Recommend the latest Christmas party candles
Factors to consider when testing a Candle
* Diameter of Candle – Firstly, pay attention to the diameter of your candle.The relationship between the wick size and candle diameter will affect the meltpool of your candle. A smaller diameter candle requires a smaller wick while a larger diameter candle requires a larger wick, and in some cases, multiple wicks. As you burn your test candle, observe how much wax the candle consumes. Is it leaving a large portion of unmelted wax around the parameter? Is it burning the entire diameter of the candle and spilling over? (Not good if you’re making a pillar candle ~ Great if you’re making a container candle!) Is the flame smoking? Does the flame keep extinguishing?
If the flame keeps extinguishing, your wick is too small. If it is smoking, it is too large? (I was observing a new wick size the other day and made a candle with a #6 wick. That’s a very large wick. I knew the wick was too large, but wanted to observe it anyway, so I took the candle home to observe the burning. My hubby wanted to know if I was trying to burn the house down 🙂 The flame was almost 4″ high, the smoke detector alarm was going off, and I still didn’t have a meltpool anywhere near the size I wanted.)
By the way, I’m still trying to properly wick that candle. It is a heart shaped pillar. Because of it’s irregular shape and large size I’ve determined I will have to triple wick it and probably need to use a lower meltpoint wax.
* Type of Wax – Gel burns at a hotter temperature than paraffin/wax, and therefore requires a larger wick than a paraffin candle of the same diameter. The same is true for Beeswax. Since Beeswax is a much harder wax than paraffin, it usually requires a size larger wick. Soy/Vegetable container wax has a low MP and will require a smaller wick than the same size paraffin candle.
Wax meltpoints for paraffin can range from 120* to 165*. And the meltpoint can reach 230* with microcrystalline and additives. The meltpoint is the temperature in which the wax melts. This usually requires a smaller wick, while a high MP wax will require a larger wick. You must consider this while still factoring the diameter of the candle.
NOTE: If you do not know the meltpoint of your wax you can determine it by using this procedure: Completely melt your wax and then turn off the heat. Using your thermometer, observe the temperature which the wax begins to harden. This will help you determine the meltpoint. Shared from Moon Glow Candles
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