life. Beeswax candles burn the slowest (and take longer to get used up as a result), but they can’t hold fragrance. Soy wax, on the other hand, burns almost equally as slow but has a lower melting temperature. That’s why it releases fragrance a lot more quickly if the candle is scented. All in all, soy candles are not only healthy, eco-friendly and nontoxic, but also they can burn cleaner and last longer with stronger fragrance.
While candle wax might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of making handmade candles (it’s definitely the most exciting component), the choice of wick is equally as important.
TYPES OF CANDLE WICKS
Most types of candle wicks belong in one of three main categories:
Cored wicks: Braided or knitted wicks which encase a round core made from paper, cotton, zinc, or tin.
Flat wicks: Flat-braided or knitted wicks that are typically made from three layers of fiber; known for being self-trimming and having a consistent burn.
Square wicks: Self-trimming wick that can be braided or knitted; are often used with beeswax (for poured candles and taper candles).
Within these three categories there are several different kinds of wicks:
ZINC CORE WICKS
Widely used for many different types of candles, including gel candles, votives, tea lights, and molded candles.
Made from a cotton braid with a zinc core (the sturdiest core material), which keeps the wick rigid and upright as is burns.
Zinc core wicks burn cooler, making them best for paraffin wax, soy wax, or a blend.
You can find a detailed guide to using zine core wicks here.
PAPER CORE WICKS
Widely used for many different types of candles, including votives, tea lights, and molded candles.
Made from a cotton braid with a paper inner core, which gives the wick more rigidity.
Paper core wicks burn cooler and are best for paraffin wax, soy wax, or a blend.
WOODEN WICKS
Can be used for votives, tea lights, container candles, and molded candles, but the candles should be free of decorations or add-ins to reduce the risk of fire.
Wooden wicks are made of unwaxed/unoiled thin tubes or flat slabs of wood.
Are well-known for the crackling, cozy sounds the wicks produce as they burn.
Can be used with any type of wax, including beeswax and wax blends.
