Getting candles to burn evenly??

[NAT72]

Ugh....another 3-wick candle has turned "Mickey Mouse" like....

I have read that 3-wick candles should be left to burn for an hour per inch of diameter. I did that, but it burned down in Mickey-esque fashion

I have got to be missing something here.

Anyone know how to prevent this, or even repair the damage done? I love candles, but this is driving me batty.

[freesurfer]

I hate it to! I usually end up tilting it to burn one side more!!

[NAT72]

Ha, I wish I would have thought of that before I hacked the higher parts off with a paring knife, lol. One strange looking candle I have now, and it is still not even. I give up


__________________

Check out these [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now], or go directly to [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] EXP: 10.09.2003
Save 10% off of your purchase at Art.com with coupon code C1339787122321.

[buckeyemomma]

I tilt mine too

[bradedit]

I usually trim the wicks and for some odd reason that helps(don't ask me why they all look the same size)I just cut off a teeny tiny bit.

[teamfargo]

At a party lite party, they said to let them burn for 10-12 hours for the best effect. I have heard one hour per inch, but it doesn't seem like enough time with a lot of candles as they have a higher melt temperature.

Also, you have to hug your candle. This is hard to explain with out a demo, but you run your hands up the sides of the warm, lit candle. Apply gentle pressure - when you reach the top, your candle will bend in ever so slightly. This makes it look slighly like a volcano at the top as it the top diameter is smaller than the diameter at the base. Does this make sense?

The top portion will then burn without having a long tunneling effect. The mickey mouse ears look is from not leaving it lit long enough. Never trim the wicks. There will always be variations on these "rules" as some wicks contain lead in the middle while some are pure cotton. Also, some wicks are ticker than others. The wax is also a variable as higher quality wax melts at a lower temp.

HTH

[teamfargo]

Oh, one other thing. They really do mean it when they say never leave a candle unattended. My friend forgot and left her 3 wick lit and went to bed. She woke up to the smoke alarm going off and had a fire going on top of her dining room table. Apparently, the wall of the candle broke sending hot wax and part of the wick/flame down onto the table, doily, and the decorative silk flowers she had surrounding her candle. I don't know if the candle burned low enough for a silk leaf to come in contact with the flame (and started it) or if it was just the candle wall getting too soft. She will never know, but was glad for the family dog. She didn't wake up to the smoke alarm, but woke up to her dog barking in her ear! Hubby was out of town, so there was no one else home to wake her.

[DarkWolf]

"for the best effect" ??

Man.. It's a candle.. Just burn the thing..

Really, we don't worry about ours.. We have two 3 wick candles burning right now, never bother them.. They don't burn down quite even, no, but it's all good..

Been burning for a while though, so now the center's all melted around all the wicks..

As for hugging your candle.. Yes, that does work good.. It ammounts to bending the top part in after it's burned down past that point.. This allows that wax to melt into the molten pit around the wicks, which extends burn time greatly and doesn't waste the candle much.. Though I never do this anymore.. Grew used to the look of the flame through the wax sides.. Very cool looking..

Anyway.. back to work..

[bradedit]

Darkwolf,
You must have never cleaned wax off the carpet or funiture from a candle that burns funky. I admit I am a candleholic, I have a closet full of candles, every smell and size. (I always put them in a zip lock if I am not going to burn them right away.

[DarkWolf]

I use bowls or silver plates to burn them in, or vases..

That and we have all wood floors..