Pick the Wick Part 2

So, to continue yesterday's blog regarding wick type, I've learned that there are other factors involved with wicking. The size of the wick is also important as well as the wick assembly. I learned quite a bit more about the types of wicks used and what works with each wax. I think I'll try to cover wax tomorrow.

According to several sites where instructions for making candles are given, the zinc core wick is the way to go for paraffin candles. These are available in the CD series at LoneStar Candle Supply. For veggies waxes, i.e., palm and soy, the recommendation is generally in the RRD or ECO series of wicks.

When I talk about wick size, it's not about the length. Most of us could figure how long the wick needs to be just based on experience with using store-bought candles. I'm talking about wick thickness or gauge. The size of the candle determines the gauge of the wick. Say you have a medium container candle, the wick gauge should be around 14, whereas a large container candle would use a 16 gauge wick. A small candle, such as a votive would use a 24 gauge wick. It's all about the thickness.

You can generally determine the gauge by the numbers on the wick, such as: CD14 or CD 16. Sometimes, with different manufacturers you get different numbers and formats. For example, you may see 60-44-18. This is a cotton wick used in very large container candles with three or more wicks.

I'm still learning about the wick picking process, but I think I have enough to get started. For a look at the wick pick table, go to yesterday's (7-23) blog for the link.