Repouring Seven-Day Candles

February 28, 2009 8:53 AM

What type of wax and wick should I use to refill empty glass seven-day candles?

I have a whole bunch of empty glass seven-day candles (also called novena candles).

I'd like to repour them, ideally with soy-based wax, and I want to use the right combination of wax and wick so they will burn cleanly without cracking the glass.

If you have successfully repoured these candles, what combination of wax and wick did you use? Any other tips or information resources welcome.

posted by ottereroticist to home & garden (4 comments total)

Any other tips or information resources welcome.

Perhaps the best way to figure out how much wax and wick you use would be to buy an insert here and see what they did? The inserts are 6.50.
posted by misha at 9:56 AM on February 28

Not *how much* wax and wick -- *what kind*. Different waxes and wicks burn at different temperatures. If they're too cool, they won't melt all the way across, causing tunnelling. If they're too hot, they'll get the glass hot and maybe crack it. Some waxes pull away from the side of the jar, some don't. etc.
posted by ottereroticist at 2:25 PM on February 28

I found this info from a commercial website, which may not be exactly what you want but it seems pretty damn informative. If you want to use your own wax, maybe not quite as useful. For other types of wax, 'click on picture for instructions' - the instructions for the large jars might be handy too.

For side-sticking, they suggest warming the glass container.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 4:21 PM on February 28

I've successfully used zinc core wicks with soy wax and generic container wax. All you need to do is match the diameter of your holders with the right size wick. I'd trust this chart from Peak Candle; they're my favorite place to buy candle supplies, and I've never made a bad choice regarding wax and wick combinations buying from them. (I mostly make pillars, though.)
posted by zinfandel at 8:05 PM on February 28