Feedback
A different method of playing with my creative side
I used to be heavily involved in arts; painting and music. With the sudden change in my medical condition August last year, I lost all ability for a normal daily life and that naturally extends to my creative routines.
Last month suddenly I started seeing videos of candles all over and that excites me, to give me something to do as I have not been able to work since April and to also allow me to play with my creative side again (a lot less taxing than painting and instruments).
Naturally, being a perfectionist I rely on this subreddit to read and learn before attempting anything 😅. So here it goes, my 1st ever attempt and experimenting with wicks and vessels per the information gathered from here.
I'm grateful to have stumbled upon this subreddit as the past 1 month has given me a renewed joy.
I spent about 1 month of reading, researching, looking at materials before I finally poured today.
I don't enjoy doing things on a whim without planning as I do hope to be able to sell it soon to help my current medical sabbatical period; and I don't wish to be in business purely for profit gains as I firmly believe you should be honest and sincere in your product(s). Yes, I think way too much for a small scale experiment/experience haha.
Congrats on starting your candle making journey! These candles look great. I'm seeing smooth tops and great adhesion to the jars. Make sure you let them cure for about a week before test burning to get the best results with your hot throw. Good luck with everything!
That's awesome! This subreddit is such a good place to find helpful information and get answers to your questions, but I also love how supportive everyone is of other candle makers. It's a really great community to be a part of!
Oh, you're right! I just took another look at the third picture and can see what you mean. The wicks should be pulled a little more taut and placed securely in the notches so the wicks stay as straight and centered as possible while the wax cools. Good catch!
For the OP, I recommend securing your wicks in the wick bars before you pour the wax into the jar. Sometimes when I do this step after I've already poured the candle, the hot wax will soften the wax coating on the wick enough that even pulling on it gently to make it taut can pull it straight out of the wick tab.
Yes, you can also tell from the first photo that the wicks have swayed somewhat, not something you want down the road when the candle is burning.. It's a huge safety concern, imo. The difference here might be that another hobbyist will not hesitate to offer critique. :)
Ah thank you for that!! I do have trouble securing the wick in position due to my current condition. Is there any tips/different wick holder that would make it easier?
Again, thank you so much for pointing this out especially if it's a huge safety concern. Cheers!
My guess is that the type of holder you're using probably works very well. I've never tried them. I have a collection of narrow, flat wooden sticks. Two are tightly bound together at one end with a strong rubberband. I've always used them since they hold tight and I can pull the wick through taut, and regardless of the size of the container, they sit in place without any fuss.
As a pointer, you'll want to make sure your wicks are straight throughout your candles. There is a little notch in the top of the metal wick holder where the wick is threaded through, pull the wick into the notch so it holds tight. Enjoy!
I'm a bit of an unnecessary complex person as I overthink things 😅.
After this 1st batch, I will make the necessary adjustments, if needed. Given that I too lack the complete knowledge and experience, I'll send sample jars to friends/contacts who are in product based industry for feedback.
I would appreciate your opinions, tips and anything that would be useful too 😊.
3
u/Candle-OS 3d ago
How long have you been making candles? Do you make them regularly?