Different types of wicks for candles

There are literally over 300 different wicks to choose from and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. There are different types of materials that are put inside the wick. There are zince core, cotton core, and paper core. There are also round and square wicks. There are wicks that have what is called tension threads built into them. Each wick will perform in a particular way. If you are going to be getting into candle making, you need to find a company that knows how to recommend wicks. They need to be able to tell you why to choose a particular wick over an other.

When you are making a candle, if you are going to give the candles out as gifts or even just bringing it to your home, you need to do your first couple of burns under observation just to make sure that you have the right wick in there. It's not to say it's going to be a perfect wick, but keep in mind that it is an open flame. Therefore, it has to be burned under observed conditions.

Q: When is the proper time to add the wick to a candle?

Before you pour the wax into the mold. What you have to do is visualize the candle like a drinking glass. That drinking glass is going to have a hole in it. You are going to see the wick through the mold and secure the wick on top with a popsicle stick. You are going to seal the bottom of the mold. At the bottom of the drinking glass where that hole is, you are going to seal that off so the wax can't leak out. Then, you are going to pour the wax into your drinking glass. Keep in mind the key is the bottom of that mold is always the top of your candle. I shouldn't say always because some people like that rough look at the bottom of the candle. Most waxes shrink. So when you pour the wax on top of the candle mold, you need to do a process called topping off. You take the wax and fill in the top of the candle to the level of the bottom again.