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Topic: Tips for Newbies (Read 23509 times) |
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eugenia
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Wish I was There
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Tips for Newbies
« on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:31am » |
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Addition by RobinN:
Please ask specific questions in separate threads - don't add them to this one. A question will probably get buried and lost in all these wonderful tips!)
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I see a lot of you out there-welcome! Thought I'd start this thread with some tips for you. I'm hoping everyone will join in.
1. Never wash your molds. Heat the oven to 175-200, put paper towels on a cookie sheet (2 layers at least). Place the molds upside down on the sheet. Leave in the oven for 10 minutes, wipe out with paper towels.
2. Buy tight fitting votive holders. Many of what you see in the sotres are WAY too big for a good burn.
3. Get a plastic dough scraper. It's great for scraping wax.
4. Use chopsticks for stirring wax and holding wicks (use rubber bands on the ends of 2).
5. Never wash your presto pot. Wipe with paper towels.
6. Place votive holders in the freezer after burning, the wax will pop right out making them a snap to clean.
7. FO's will destroy furniture and eat through plastic cups. Don't place the bottles on a bare table and don't pour FO too soon.
8. Don't let a glass jar burn on a bare wooden table-you can burn the wood. Put a plate or something under the jar.
9. FO's can also destroy fabric and rugs-eat the color right out. Be very careful when you pour.
10. Place stuck molds in the freezer to help get the candle out-but don't leave for too long as the candle can crack.
O.K. everyone, your turn to chime in 
e
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| « Last Edit: Nov 1st, 2004, 1:07pm by RobinInOR » |
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cindym
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I love candletech
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #1 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:38am » |
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Make sure you have a fire extingusher near your candle making area.
Do get a sample pack of peaks fo's
Use all safety precautions, that I am sure you have read about 
Have someone who will tell you your candle sucks if they test it for you. An honest tester is the key to success.
Embrace your wet spots and have fun 
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RobinInOR
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Always learning in So. Oregon...
 
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #2 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:38am » |
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Great post!
If you have fragrances that don't mix in, try heating them gently first, or stirring the mix gently with a whisk.
When testing containers, pour without a wick. Then stuff the test wick into a hole made with a skewer or something, and heat gun to fill in the excess. Makes it much easier to rip it out to try a new one.
Those are the 2 that have saved me the most time.
OK, another one. When doing a bunch of votives, get a cookie sheet with sides and line it with paper towels. Put all the votive molds on there, then you can easily move them out of the way while they're cooling. You can also turn them upside down and put the tray in the oven for easy cleaning.
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| « Last Edit: Oct 28th, 2004, 5:27pm by RobinInOR » |
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Robin in OR
Containers: Calwax 30/LX. Votives: Calwax 10/LX. 3" Pillars: Calwax 10/RegPly. 2" Pillars: 1343/HTP. Tarts: Calwax 10/30 blend
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Scented
Elite Member
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #3 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:40am » |
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Cover your work surface to keep from remodling it accidentally ... this would include the floor, where red is really hard to get out of linoleum
Keep molds that are not in use covered to eliminate a dusty coating.
Microwaves are for food and beverages
Keep labels on dye chips so you aren't coloring on everything trying to find out what color it is.
Wear gloves when squeezing wax out of bears ... it could hurt if you don't
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HopelessFOaddict
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Posts: 5861
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #4 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:51am » |
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Be patient. Researching and testing each and every product will take time.
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Shawnee
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One of the Main Food Groups!
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #5 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 10:56am » |
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Keep an ice scraper(for use on car windshields) handy for when you spill wax on your countertops. Let it cool and it scrapes off in a flash. Also works on most floors too!
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pdevine
Senior Member
"Can't" never could do anything til he "Tried"!
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #6 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 11:07am » |
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This is a great thread!
Cover areas that you will be pouring (under your mold's)your wax with waxpaper, any spills can be easily taken off and put back into your pouring pot and remelted.
Keep, take, keep, take and keep and take somemore NOTES!!! Trust me, you WILL need them later.
DO NOT get impatient with your pillars and try to force them out of the molds, THEY WILL COME OUT WHEN THEY ARE GOOD AND DARN READY! Trust me, I've ruined alot by getting impatient.
Buy SAMPLES, not large quantities until you have experimented and tested and made your mind up what wax, FO's, wicks you are satisfied with.
Concentrate on mastering a certain product, before you decide to tackle something else.
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a GOOD quality candle. Just because it looks good, doesn't mean it will burn good.
TEST, TEST, TEST AND TEST SOMEMORE!!!! HTH Portia
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7Angela7
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #7 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 1:14pm » |
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on Oct 21st, 2004, 10:38am, RobinN wrote:Great post!
When testing containers, pour without a wick. Then stuff the test wick into a hole made with a skewer or something, and heat gun to fill in the excess. Makes it much easier to rip it out to try a new one. |
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What if you're testing pre-tabbed wicks? Would you just cut the tab off and shove it in there?
