What Do you Want To Know About Candle Making? 

candle making wick

Wicks come in different types and sizes. You will usually find small, medium and large (diameter measure) for each of the following types. Use one size higher for each 5 cm (2 inches) of candle diameter for long burning, drip reduced, non smoking candles. The relationship of the wick to the wax type and container or mould size/type is important for getting a long burning candle. Use a fatter wick for larger candles or for candles made from long burning wax, like beeswax or paraffin with hardening additives in it. When using flat braid wick, place the wick in your candles with the nap or grain of the braid down ('v' up-open at the top). If you wick a candle with the grain of the braid going from bottom to top (the wrong way) when the candle burns it will develop a carbonized ball on it, and that will smoke and burn unevenly.  Don't worry about wick direction with paper core or metal core wicking.

Here's a tip from a reader:  When wicking a mould, hold the wick straight and centred.  Take a tongue depressor and slice it length wise about 1/2 way down and just slide the wick into it and rest it on top of the container.You just pull the wick nice and tight!

For container candles, glue the wick tab to the center inside bottom before pouring your wax.  This will keep it where you want it.
 

It is important that you match the type of wick to the type of candle you are making:

Flat Braid - Looks like it sounds. It has a decorative appearance, and can be used for most candles but it tends to flop over and drown itself in your candle during burning.  This kind of wick is mostly used for taper candles. The following is from The Candlemaker's Companion by Betty Oppenheimer, page 15 cf."Flat-braided wick is referred to by the number of plies in the wick, so the larger the number, the larger the wick. Common sizes are 15 ply (extra small), 18 ply (small), 24 and 30 ply (medium), 42 ply (large), and 60 ply (extra large)."

Square Braid - Has a more sturdy structure. Use in moulded candles, container candles and  dipped candles.  The following is from The Candlemaker's Companion by Betty Oppenheimer, page 15 cf."Square braid…come in various sizes with various numbering systems. A major wholesale suppplier of wick in this country uses a numbering system ranging from 6/0 (extra small) to 1/0, then beginning with #1 through #10, which is the largest. The wicks with /0 after the number are regular braid, and the ones with the # symbol in front of the number are loosely woven, so they are fluffier and larger in diameter without acutually being heavier."

Metal Core - Zinc or Tin. Use for small container candles and votives or tea lights, tiny terra cotta pots. Lead core wick were banned in the US in 2003.

Paper Core - Use for small container candles too. They provide the stiffness needed in small candles They may smoke more than a metal core wick.




What Do You Want To Know About Candle Making?