How to make...
Container Candles

      Container candles are any candle in a jar, crock or tin that stay in their container not to be removed.  They are generally made with a lower melt point, softer wax in order to achieve a full melt pool to the edges.

(Example photo coming)

Materials:

~ Low melt point wax for containers (around 122-129)
*Can use either your own recipe of regular paraffin and additives, or you can use a pre-blended container wax like "Container Fill" or "One Pour" (also known as Single Pour).
~ Additive of preference (stearic, vybar, etc.)
~ Candle dye/color
~ Fragrance oil (average use is 3%-9% or .5 to 1.5oz per pound)
~ Glass, Ceramic or Tin container
~ Pre-tabbed container wick in appropriate size (depends on diameter of container)
~ Pouring pot
~ Thermometer
~ Safety gear:  Gloves, safety glasses, apron

Instructions:

First, choose which melting method you will use (double boiler on stove top, or Presto Pot, turkey roaster, etc).  Use proper safety guidelines and always work in a well ventilated area.

Container candles are the most popular sellers among candle lovers it seems.  The trend today is very highly fragranced candles.  There are several ways of making container candles, and each candlemaker seems to have their own "recipe".  Here we'll cover several different recipes and methods.  The best way to discover what works best for you is to experiment with different waxes and additives until you come up with a formula that looks how you want it to look, smells good and burns good.

One Pour Container Wax:

The following notes on the use of Astor brand "One Pour" wax (type 6086/2) were submitted by Lynda R. from her personal experiments and experience in using it.  Thanks Lynda :)
 
 

Containers would seem to be the easiest type of candle to pour.  In fact, dealing with problems in pouring transparent containers, like wet spots (delamination from the glass), and with trying to obtain a full melt 
pool, can make them fairly difficult. 

The biggest complaint made about containers is wet spots. If it's any consolation, the manufacturers are working on it. They are supposedly getting close to an improved poly wax that doesn't shrink. 

Some candlemakers prefer to use a mixture that shrinks completely away from the glass. However, this can create a problem if the candles are shipped. Any warmth will cause the wax to melt to the glass, causing spots. Also, having 
the wax attached to the glass produces a more vivid color with no refraction. 

Two things appear to happen to cause the spots.  Shrinkage and trapped bubbles. If you dissect a true wet spot, you will usually not find trapped oil. The fact is that wax shrinks while cooling to a much greater degree than 
does glass. 

This is a method for pouring Astor 6086/2 types to reduce or eliminate wet spots. It also works on some other one-pour poly waxes and some container mixes. 

Heat your containers to about 110 degrees. If you are pouring an Astor type wax, this is critical. With the Astor, hot jars will cause jar hang-up (jar bathtub ring!) as the candle cools. This container temp is a hot enough to prevent jump lines. Slightly hotter containers are OK with waxes other than the Astor types. 

Containers can be wicked before heating with a high temp glue gun, or with a silicone adhesive. At these low jar temps, wick stickers are usually OK also.  Or, use a drinking straw to wick just as the bottom begins to set.  I like 
either the "stuck together' chopsticks,  or craft sticks with drilled center holes to stabilize the wick while cooling. Use either alligator clips or clothespins with the craft sticks. 

Take your wax up to  170*, add UV, additive, and dye. Then lower the thermostat to 140-150 degrees, your pouring temperature. 

Don't add scent until a short time before pouring. But, if you add scent at the last second, the scent molecules will not bond correctly to the additives. The scent needs to be stirred in well. 

Pour slowly into the warmed containers. Tap gently several times to release bubbles. 

You are pouring low,  which limits shrinkage.  But.. a quickly cooling top can trap bubbles. So why not just pour hotter? Because it causes a bigger difference between the ambient temperature where the candle will 'live', and 
the pouring temperature. This can cause increased shrinkage. 

Here's a trick to release these bubbles. As you pour up the containers, and the bubbles begin to rise to the top, tap gently, and lightly hit the tops (in a fanning motion) all the way across the tops with your torch or heat gun. This will 
remelt or 'open' the tops just as they start to try to set up.  Then tap tap tap again. 

If you use a straw to wick, just wick as usual.  If your wick is glued in, just move it to one side...heat the top, then move it to the other side and repeat. Then center and support the wick. And don't get your fingers!! (don't ask how I know).  If you use a heat gun, try to create as few waves as possible. In the hot wax, you can sometimes see that bubbles are stuck to the side of the container.  Zap them, too.  This extra minute of having an unjelled top releases a surprising number of of bubbles. 

After the top sets a little I move them to a box or warm area.  Cool very slowly.  A turned off oven works great. By now you have made too much of a mess to cook tonight anyway. 

This is only one way to do it. It doesn't work well with all non-Astor one-pours. IGI says their wax will actually  tunnel less with a higher pour point. If you don't want to reheat the tops, I would suggest pouring the Astor about 10* higher. Some other container waxes do best with a pour point of around 180*. 

All of these waxes have about a 10 degree variance from load to load. And pour point is critical if you don't want delamination. Astor 6086/2 with a 121 MP will need a lower pour temp than 6086/2 with a 129* MP, so your exact 
pouring temperature will still involve some experimentation. You want to pour at that exact point where it's not too hot (soda-ish bubbles, wet spots, cratering)  and not too cool (top gels up too fast and traps  bubbles which can turn into wet spots.) 

Astor type one-pours need a fairly large wick. Choosing a wick size to obtain a clean burn away from the glass with no jar drag or hang-up is a matter of choice. Most large manufacturers of container candles are now producing to 
purposely leave a margin of wax on the container for safety reasons. You might want to consider this if you are selling your candles.

Making Your Own Blend:
 
 
 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHECK BACK FOR MORE NEW INFO & ADDITIONS SOON!

 
 

Good luck and happy pouring!



 
 

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