Container Candles - floating wicks!

[harmony]

Hi, I want to make container Soy candles, I have made a couple as a practice, how to I get the wicks to stay put and not start floating upwards as soon as I pour the wax in.

I did use some of the 'glue wax' to attach the it, but it still floated upwards, was it I just did not add enought glue?

Any tips and advice gratefully welcome!

[candles by lisa]

I use a hot glue gun to stick the wick to the bottom of the container. I found the wick stickums and glue dots useless as like you as soon as you poured the was they floated to the top. Try pouring the canldes at a cooler temperature too.

HTH.

Lisa

:D

[craftech]

i dunked the sustainer into wax and let that fix to the bottom of the container, then poured wax in fairly cool, seemed to do the job (ecosoy cb pure)

[harmony]

Thanks for that, will give it a try.

Best wishes

H:)

[kayleee]

Hot glue is probably the most secure way hope you find a method that works for you.

[cosmic grammie]

candlescience.com, in the US, has a nice little video about making a few soy container candles...I did not order the wick bar, as I read a negative comment about them (someone said they were useless) so i thought i'd use popsicle sticks - any comments? Is it hard to get the wicks to stand up straight and be centered at the top as well as at the bottom?

The demonstrator suggested hot glue, also, though she used a glue dot in the video.

If, when the wicks arrive, they curve, should i do something to straighten them up a bit?? Roll them on the table or something?

Also, the demonstrator used larger tins than i got - mine are 4 oz - I wonder if that will be trickier to pour neatly.

[candles by lisa]

Centering wicks in a container is a bit tricky but with practice you will get the hang of it. It is up to yourself if you want to use a wick bar but why when you can use a pencil, a skewer anything that you can wrap the wick around and they are free!

Not much point in trying to straighten a pre tabbed wick because as soon as you pour the hot wax the wick will soften anyway. I have a template that I sit my containers on so I know where to glue the wick too. I used to measure the top of the containers to see that the top of the wick and the bottom of the wick were the same however with experience you can judge it with your eyes eventually. As the wick softens with the glue I put a bit of blu tak on the pencil/skewer and stick the top of the wick to this, this stops the wick from bending and falling into the wax.

HTH.

Lisa

:D

[cosmic grammie]

Great info, thanks!

Is a wick setter tool of any use? They are a little pricey....

[candles by lisa]

I don't think so again it's money for something that you can do by hand - I find a lot of these lets make it really easy and quick gadgets turn out to be an ow my god why did I buy this it's made it 10 times harder and 100 times longer gadget!!!

Cheers.

Lisa

:D

[girlyracer]

I don't think so again it's money for something that you can do by hand - I find a lot of these lets make it really easy and quick gadgets turn out to be an ow my god why did I buy this it's made it 10 times harder and 100 times longer gadget!!!

Cheers.

Lisa

:D

Definitely agree with you on that one Lisa. I bought myself a wick setter from the States. Used it once and is now relegated to the back of the cupboard.

[cinnamonchic]

I agree with Lisa and Ruby

No point spending money on gadgets for things like this. A few kebab sticks cut up and wound together with elastic bands make great wick holders for the top of your candles and using a glue gun to stick it to the bottom and away you go.

Pennies and reusable without having to buy additional parts.

[girlyracer]

Another cheapie tool is a Bic pen. Take out the pen bit and you have a great tool for placing your pre-tabbed wick in containers. Put your glue dot/hot glue on the tab, place the wick inside the casing,then just centre and press down.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy :D