How do I get all sides of this candle to melt evenly?

TheCarrot_v2
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How do I get all sides of this candle to melt evenly?
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For your next candle: don’t put off the candle until the top is all melted.

The next time you light it put some tinfoil around the sides and burn it until all the wax on the surface melts

Always burn the candle 1 hour per inch across. If it’s three inches across and you have less than three hours to stay home, don’t light it.

Buy a candle warmer off Amazon and your candles will last long and you won’t have this issue.

I believe another problem is that some candle makers use the wrong size wick. They use I’ve that is too small and it does not work right.

If I see the phrase “candle has memory” or anything similar I’m going to drive my car off a fucking bridge. OP, put tinfoil over the top and poke a 2 inch diameter hole in the middle and let it burn. That or just take a hairdryer and melt the top layer.

You can make a little chimney out of tin foil and that helps the heat stay in. Also remember to trim your wick, that’ll help a lot

This can be solved by a larger wick that burns hotter paired with a more homogeneous wax that melts more evenly. Soy wax is especially good for this. What you have here looks like paraffin which forms a crystalline structure that is difficult to melt evenly—especially with a cheaply manufactured wick that is too small. Even different fragrances will promote/hinder the melting of the wax, which many large scale manufacturers do not take into account. The short of it is: get a nicer candle. Source: my mother is a professional candle maker and does r&d with her candles on the regular.

I work at Yankee Candle this is my jam.

Firstly, every time you burn the candle let it burn for at least 2-4 hours so the entire top layer of wax melts. If you dont, it will start to tunnel down the middle as so.
Make sure the candle is in an area with limited or no airflow to prevent a ‘dancing flame’, which is where the flame is flickering and moving preventing the heat from melting the wax properly.
Lastly, trim your wicks to 1/8 inch each time you light it.

Now, to fix the current tunneling, light it as I just instructed, after a couple hours the wax around the side will be soft and you can scrape it with a butter knife until it melts into the rest of the liquid top layer. Best of luck!

I typically take a knife and peel it into the center when it is soft from burning.

Along with other advice in this thread, rotate the candle every so often. Might have an air vent or fan blowing air toward the more melted side.

next time you light the candle its been going awhile push those side pieces into hot wax they will be soft

Heat the glass with a butane blowtorch

Ooh. I learnt this recently. It’s called candle memory. You need to let the candle burn on first use until all the wax at the top has melted. Once you’ve done it once, it will always melt to the edges. If you don’t, then it will always melt to however far it melted first time.

Let it burn for longer periods

Your…phone?

Pot with low water, stick the candle in it, then stick it on the stove at low heat. Doesn’t take long, so keep an eye on it.

In many cases the wick will be slightly leaning a bit as it burns. It doesn’t take much distance at all to heat one side of the wax more than the other. You can nudge the burning wick a little to get it to straighten up.

Also, sometimes things near the candle, like a wall, can be reflecting some heat back. It doesn’t have to be much, even a few degrees warmer can mean the wax melts a little bit faster.

Why does this like one of the sand worms from Dune? Can you ride it, are you the prophecy?

Keep burning until the wick is longer then place it in the oven on warm

There’s probably a better way, but I just turned my stove on low and set the candle in my cast iron skillet until the whole thing melted. Then I just made sure the wicks were straight and let it cool down again.

It took a while, as I didn’t want to go hog wild on the heat just in case.

They have metal candle topper things that disperses the heat evenly so it melts all the way

Or you can be like me and tape aluminum foil around the sides of the candle and that’ll help melt evenly. 🤣🤣🤣

Put it in the oven

Cut the wick down to 1/4” after each use. When you start a candle, let it burn for about 1.5 hours, then stop it, trim the wick, and use for 1-2 hours at a time.

It’s not that the wax has a “memory”, it’s that the heat from the candle isn’t enough to melt through the wax. When the candle wax is flat and level, the heat from the flame can melts anti-agin anything on the same level, but once the candle starts tunneling the pool of wax isn’t hot enough to melt wax above it.

Using an aluminum foil lid works because it keeps air in the candle long enough that the air temperature rises above the melting point of the wax.

Fun fact: You can actually use a similar tactic to keep from freezing in your house if your power goes out in the winter. Instead of using a foil lid on top of a candle, you would use a ceramic pot or bricks to retain the heat from the candle. It won’t keep your pipes from freezing, but it will help keep you alive as long as you don’t let the smoke build up.

Don’t try to scrape it flat with a knife

Achieving Perfect Melting: Tips for Even Candle Melt

Candle making is an art that requires patience, attention to detail, and a bit of trial and error. One of the most crucial steps in the process is ensuring that the wax melts evenly across all sides of the candle. An uneven melt can result in a candle with visible hot spots, poor burn quality, and an overall less-than-desirable appearance. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why candles may not melt evenly and provide tips on how to achieve a perfectly melted candle.

Why Candles May Not Melt Evenly

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s examine some common reasons why candles may not melt evenly:

  1. Inconsistent Heat Distribution: If the heat source is not evenly distributed, certain areas of the wax may melt faster than others, leading to an uneven melt.
  2. Wax Temperature: If the wax is too cold or too hot, it can affect the melting process, causing some areas to melt faster than others.
  3. Candle Shape and Size: Candles with irregular shapes or large sizes can be more challenging to melt evenly due to the increased surface area and potential hot spots.
  4. Wax Type and Quality: Using low-quality wax or wax with impurities can affect the melting process and lead to uneven melting.

Tips for Achieving Even Melting

Now that we’ve identified some common issues, let’s move on to the solutions:

  1. Use a Double Boiler or Heat Gun: A double boiler or heat gun can provide a consistent and controlled heat source, reducing the risk of hot spots and uneven melting.
  2. Monitor the Wax Temperature: Ensure the wax reaches the ideal melting temperature (usually between 160°F to 180°F) and maintain it at that temperature for an extended period.
  3. Use a Thermometer: Monitor the temperature of the melted wax to ensure it remains consistent and avoid overheating.
  4. Stir the Melted Wax: Regularly stir the melted wax to distribute the heat evenly and prevent hot spots.
  5. Use a Melting Pot with Good Insulation: A well-insulated melting pot can help maintain a consistent temperature and reduce heat loss.
  6. Avoid Overheating: Don’t overheat the wax, as this can cause it to burn or become discolored.
  7. Add a Small Amount of UV Stabilizer: Adding a small amount of UV stabilizer can help prevent the wax from becoming too soft or too hard, which can affect the melting process.
  8. Experiment with Different Wax Formulations: Certain wax formulations are designed to melt more evenly than others. Experiment with different waxes to find the one that works best for you.
  9. Add a Few Drops of Fragrance: Adding a few drops of fragrance can help improve the melting process by creating a more consistent and controlled temperature.
  10. Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few attempts to get the melting process right. Practice makes perfect, and you’ll soon develop the skills to create perfectly melted candles.

Conclusion

Achieving a perfectly melted candle requires attention to detail, patience, and practice. By understanding the common issues that can affect the melting process and implementing the tips outlined above, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, evenly melted candles that burn smoothly and consistently. Remember to experiment with different wax formulations, heat sources, and techniques to find what works best for you. Happy candle making!

The side with the white arrow melts while the side with the yellow arrow doesn’t. I used my phone to make sure the candle was level. Is there a way to ensure even melting?

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