Text 14870, 57 rader
Skriven 2007-04-30 18:02:42 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: Re: STUFF 200  70429
============================
*** Quoting Glen Jamieson from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***

 GJ> her artistic achievements.

 CS> True!  For me, my 'craft' is making simple candles. I dont say they
 CS> are fashion statements nor do I make them up with fancy appliques.  I
 CS> just scent them well and over-size the wicks so they burn well in a
 CS> bowl. 

GJ> Are you able to get wicks and waxes locally, or do you use animal or

Japan houses are a bit flame-worthy so the advice (which we followed) is to not
use candles much. We left our candle making gear in storage stateside and look
forward to getting it back out.

We used to have wax shipped in bulk because the local Norfolk craft places
either do not sell it, or sell it for a HUGE markup.  Shipping and handling I
recall was 2$ a lb for candle wax.  At stores in Norfolk, it was from 11-23$ a
lb except for 1lb blocks of parafin made for sealing jam/jelly jars and sold
at the grocery.  The grocery stuff is 'ok' but not quality candle wax.

GJ> ones, and consequently formed carbon "mushrooms" while burning.  When
GJ> she complained about that, she was offered a scissors-type "snuffer"
GJ> for $14.  She declined that offer.  (You would know why wicks should
GJ> be plaited, but for the benefit of any other readers, it is so they
GJ> curl sideways while burning, allowing the end of the wick to burn away
GJ> in the air at the edge of the flame instead of collecting carbon to
GJ> form the mushroom.)

Exactly but if you over-wick size like I do, you get a little 'mushroom' too
from that.  Makes for a bigger flame and you almost never lose the wick in the
wax.  It will however get more 'melty' and you have to burn such in a
fire-safe bowl with a plate under it.

Virginia Beach is prone to hurricanes so we'd make our own and we'd pass them
out to neighbors.  The ones I make, can actually provide some real light.  I
even have some molds that make simple taper types.  I am too lazy to make real
tapers but mine are cheap enough to use every day if you want to.  Duct tape
makes a fine seal for the bottom and so does bubble gum though I had a clay
'thingie' that was even better.  I tie the wick to a pencil or chopstick to
keep it upright as the candle cools.

The wax that runs off, gets recyled into the next candle batch.  I had my
neighbors trained to bring that back to us to get more free candles <g>.


GJ> Also very handy to have around when the power fails!

GJ> Have you ever tried lighting candle nuts (kemiri)?  They burn with a
GJ> clear white flame.

No, but then, I like my sandlewood and Myrrh scents best.

                                       xxcarol

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 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)