What is the Difference Between Cored and Flat Braided Wick?

What is the Difference Between Cored and Flat Braided Wick?

Wick is arguably the most essential and critical component of a candle. The wick provides fuel (wax) to the flame, working like a fuel pump drawing liquid wax up through the wick to the flame by a process known as capillary action, creating combustion. Aesthetically a candle wick is a bundle of fibers loosely twisted, knitted, or braided together depending on the particular wick type. 

While there are various wick types and styles on the market, several factors impact the wick purchasing decision, such as wax type, candle size, color, fragrance, and shape. To follow is a brief explanation of the two most common wick types: cored or sometimes referred to as round wick and flat braided wick.

Different Types Of Wicks

Cored (Round) Wicks
Cored (round) wicks are often used in candles that need a self-supporting wick like votives, novelties, pillars, and containers. Round wick comes in a variety of core types, including paper, zinc, and natural cellulose fibers,. Within these wick types, zinc is more rigid than cotton and paper. It is recommended to utilize pre-waxed cored wick for increased rigidity.

Flat Braided Wicks
Another popular wick type are flat braided wicks, often used in pillar, taper and container candle systems. This braid type features a unique design that bends when flamed, providing a self-trimming wick effect while reducing the carbon at the top of the flame, allowing the candle to burn evenly.

Selecting the Ideal Wick for Your Candle System
When selecting the ideal wick type for your candle system, these factors impact your selection and the overall combustion:

  • Fuel (wax) type
  • The melting point of the wax
  • The diameter (size) of the candle
  • Candle’s shape
  • Candle’s design
  • The percentage and type of fragrance oil
  • The colorant percentage and type (powder, liquid, color block, dye chip)

When selecting the ideal wick for your candle, it is vital to pay attention to all of the components above that go into the design of the candle. Matching the right family of wick, and then the right size of the wick, is critical to optimize each candle’s unique properties. The best wick is the key element for each candle’s burning efficiency.

Benefits of Selecting the Right Wick
Selecting the proper wick enables candle manufacturers to provide their customers candle’s with the following benefits:

  • Steady flame size
  • Moderate temperature
  • Minimal, if any, blooming (carbon deposits)
  • Maximum efficient burn pool formation
  • Minimal after-glow once the candle is extinguished

Why Choose Wicks Unlimited?
Wicks Unlimited supplies premium pre-waxed candlewick for manufacturers to formulate candles with unique specifications that their customers want. With over 400 different wicks, 26 candle sustainers, and an assortment of wick clip assemblies, Wicks Unlimited is the ultimate destination for all of your combustion needs. Whether your candle system requires a cored or flat braided wick, all of our pre-waxed wicks are waxed onto an eco-friendly cardboard reel ideal for in-line tab, cut, and glue candle machinery.

Discover why candle manufacturers large and small across the globe rely on Wicks Unlimited for all of their combustion needs. Fill out the contact form below to learn more!

An Introduction to Candle Wick Sizing

An Introduction to Candle Wick Sizing

Selecting the correct candle wick family and then size, is the final and most essential part of the candle development process. Using the proper wick size drastically improves the candle’s overall combustion and has numerous benefits for both manufacturers and the end consumer.

Understanding Candle Wick Designations & Rate Charts: An Introduction
All candle wick braiders list their wicks for candle manufacturers in some type of chart format. These charts show all of the different wicks within one family generally listed from smallest to largest or vice versa. Braiders also try to give some context of the wicks burning properties through ROC (Rate of Consumption), Flame Height, and Burn Pool Diameter. These parameters are general guidelines and are not representative of how that wick will burn in any particular manufactured candle. There is no substitute for through burn testing to determine the best wick for each candle.

Selecting the Correct Wick Size
Determining which size candle wick is best for a particular candle type is dependent on a variety of factors. During Wicks Unlimited’s confidential candle wick size consultation, we begin the conversation by asking a few fundamental questions.

What is the diameter of the particular candle?
The diameter of the candle/container determines how large the burn pool needs to be for optimum performance. Whether it is a single wick or multiple wicks, the size of the wick controls the efficiency, safety, and quality of melting and burning the candles overall diameter.

What type of wax?
Different waxes, Soy, Paraffin, Palm, and blends, all require different capillary and burning properties from the wick. The wick’s thickness, braiding tension, construction material, and burning profile all need to be in sync with the waxes own specific melting and burning properties as well.

What types of fragrance oils and colors?
The quantity of the oil and color used in the candle also matters when selecting a wick size. In general, colorful candles with strong scents usually require much larger wicks or multi-wicks than those with less oil and color.

What is the expected burn time?
Burn time is directly affected by the type, size, and number of wicks in the candle. In general, when the candles combustion properties for safety and quality are optimized, so is the burn time.

Benefits of Selecting the Correct Wick Size
Using the correct wick size in your candle has numerous advantages for both manufacturers and the end-user.Uniform flame size, minimal or non-existent blooming (carbon deposits), and little to no afterglow once the candle is extinguished are just some of the correct wick size benefits.
Choosing the correct size wick is a crucial decision and is the first step in formulating a safe and well-performing candle. Wicks Unlimited supplies premium pre-waxed candle wick for manufacturers to create candles with unique specifications that their customers want. Schedule your confidential wick sizing consultation today with our industry experts to help you ensure that your candles burn safely, cleanly, and without excess soot or smoke.

Fill out the contact form below to schedule your confidential wick sizing consultation today!