QA

Question: How To Stop Candle Tunneling

To prevent tunneling, all you need to do is burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of wax is melted. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle! How long that takes depends mostly on the size of the candle.

Why does my candle keeps tunneling?

Candle tunneling occurs when only the center of the wax right around the wick melts and burns down. Sometimes, candle tunneling is caused by a wick that isn’t large enough for the size of the candle, but more often it’s caused by the timing of the first burn.

How do you get a candle to burn evenly?

Place on a Level Surface. It’s very important to place a candle on a flat and stable surface when you light it. Trim the Wick. This is a very important tip. Use Multi-Wick Candles. Use Long Matches or a Lighter. Melt the Wax Fully Across. Cover With Foil to Melt Tunnelling. Avoid Drafts. Burn 4 Hours Maximum.

Will candle tunneling fix itself?

If you leave a candle that tunnels by itself, sometimes it will correct and melt the remaining wax, but most of the time it won’t, leaving you with a permanent ring of solid wax around the perimeter of the container. You need to act quick to avoid wasting any wax! The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to fix.

Can you microwave a candle to fix tunneling?

Set your oven at around 80 Degrees Celcius / 175 Fahrenheit and heat for 2 minutes. It will evenly melt the top of your candles giving it a smooth and even finish. NOTE: DO NOT put your candles inside a microwave oven! Candles usually have metal wick butts that can be dangerous when put inside a microwave oven.

How do you stop a candle from tunneling without foil?

Using a heat gun (if you have one) or hair dryer on the highest setting, heat the wax on the top surface of the candle. You can carefully poke at the unmelted wax on the sides with a toothpick to help it melt faster. Continue heating until the entire top surface of wax has completely melted and smoothed over.

How long should a candle burn first?

Solution: Particularly for their first burn, candles are supposed to burn for at least one hour per inch of container diameter. So, if you bought a new candle that is 3 inches in diameter, you should burn your candle for at least 3 hours (though not more than 4 at a time).

How do you fix short wick tunneling candles?

Fortunately, you have a few options for fixing a candle wick that’s too short: Light the wick and let it burn for 20 to 30 minutes. If the flame remains weak, blow out the candle and pour the wax it melted onto a paper plate. The newly formed indent in the wax exposes more of the wick.

Why do candles burn unevenly?

If the wick in single wick candles is not well centered, it may cause the candle to burn unevenly. If it leans to one side, the flame will melt the wax on one side of your candle and not the other. To straighten the wick, gently push it with aknife until the wick is centered in the jar.

Can you microwave a candle?

Another way to melt wax is in the microwave. Some people choose this method as they can melt the wax faster than if they were using a double boiler. Pour your wax into a microwavable container. Continue heating your wax in 2-minute intervals until it’s fully melted.

Can I put aluminum foil under a candle?

Use Aluminum Foil You’ll also want to keep an open center so the flame can continue to burn as usual. The aluminum foil allows the flame to stay even and continuously radiate heat, and the foil also helps to retain heat to help melt the leftover wax.

Why can’t I smell my candle when it’s burning?

If you can no longer smell your candle, it does not mean the scent has disappeared; more than likely your brain had enough and switched off so you no longer notice the scent. After burning your candle for 2 hours, try stepping outside for about 15 minutes to clear your scent palate and come back in.

Why do you have to cut the wick of a candle?

Keeping the candle wick trimmed helps control the amount of melted wax (i.e., fuel) that the candle has access to, which helps limit the amount of soot it creates. The trimmed wick also helps the candle burn more evenly, controlling the soot and prolonging the life of the candle.

How do you properly put out a candle?

How to Blow Out a Candle Use a wick dipper to bend the wick into the wax. Use a snuffer, a little bell-shaped thing on a little stick, to snuff out the flame. Use the lid, if the candle came with a non-flammable lid, to suffocate the flame.

How do you fix a hollow candle?

You can fix a tunneled candle by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil around the edges and simply letting it burn. Make sure the foil hangs over the built-up wax areas, but leave an opening in the center so the wick can still burn properly. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface.