Asked on Mar 20, 2015
Homemade candles burn a circular hole down the middle
by
Susan
+10
I made some homemade candles using a jelly jar, using one center wick. I let it cure for 3 days before I used it. The problem is, it burned a hole right down the middle leaving the rest of the wax just sitting there, why did it not burn all the wax evenly down?
13 answers
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The wax in a candle actually doesn't burn believe or not--the wax gets hot, turns to liquid for which the FUMES on it are what burn. You have to have the fumes to have a working candle. It's also why when melting wax to cast into your mold, if you see fumes coming off your pot, that's when you can get a POOF of an explosion. You are essentially burning candle gas. No gas, no flame. The fire size is what melts the solid wax and does so according to the size of the fire/flame and it's likely the size of the wick that is making the size of the burn hole. I don't think you want that hole to go all the way out to heat the glass due to the glass shattering from the heat--and thus the solid wax next to the glass is serving as insulation from the heat. There is kind of wick that might help solve the problem depending on the size of the candle you are making Take 1/2 of a pipe cleaner and bend it so it resembles a snake coiled up with it's head sticking up like it's going to strike--a vertical section of neck so to speak--the old snake-charmer routine. Take this and dip the whole thing in hot wax to saturate it, let it cool so you can handle it, then take it and set it on top of any piece of wax--and you can actually do it with a slab of wax too! Light the head of the snake and it will burn as per the candle wick--plus you can move it around--it's floating on the solid wax and is inside the pool of melted wax. You can also pull it up to stock the pit with more wax--and have a candle that can burn forever in theory. Save older candles for a stock of wax to add saves you money too.
Grouchy
on Mar 21, 2015
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Thanks, I'll give it a go
Susan
on Mar 21, 2015
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He is right - the size of the wick. I sometimes add an old birthday candles, or whatever leftovers I have, a little to the side as I burn them to burn up more of the wax. You could put in a new wick and more wax, Or melt the wax and make a new candle, a little smaller in diameter with the same size wick. Bending the wax sides in a little while thay are warm helps too. With yours so even, you could drop a battery tea light candle in the center, and it might look cool.
Pat G
on Mar 22, 2015
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Thanks
Susan
on Mar 22, 2015
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If you buy wick on a spool it usually tells you what size candle it is appropriate for.
Jann Beach
on Mar 23, 2015
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Thanks, I did not know there were different size wicks
Susan
on Mar 24, 2015
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And different types. Votive type with a little metal in them to stay upright in melted pools of wax, and regular for non-volitive. Since you already have this wick, you might try using 2 wicks seperated just a little, and see how that works. Light both wicks if the wax pool is too small, one if it is doing what you want. Stay close, and always keep an eye on candles when they are burning, especailly regular candles not in a jar. If you have a little metal tab at the bottom to hold the wick upright, the glass willl usually not break from the heat of the wick burnig near the bottom of the glass, but you can blow it out with 1/4 inch or so to spare just in case. Your candle was really quite sucessful. Best wishes.
Pat G
on Mar 24, 2015
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Thanks. How do you know what size a wick is or what size container it can be used in--is there a code?
Susan
on Mar 24, 2015
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I did not know there were different size wicks. Does anyone know what size wick is appropriate for a mason jar sized candle?
Susan
on Mar 25, 2015
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I tried Googling it and got these 2 sites plus more. http://www.candlescience.com/learning/choosing-the-right-wick-size http://rusticescentuals.com/Wick-Chart.html
Pat G
on Mar 25, 2015
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Thank you so much, I am going to print these out and use them as my guide. What a great community of helpers.
Susan
on Mar 26, 2015
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PS--I just realized how crazy, messed up my craft room looks in the picture. I'd like to say it does not really look like that but, alas, that would be a lie.
Susan
on Mar 26, 2015
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I think candles are such a fun DIY project. It is so much cheaper and easier to work with. I want to make some of these and give them away as gifts. http://www.mrspecialmerchandise.com/np1-listing-dept-45010
Hazel Adams
on Apr 18, 2016
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