Candle Making Wicks: How To Choose The Right One For Your Candle
A candle just isn't a candle without a wick. Without a wick there would be nothing to light!
Instead of producing a beautiful glittering light, it would just be a beautiful piece of wax!
You may not have given wicks much thought but they are an important part of candle
making.
Choosing a candle making wick is not something you should take lightly. Actually, the
more experienced you become at candle making the more involved you will become in
choosing the right wick for your project.
Selecting a wick involves some key variables. These include the type of wax you are going
to use, the size of the candle you will be making, the fragrance density and your personal
preferences.
Don't let this intimidate you. Choosing candle making wicks is not difficult at all. As with
anything you try for the first time, there will be challenges. However, once you do it a few
times it will become very easy.
I am a strong proponent of note taking. Write everything down for future reference. Keep
track of wick size, wax type, the pour temperature, the fragrance type used and with what
type of wicks. This way you will know what works well and what doesn't the next time you
do the same or a similar project.
Although you may be interested in learning about the science of wicks, how and why they
work, that is not necessary for now. The biggest thing to remember is that the diameter of
the wick is important.
If you select a candle making wick that is too thick for your size candle, the result is a flame
that burns too brightly. That, in turn, means your candle burns far too quickly. Not only is
this not an efficient use of your candle, it's also a hazard.
If you choose a wick that's too thin the opposite occurs. The candle burns too slowly and
only the inner portion of your candle melts. The wax, in effect, saturates the wick and all
burning stops.
Typically, you'll discover that candle making wicks are sold braided. This isn't for