First the match lights the wick and the wick itself starts to burn. The wick acts as a pipeline that carries the melted wax in the form of a vapor to the flame via capillary action. Some wicks allow lots of fuel to flow quickly through a big pipe, while other wicks pump fuel more slowly through a smaller pipe. If you give the flame too much or too little fuel, it will burn poorly, or sputter out. For example, for a 4-inch diameter vessel (around 101.6mm) you’d use two wicks, for a 5-inch diameter vessel (around 127mm) you’d use three wicks and so on.
The ECO series is a specialty flat wick braided with interwoven paper threads. This braiding technique gives the ECO series an increased stability level found only in square braided wicks. The ECO series has it’s own special chemical treatment which significantly reduces the afterglow normally seen in wicks containing candle wick size chart paper. TRC Series Wick- a flat braided wick, cored, with an exterior jacket that provides a high level of stiffness, made from pure long strand ring-spun cotton and paper. Designed for Soy and vegetable wax, it ensures an excellent burn profile with vegetable-based waxes, such as soy wax and rapeseed wax.
Step 1: Decide what wax to use for candle making.
If it has not then the wick size that you are using is likely too small. If the molten wax pool is deeper than 1/2 of an inch, then the wick is likely too large. If the candle is smoking or producing excessive soot then it is likely due to too much dye or too much fragrance oil in the candle wax mixture or the wick is too large. Some solutions to this problem are reducing the number of additives in the candle or using a smaller wick or a different type of wick. I recently made some 4 oz soy wax candles in tin containers using CD 6 wicks. A CD 6 wick worked great the day after the candles were poured.
- In the table itself, you will see a variety of wick size recommendations for each wax and container diameter.
- The purpose of a normal burn test is just to simulate a somewhat random approach to the candle.
- Simply open the file from your downloads folder and print as many copies as you like.
- It’s also important to periodically test your candles to ensure that occasional variances in your wax or fragrances still work well with your chosen wick size.
- We’ve listed the common problems you may meet during the testing process.
- Only a correctly wicked candle can guarantee an excellent burning performance.
Priming your candle wicks is just an extra step you can take to ensure you are making a quality product. If your candle is tunneling or leaving wax around the sides of the container as it burns down this is likely due to the candle wick being too small. Some solutions to this problem are increasing the size of the wick, or using a softer type of wax. Getting the wick size correct can make or break your candle. It takes some experimenting—but that’s all a part of the fun, right? If you’re new at candle-making, start by choosing wax, color, and fragrance, then find a suitable wick.
candle wick guide
It could burn a candle down too quickly wasting the ingredients and angering your customers and not want to burn at all. If you’re a candle-making beginner, you might be feeling slightly overwhelmed. The best place to start is figuring out which type of wick is right for your candle.
A right-wicked candle has a less flickering flame.
For example, if the diameter of the container is larger than 4 inches, the candle wick isn’t able to have enough fuel around. It is hard, and not right, to simply recommend a specific wick (the length, the thickness, the type, etc.) as the best candle wick. It should vary according to the specific candle you’re making.
When to Use Two Candle Wicks?
After that, you can find our collection of candle wicks here. You can also follow this rule to choose the right wick size for three-wick candles. With the right wick size, the candle can burn with a consistent flame, less flickering, and no self-extinguishing.
While the wick sizes in the chart should help point you in the right direction, the ideal wick size can vary depending on numerous factors. As we discuss in our post about wicking candles correctly, things such as the container material, thickness and even color can affect how a candle performs. The type of fragrance you use and your fragrance load can also play a role.
The only way to really know if you have the right wick size is through testing, but you can use this step-by-step guide to get started on the right track. The measuring method between different wick types may vary. When conducting a burning test, you need to get three sizes of wicks under the same type. If you want to change the wick type, you need to find another three wicks under the same type.
For example, if the jar is 4 inches, you need 2 wicks. To find the right wick size for double-wicked candles, you need to divide the container into two parts evenly. When double-wicking a candle, you will use two wicks instead of one. Instead of basing the wick size on the total diameter of the container, you need to divide the diameter in half. Then choose a wick size that is appropriate for half of the diameter of the jar.
Zinc core wicking is used in many applications such as tea-lights, votives and container candles. Zinc burns the coolest of all the cored wicks and offers the most rigidity. These wicks are constructed by using 100% natural fibers in the cover with the zinc core. Zinc cored wicks are most effective in paraffin based waxes and VersaGel, they are not recommended for use in natural/renewable waxes. If using a one-pour wax you may need to increase in size. This series is designed specifically for natural waxes like soy and palm wax.
Generally speaking, wicks work well in one set of waxes but not others. The reason these factors matter is each wax has different properties, such as density, melt point, and viscosity (whether it flows like water or molasses). With the exception of wax melts, every candle needs a wick.
Actually, you can try any type of mainstream wicks for soy candles, including ECO, CD, LX, and wood wicks. You can refer to the candle wick size chart for soy wax to find the recommended wick type and size. Paper core wicking can be used in applications such as votives and container candles. Paper core wicks do not burn as hot as cotton but they do offer more rigidity.