Missed it by that much.

August 19, 2020 1:12 PM

I wish to have my 3"/7.62cm candles work properly in my 3.25"/8.255cm candle holders.

Hi there, I use 3"/7.62cm pillar candles because they're easy to handle, last long enough for government work, and are just a nice size in general. I've been picking up what I thought were 3" glass pillar holders at thrift shops &cm, but it turns out every single one has a 3.25"/8.255cm inner diameter. I thought this wouldn't be a problem, but once the candle burns down an inch or two it nearly always makes a hole in the side of the candle and then all the excess wax that would normally burn like a candle should pours out the hole and fills up the gap between the candle and the candle holder.

While I do have extra candles that can be melted down for extra wax and prefill the gap (don't move house and leave your candles in the UHaul for several days, kids) I'd rather have a more consistent and easier to implement solution. Are there liquid oils I could fill it with that would burn like extra candle wax? I'm not really sure what a decent solution would look like so I'm having trouble brainstorming one.

posted by Evilspork to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

wrap the base of the candles with aluminum foil for a snug fit.
posted by TDIpod at 1:20 PM on August 19, 2020 [6 favorites]

Once the melted wax totally fills the gap between the candle and candle holder does it burn as it should? It kind of sounds like the melting and filling is turning your 3" candle into a slightly shorter 3.25" one.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:28 PM on August 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

I would try breaking up your extra wax into small pieces, placing your candle in the holder and packing the broken pieces around it as tightly as possible.

Then I would either use it as is, or use a hair dryer or heat lamp to melt the pieces into a solid mass around the candle, adding extra pieces as needed.

To break up your extra wax I'd try freezing it and then putting it in a paper bag and smashing it with a hammer.
posted by jamjam at 1:42 PM on August 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

Or you could melt your extra wax into a shallow layer using a cookie sheet or other flat pan, cut that into strips while it was still warm and then put those strips around your candle in the holder and melt them into place.
posted by jamjam at 1:50 PM on August 19, 2020 [2 favorites]

I had this same problem using a candleholder from another country where the standard diameter must be different than in the US, not a single candle I had fit it. And to make matters worse, it is a hanukkiah, so I had this problem eight times over. Tinfoil works pretty well, and can be reused many times with no fuss. I also had luck getting a sort of collar washer thing from the hardware store small parts bins, I could not tell you what it actually is or what it was for but it did the trick for me. That might be a little hard w/Covid, though, so try the tinfoil idea. Make a little rolled up pad of tinfoil and stuff it in around the edge. After a couple of uses it will get covered in wax and stay in place better.
posted by epanalepsis at 2:04 PM on August 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

If the holder is taller than the candle, you can put the candle in it and then heat the entire thing to melt all of the was down at once and leave you with a smooth candle top.
posted by mezzanayne at 2:57 PM on August 19, 2020

It kind of sounds like your wick is too tall, making too big a flame that melts through the side. Do you trim your wicks? Possibly the wick could be off-center too, or the candle isn’t level.

Pillar candles should stay in tact, and can be burned without being enclosed (albeit, with the danger of a meltdown like you describe), votives usually melt to fit containers. At least this has been my history with candles.
posted by Jazz Hands at 9:24 PM on August 19, 2020