Fresholi | Melting Pot Café

I had a HUGE block of unrefined beeswax I got YEARS ago in Romania and has been sitting there while I try to figure out how to chop it up  :mwaha:

A friend finally did it with an AX! which was terrifying.

Anyway, I had a few tea light cases and thought it would be nice to make a few beeswax tea lights for myself. Had a go last night.

Complete failure.

When lit, they burn for a couple of minutes, spitting and hissing slightly, then go out.

Anyone any thoughts what I did wrong?

They are sox wicks - perhaps that is wrong for beeswax.

Do I need to clean the wax before using?

Any other thoughts???

Sorry, I cant help regarding the problem but I had to laugh at how it was attacked by an ax  :mwaha:  I hope you find a solution  :buttrf:

oh lol you wouldn't have believed it. scared the crap out of me  :mwaha:

but he'd already tried a saw and ended up with a very 'smooth' waxed saw!

Hah..... soo funny  :buttrf:

How thick was your wick? Had the beeswax soaked into it properly? Did you filter it before making into the candles?

Bought the tea-light cases and wicks together - thought they were already pre coated.

No, didn't filter.

ah well beeswax has a higher melting point than other waxes, so needs a thick wick so it can maintain the heat and stay alight without being extinguished by the first bit of molten wax hitting it.

Also if unfiltered and unrefined it probably has all sorts of dirt in it, which can clog the wick (it seems to attract it for some reason) therefore interrupting it's burning capability, or making it spit or go 'phoof'.

Try filtering the next lot, generally the dirt drops to the bottom so melt some, pour into a disposable container, plop it out and shave off the bottom, normally all dirt should be down there, sometimes it needs straining.

I love making beeswax candles, used to make loads but finances are tight, I also love rolling them but wish they didn't burn down so quick!

Next time freeze it then hit it with a hammer - that's what my local friendly beekeeper told me when he sold me a lump.

Hammers are my friend... oh yeah and I put it into a pillow case :mwaha:

I don't think I could have got the original block IN the freezer!! :mwaha: but that's excellent advice thanks, as I have to chunk up the smaller blocks now.

Thanks Janie - I'll filter it, but seems likely I have the wrong wicks also.

I used to use slab wax (paraffin variety) & frequently chopped slabs with the back end of the log axe after wrapping the slab in several carrier bags. Twas very satisfying getting it into manageable pieces.

4Candles sell unprimed cotton wick for beeswax candles  http://www.4candles.co.uk/wick/candle_wick.html
or you could try Thornes
http://www.thorne.co.uk/candlemaking/wick

Sally x

Ta