Combustion is a chemical process in which complex molecules break down into smaller, more stable molecules by rearranging the bonds between atoms. The rest of the candle burning process involves the production of heat that melts the wax into a liquid that fuels the flame. The candle wick is used to pump the wax liquid to the flame. The wax and the surrounding air are the two essential elements to keep the flame burning.
Now you know how to use a wick. Here is a list of various problems that can be encountered with candle wicks. We offer their solutions in several simple steps.
1. Twisted corkscrew wick
2. Wick too thick
3. Wick too straight
4. Wick too thin
5. Fallen wick
6. Wick too short
7. Smoking wick
8. Wick too curved
9. Wick generating residual ash
10. Why does my candle have fungus?
11. Soot and flame are too strong
12. Why does my candle wick regularly go out?
13. The wick is off-center…
14. The fusion pool is too small
15. My candle is hollowing out/forming a tunnel
The different positions & problematic states of a candle wick
The position of your wick or its behavior during combustion can cause you problems. All these situations can be resolved in a simple way. We'll let you discover how!
Twisted corkscrew-shaped wick
This could be due to uneven tension in the wire during braiding or two wires having different thread counts. Another possible cause is the wick strands intertwining before insertion into the candle.
Wick too thick
The flame is too large for the diameter of the candle and it generates soot.
Wick too straight
Large residual carbon particles are probably the most common and annoying problem affecting the burning performance of your candle wick. The wick does not bend and its tip fails to reach the outside of the flame, where the temperature is highest and the carbon is burned completely.
2 possible reasons:
- Paper threads, paper or other substances mixed with the wick prevent bending.
- Contaminants such as hard wax, additives, dyes or flavors clog the wick and prevent it from bending.
Wick too thin
The flame melts more wax than the wick can burn. The wax trough fills with liquid wax and eventually overflows or leaks.
Fallen wick
The wick was inserted too loosely into the candle. This happens with poured candles if the wicks have too much space.
Wick too short
The wick is damaged due to contaminants in the candle material. The flame narrows, the formed hollow fills with liquid wax and the candle leaks. In extreme circumstances, the candle may go out. This is due to inorganic contaminants in the wax: hard wax, artificial wax, dyes (especially pigments) and fragrance oil.
Smoking wick
This type of soot is generated due to air currents. Avoid air currents.
Wick too curved
This can be caused by paraffin (strong penetration) or insufficient preparation of the wick. A specially treated wick can withstand paraffin better than a normally treated wick.
Wick generating residual ash
This ash is generated by contaminants in the wax. The unburned material ends up at the end of the wick in the form of fine threads or sometimes even a double wick.
List of common wick problems
Some problems with your candle may be related to a wick problem.
Why does my candle have fungus?
The "mushroom" shape that is sometimes seen at the end of a candle wick after it has burned is the result of carbon buildup. This occurs when the flame consumes more fuel (wax + fragrance + dye) than it can burn.
This is a common occurrence, but there are steps you can take to fix it!
Use less perfume and/or coloring
With less scent and dye, you ensure that the flame properly consumes all the material in the wick. Remember that you don't necessarily need to use too much scent to achieve a powerful fragrance, it can even have the opposite effect and hinder the olfactory rendering of your creation.
Trim the wick between each use
Some wick sets are more prone to fungus than others. Be sure to trim your wick by 0.5cm each time you use your candle.
Reduce the size of your wick
If you have a very deep melt pool shortly after the burn begins, more than 1/2 inch in 30 minutes, and you see excessive smoke or soot accumulating on the pot, try using a smaller wick size from the same series.
The soot and flame are too great
When burning a candle, you may notice some smoke coming from the flame. This is normal. Anything that burns will produce smoke, but a well-made candle will not produce excessive amounts of visible smoke.
If you see a large amount of smoke coming from the flame, this may be a sign that you need to adjust your process and/or supplies.
When the candle produces a lot of soot, it is often due to a wick that is too thick, impurities in the candle's melting basin or a draft!