(yup, I'm a newbie)
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Scented
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #8 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 1:15pm » |
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on Oct 21st, 2004, 1:14pm, 7Angela7 wrote:
What if you're testing pre-tabbed wicks? Would you just cut the tab off and shove it in there?
(yup, I'm a newbie)
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Yep
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DaveD
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #9 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 1:38pm » |
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How about:
1. Don't test burn candles right after you managed to get them out of the mold. Let them cure for a couple days.
2. Free paint stir sticks from home depot make great stir sticks
3. Have someone that has not been in your kitchen with your FOs check the scent throw on your candle. It doesn't take long to become immune to your own FOs.
4. This is personal preference: WICK TABS are gods gift to making votives <--Jeez, I meant wick PINS.
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| « Last Edit: Oct 22nd, 2004, 2:12pm by DaveD » |
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DaveD
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #10 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 1:41pm » |
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Oh yeah, one that took me a while to figure out:
Mold release is not spray paint, a light coat is all you need. I use to hose the inside of my molds down with the stuff and wonder why my candles looked like they had acne. You only need a light spary and then can even wipe the mold out with a paper towel after that.
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Candlenut
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I'd rather be making candles!!
Posts: 319
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #11 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 1:56pm » |
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Great Idea!! I wish I would have had this info when I started!!
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DaveD
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #12 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 2:16pm » |
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I do have one more that only occurred to me the other night. I was wiping down my stove with some mold cleaner to get rid of sticky FO etc. (Yes I still use double boilers as well as a presto) and woosh, the paper towel went up in flames. (did I mention that I was heating wax at the time).
Long story short, don't lose site of the fact that 90% of the stuff you are dealing with is flammable and dangerous.
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Scented
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #13 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 3:52pm » |
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With all that said, probably the biggest safety issue is:
1) Make sure you turn everything off before you go to bed!!
2) Keep a fire extinguisher handy for those just in case flaming moments
3) Don't throw water on flaming wax ... use baking soda if you don't have a fire extinguisher handy 
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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away.
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Scented
Elite Member
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Posts: 17870
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #14 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 3:53pm » |
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Oh sink safety:
1) Don't pour wax down the drain
2) If you use a water bath make sure that your container is high enough that if the mold tips, it hits the side and wax goes into the water, not the sink.
3) Keep dyes away from the sink
4) Might want to purchase some Goo Gone or similar stain remover.
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| « Last Edit: Oct 21st, 2004, 3:54pm by Scented » |
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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away.
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MMM
Junior Member
Posts: 28
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #15 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 4:45pm » |
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1. Don't jump right on in and think you are going to be an over night success without doing your homework. Listen, read, and learn from those with experience.
2. Do not deal with people that may be unscroupulous and are dealing with possibly infereior or less than good quality wax and supplies and with someone who will abandon you. If they haven't returned your calls in 10 days and packed up and left town, that is NOT a good sign. Move on to find someone reputable.
3. Join a message board where you feel welcome and helped. Read every post you can. Print out what you think you need and keep a notebook for references.
Note: it is obvious to me that becoming a chandler comes with a vison, much imagination, and a various degree of pride and self respect for not trying to cut corners and looking for the fast, cheap, easy way out.
THANK YOU GOOD PEOPLE OF THIS BOARD.......
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Janis
Elite Member
Posts: 3083
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #16 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 8:07pm » |
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Watch out for metal molds. They bite hard 
With wax, temperature is everything. Make sure you have a good thermometer and pay careful attention to your pouring temperature.
Keep a notebook.
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Permanent good can never be the outcome of untruth and violence.
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vanessa
Senior Member
Posts: 590
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #17 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 8:28pm » |
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metal tape is amaizing
<-------- dont foget Alan has some great directions on the side.
if you want to make life easier with melting wax get a presto pot
leftover scented wax can be stored in ziploc containers and labeled for future use
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Julie Renee
Elite Member
Posts: 1280
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #18 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 8:43pm » |
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Hang thermometers on your presto pots. I have one pot that when I have it turned to the "m" on the word warm on the dial it is actually 200 degrees, and I have another pot that I have to turn to 250 to have that wax at 200 degrees.
When someone sends you apples from Washington they come in a nice box with holes in foam that fit 3"pillar molds perfectly for storage or use those boxes and foam as pillar holders when you want to pour slanted layers or I have used it to carry pillars to the store.
Fun Thread!
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AnotherBright_Idea
Elite Member
Candlemaking IS my day job!
Posts: 1243
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Re: Tips for Newbies
« Reply #19 on: Oct 21st, 2004, 9:02pm » |
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Bounty paper towels are one your most important under-rated supplies!
Rough enough for cleaning molds really well, and no lint.
ANdrea
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