QA

Why Won T My Wick Stay Lit

Other than the tunneling problem, if your wood wick candle won’t stay lit it’s probably because the wick is too long, or it needs to be trimmed clean of charred material. The flame is drawing the wax upwards through the wick, so if it’s not trimmed short and clean, the wax can’t make it to the flame.

How do you fix a wick that won’t stay lit?

If the candle won’t stay lit because it is “drowning” in the wax (maybe the wick was trimmed too short), you can use a paper towel to soak up excess melted wax to allow more room for the wick to breathe.

Why is my wick not working?

Possible Causes: Wick is too large for your container. Wick needs to be trimmed. Possible Solutions: Always measure & test your wicks to ensure they are the correct size for the diameter of your container, keep wicks properly trimmed at 1/8 to 1/4 inches before burning & after long periods of burning (2-3 hours).

How does a wick stay lit?

The wax and the wick work together in a candle. The lighted wick begins to heat up the wax and turn it into liquid. The liquid wax then gets absorbed by the wick and vaporizes it. The wax vapor burns and keeps the candle lit.

Why do my candle wicks burn out?

One of the main reasons that candle wicks end up being too short to burn is called “tunneling,” which is when wax builds up on the inner sides of the candle’s jar. This excess wax can melt during future burns, which causes the wick to be drowned in the refuse, thus shortening its height.

How do you keep wooden wick from burning?

For optimal burn, keep your wood wick trimmed to about ⅛”, and clean off any burnt wood from previous use. Other than the tunneling problem, if your wood wick candle won’t stay lit it’s probably because the wick is too long, or it needs to be trimmed clean of charred material.

What happens if you add too much fragrance to soy wax?

If your fragrance load is too high, the flame can burn off the excess oil that was not able to bind with the wax, creating heavier-than-usual, dark smoke.

Why is my soy candle tunneling?

Candle tunneling occurs when only the center of the wax right around the wick melts and burns down. Sometimes, candle tunneling is caused by a wick that isn’t large enough for the size of the candle, but more often it’s caused by the timing of the first burn.

Why do my soy candles sink in the middle?

The problem of ‘why do homemade candles sink in the middle’ has a relatively simple answer and an even simpler fix. Wax sinks when it sets because as the wax cools, it slowly contracts and can leave what I refer to as ‘sink holes’ in the middle of your candles, but can also present as sunken dips around the wick.

Do wooden wick candles last longer?

Wooden wick candles typically produce a lower, smoldering flame, which will consume your candle at a slower rate and thus burn longer!Apr 2, 2019.

How long do you soak wood wicks?

Place the wood pieces in a shallow dish and pour olive oil over them to coat all sides of every stick. Soak the sticks in the oil for 20 minutes, then remove them and wipe clean with a paper towel. Save your pricy cooking oil and use a budget-friendly olive oil for this project.

Can you use a toothpick as a candle wick?

To use a toothpick as a candle wick, all you need are a candle, a toothpick, and a pair of pliers. The point of using a toothpick is to let the candle burn more efficiently as the shorter wick doesn’t produce a bright flame. As the wax melts, the toothpick gets coated in molten wax and burns brighter.

Why is my wood wick flame so small?

Wood wicks are denser than cotton wicks, so they can’t draw the wax up as easily. If you cut it so short that it’s hard to light, it may drown in the wax, fail to catch at all, or burn with a very low flame. Don’t be afraid to try it at a little longer than 1/8” and shorten it as needed.

Why is my wood wick not crackling?

If your wooden wick isn’t crackling, it’s probably not legit! Kind of like a campfire, they have cellulose trapped in the structure of the wick. While it’s burning, cellulose transforms into a gas and tries to escape the wood pores.

What temperature should you pour soy wax?

The wax should be poured into the container while it is 120 – 165 F to reduce cracking and speed up the cure time of the wax. If wax is to be left in the melter over night, the wax should be stored at a temperature of 130 – 145 F.

What is the best temperature to add fragrance to soy wax?

Add your fragrance at the right temp: Adding your fragrance oil when your wax is at the proper temperature will help it bind to the wax, which will help give you a stronger scent throw. It is usually recommended to add your fragrance to the wax at 180-185F for soy and paraffin wax 200-205F for palm wax.