Check your wick size and series
While some smoke is expected, excessive smoke is a sign that you may be using the wrong wick size. Are you seeing a thick, steady stream of smoke coming from the flame, large puffs of smoke, smoke continuously coming off the wick, or excessive smoke or soot building up on the container? These are signs that you need to downsize your wick. Make sure you are using a wick from the recommended series.
Reduce the amount of perfume
If your fragrance amount is too high, the flame can burn off excess scent that wasn't able to bind to the wax, creating a heavier, darker smoke than usual. The maximum recommended fragrance amount is rarely necessary. Most scents are strong enough at 6-8-10%. Don't exceed 10%, even if your wax indicates it can hold more.
Try another set of highlights
If you have tried changing drill bit sizes within the same set and are still having problems, try changing drill bit sets.
Why does my candle wick regularly go out?
The main reason your wick won't stay lit is often due to a wick that is too small or the wick being clogged by dyes.
Use a larger wick
If the wick is too small, it cannot efficiently burn all the fuel (wax + fragrance) and generate enough heat, and then it will go out. Try a larger wick from the same series.
Reduce the amount of dye and fragrance oil used in your candle
By using less fragrance and dye, you ensure that the flame properly consumes all of the wick material.
The wick is off-center
When creating your candle, it is essential to place your wick correctly to obtain a creation that burns correctly and evenly (provided you choose the right wick beforehand). If the wick is placed too far to the side or if it leans, you risk ending up with a candle that only burns on one side. In some extreme cases, a wick too close to the wall of the container can cause the tealight holder to overheat and break.
To ensure that your wick stays centered during the pouring process, use a few of the tools we have available on our site. Our self-adhesive wick holder pads are perfect for holding your wick to the bottom of your container during the wax pouring process. The other tool we offer is our wick centerer. Also available online, the wick centerer ensures that your wick stays straight and vertical during the cooling process.
Use a drill centering tool
Using a wick centerer is an easy way to ensure that your wick is placed in the center of your container. This device can also be easily used for multi-wick candles by ensuring that the spacing between the wicks is even.
Hold the wick taut while the wax cools
When securing your wick, make sure it is tight. If it is too loose, the wick may bend and pull away from the center as the candle hardens.
The fusion basin is too small
It takes a little time to create a melting pool across the entire diameter of the container, typically it will take about 1 hour for it to expand 2-3cm. If your candle has burned for the appropriate amount of time for the size of your container and the melted wax has not reached the edge of the container, it is because the candle is not generating the heat needed for the entire surface area of your pool.
Increase the size of your wick
Small melt pools are caused by the spark plug not generating enough heat.
The wick is therefore not burning at a temperature high enough to create a melting pool the diameter of your candle. Try keeping the same set of wicks, but changing the size.
Don't cut your wick too much
Trimming your wick too short can prevent the candle from generating enough heat to create a proper melting pool. Make sure your wick is trimmed to a length of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Allow sufficient time for the melt pool to form
A full melting pool can last a long time. Burning your candle for an hour will create a melting pool of 2-3 cm. So, for a 6 cm diameter container, you will need 2-3 hours of cremation.
Use an additive
The wax may also be too hard, try using an additive such as beeswax to soften it.
Catching a candle that is hollowing/forming a tunnel
Tunneling occurs when a wick consumes too much fuel (wax + fragrance) too quickly, at a rate that it cannot eliminate. Instead of melting the wax all the way to the edges, it tunnels down the middle of the candle, leaving unmelted wax around the edges.
Increase the size of your wick
If the wick is too small, it cannot efficiently burn all the fuel (wax + oil) and generate enough heat to form a complete melting pool. Try a larger wick from the same series.
Reduce the size of your wick
If the wick is too large, it will consume too much fuel too quickly, generating too much heat and only melting the middle of your candle. This is a less common occurrence, but it does happen. The solution: If you've tried going up a wick size and the melt pool size has decreased, try going down a size instead.
Conclusion
Normally, with all this documentation on wicks, they no longer hold any secrets for you! Do you still have questions? We offer assistance in order to answer them very precisely!
