Candle Making: How to Choose Wicks

When learning candle making, how to choose wicks is often one of the more difficult parts of the process. However, the task will be easier if you keep in mind a few basic guidelines.

Choosing the right wick will help you get the maximum enjoyment from your candle.

Although most people who purchase candles would say the candle's fragrance is the most important element, candle makers know that choosing the right wick is a key ingredient in making a successful candle. The wick is like a fuel pump, delivering the wax the flame needs to keep burning.

Typically, the best quality wicks are made from knitted, plaited, or braided fibers. This helps to encourage a slower, more consistent, burn. Twisted wicks, in comparison, have a looser construction that allows the candle to burn very quickly. For this reason, twisted wicks are best avoided except for when making birthday cake candles.

Flat wicks are the most commonly used type of candle wick. They are made from three separate bundles of fiber and have a self-trimming effect when burned. They are usually all cotton or a cotton and paper combination.

Jar candles often use core wicks, as do votive candles. Common materials for core wicks include cotton, paper, zinc, or tin. The purpose of the core is to help keep the wick upright as it burns.

When purchasing candle wicks, you may notice that wicks are labeled with their burn rate. This term refers to the grams of wax consumed per hour. The higher the burn rate, the faster the wick will burn. However, this number is only a suggested starting point from the manufacturer of the wick. Several different factors, such as the type of wax used and the amount of fragrance oil in a candle, can affect a wick's burn rate.

To learn more about candle making: how to choose wicks, please visit the Aroma Haven and Rustic Essentials Web site.

Lead has been officially banned from candle wicks in the United States since 2003. Members of the National Candle Association voluntarily stopped using lead in their candle wicks in the 1970s, however.

While candle wicks are readily available wherever wax, molds, fragrances, and other candle making supplies are sold, many crafters prefer to make their own wicks. Homemade candle wicks allow for complete control over the size of the wick and the quality of the materials used. Learning how to make your own wicks also saves you from the hassle of making a special shopping trip whenever you want to create a particular type of candle.

Test burns are the best way to make sure you're using the right wick for your candle. If you're planning on making a large number of candles, do a test burn of one before you create the entire set. This will keep you from wasting time and money creating a batch of candles that don't burn properly.

• Your wick should be larger if your candle is leaving wax behind in the container. A larger wick may also be needed if your candle keeps extinguishing itself.
• If your wax pool is too deep, this means your wick should be smaller to keep your candle from burning too hot.

If you don't want to take the time to make several different candles with varying sizes and styles of wicks, make a candle with no wick to use as your tester. Drill a small hole the same size as your wick into the top of the candle. Stick a two inch piece of wick into the hole, bending the bottom slightly to keep it from slipping too far into the candle. Take notes as you conduct your test burn for candle making: how to choose wicks. Insert another sample wick if necessary, remembering to let the candle re-harden between your test burns.

• Cheap Candle Rings for Christmas
• Angel Tealight Candle Holder
• Embossed Rose Candle

• Yankee Candle Outlet Store
• Outdoor Candle Lanterns
• Floating Candle Centerpieces
• Floor Standing Candle Holders
• Making Homemade Candles

• Ingredients to Make Candles
• Safe Candle Making
• Free Gel Candle Making Guide
• Home Candle Making Kits
• How to Make a Candle Wick