BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Candlemaking Candle Ripple Problems

I'm having an odd problem with my candle molds. Can anyone out there help?

I make these in a standard pillar mold, with wax release spray in them so they slide out easily. Sometimes the candle has all sorts of odd ripples in it - and sometimes it is fine!

Any ideas?

Note that the really solid lines were made by actual pour changes. I.e. I'd use up all my wax on one pour and then have to wait to melt some more wax before I finished off that pillar.

I actually like that textured effect. Are your molds at a consistent temperature before you pour the wax? Is the mold release sprayed evenly? What type of wax are you using?

Everything is being done in my kitchen so it's room temperature in there and the metal mold is at room temperature. The mold release said to do the lightest of quick-sprays so it "bursts" into the mold for a moment and the "fog" then dissipates and is gone. So it does coat evenly but lightly.

For the yellow one that was one of those long rectangular bar candles with 6 wicks in it. Those types of candles seem to burn holes down into them and leave a ton of wax behind. So I remelted that way. The other wax was all discard wax from 10 years ago, from a candle shop that gave it away for free. I just used different colors on it when I melted it.

It is sort of a neat effect but I'm curious why it happened!

Paraffin wax is known for causing the shrink wells you described in your rectangular candle. Also the wicks that were used in it may not have been sufficient. I enjoy using my old wax. I have a bag filled with old candles and left over wax. When I accumulate enough I too re-melt it for new candles.
The possible known causes for the ripple effect are:
Wax was too cold when poured.
Wax was poured too fast.
Mold release was applied too heavily. I think you already covered that one though.
Hopefully you won't experience this again.

I never even thought about wax pouring too quickly - so I need to pour it slowly?

Pouring too quickly will be more likely to trap air. Pouring at a steady pace will avoid trapping any air and allow the surface of the mold to reach a proper temperature to prevent it from solidifying too quickly.

Okey dokey when we do the next batch in a few days I will pour slowly and steadily! We'll see how that does!

Good luck and let me know how it turns out for you.

Lisa,

Have you made a new batch of candles? How did they turn out?