Mar 31 2008

When making candles at home, is there something that I have to dip the wicks in so they keep burning?

Published by Jennifer at 3:09 pm under Candles

candles
luckcharmer asked:


My candles never seem to stay lit. Do I have to treat the string with something?

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6 Responses to “When making candles at home, is there something that I have to dip the wicks in so they keep burning?”

  1. # sakshi.kumaron 01 Apr 2008 at 7:53 am

    i think that perhaps the brand of wick you’re getting is inadequate?
    i don’t know, just an opinion.

  2. # justbeingheron 02 Apr 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Wick material is very important. In general, the wicks I have gotten in regular craft stores are really inferior and not good at all for making a usable candle. I don’t have a source to give you anymore, but you could do a search for candlemaking supplies and order the best you can find. There are 2 different kinds - wired and non-wired. For container candles I get the wired kind.

    BTW - regular string does not work.

  3. # colanthon 03 Apr 2008 at 7:28 pm

    The wick isn’t what burns. The heat of the flame melts the wax and the wick (”to wick” means to draw) draws the liquid wax up to the flame, where it burns. (When the candle has burned down a bit, the wick can’t draw the liquid wax all the way up, so the top of the flame burns the end of the wick, which is dry.) If the wick doesn’t wick well the flame dies. A good wick is woven properly and made of quality thread. A cheap wick is made of cheap cotton and has very little space for the wax to travel up, so it doesn’t work very well.

  4. # meenakshi jon 06 Apr 2008 at 4:38 pm

    i’m not sure if you’re doing it or not, but you do have to dip the wick in the molten wax & let it dry. then use these wicks to make the candle. this coating of wax ensures that the wick gets enough fuel to burn alongside the candle.
    hope this helps
    all the best & have fun

  5. # faith and hopeon 09 Apr 2008 at 1:22 am

    HI hope this helps i have left over candles and melt them all together because it is cheaper and you don’t have to put them in the garbage ,So i melt them in a old pot on the stove let it boil and let it melt and put the wick on a toothpick something long to fit the can keep it straighten then went it is hard open the other end of the can and it well come out Be careful not for kids to do with out there mom or dad ,

  6. # snakeon 10 Apr 2008 at 1:07 am

    are you using bees wax?