Technical Resources Archives | Page 2 of 3

What Are the Differences Between Non-Puncture and Puncture Crimping?

February 4, 2022January 31, 2022 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

Wicks Unlimited developed two innovative crimping options to meet the performance demands of both candle manufacturers and end-users: non-puncture and puncture crimping. Non-puncture crimping enables candles to “shut off” while puncture crimping generates additional wax (fuel) flow that consumes all the fuel (wax) at the end of life, respectively. Both Non-puncture and puncturing crimping will help “shut off” the flame. The difference is that non-puncture will extinguish the flame as soon as it reaches the top of the neck. While all of Wicks Unlimited metal candle sustainers are manufactured from the highest quality tin-coated steel to inhibit corrosion caused by fragrance and essential oils, their end-of-life characteristics depend on their neck height and crimp type.

Metal Sustainers with Non-Puncturing Crimp

Wicks Unlimited signature non-puncturing crimping sustainer series enables manufacturers to develop candles that “shut off” at their end of life. This innovative sustainer design will meet all standard operating requirements for crimp hold. Candle manufacturers rely on non-puncture metal sustainers to reduce the overall thermal profile of a particular candle system to meet their customers’ preferences.

Non-puncture candle sustainer’s neck heights range from 6.0 mm and include safety neck sustainers with neck heights of 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 13.2 mm, and 14.5 mm to meet your specific safety requirements. Manufacturers can select from either 14.5 mm, 15.0 mm, or 20.0 mm base diameter(s). They can also take advantage of Wicks Unlimited’s wide selection of wick products since its wick insertion hole sizes include 2.1 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.8 mm, and 4.1 mm.

Signature series sustainers with non-puncturing crimp “shut off” at their end of life.
Available with neck heights of 6.0 mm, 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 13.2 mm, and 14.5 mm.
Signature series sustainers with a non-puncturing crimp are available with 14.5 mm, 15.0 mm, and 20.0 mm base diameter(s)
Wick insertion hole diameters range from 2.1 mm to 4.1 mm.
Non-puncture crimp sustainers are manufactured from .010″ (0.254 mm) thick tin-coated steel that helps inhibit corrosion.

Metal Sustainers with Puncture Crimping

Precision high-speed equipment creates a piercing in the sustainer’s wall generating additional (fuel) wax flow at the candle’s end of life. Metal sustainers with puncture crimping enable manufacturers to develop candles that consume all the fuel (wax) as opposed to non-puncture crimping that leaves unconsumed wax at the end of life, respectively. Wicks Unlimited innovative puncture crimping provides a tight wick grip and simultaneously increases the crimp’s overall tensile strength.

Metal sustainers with puncture crimping are available with neck heights of 6.0 mm and include safety neck sustainers with neck heights of 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm. 13.2 mm and 14.5 mm. Candle manufacturers can select base diameter(s) ranging from 14.5 mm to 20.00 mm. With wick insertion hole diameters ranging from 2.1 mm to 3.0 mm, manufacturers can choose from Wicks Unlimited’s diverse collection of wick products to meet their production requirements.

Metal sustainers with puncture crimping are Wicks Unlimited’s best-selling sustainer series.
Available with neck heights of 6.0 mm, 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 13.2 mm, and 14.5 mm.
Standard series sustainers are available with 14.5 mm, 15.0 mm, and 20.0 mm base diameter(s).
Wick insertion hole diameters range from 2.1 mm to 3.0 mm.
Manufactured from .010″ (0.254 mm) thick tin-coated steel that helps inhibit corrosion.
Sustainers with puncture crimping enable candles to consume all the fuel at the end of life.
High-speed equipment creates a piercing in the sustainer’s wall generating additional (fuel) wax flow at the candle’s end of life.

Creating a Better Candle Experience with the Appropriate Crimp Type

Take the guesswork out of selecting the appropriate sustainer crimp by partnering with the combustion specialists at Wicks Unlimited. We work with candle manufacturers during the candle formulation or troubleshooting phase to ensure their candle system uses the appropriate crimping option for optimal combustion. With over 450 different wicks stocked on-site, including cored and flat braided wick, 26 different candle sustainers, and an assortment of wick clip assemblies, Wicks Unlimited is the ultimate destination for all your combustion needs. Use the form below to contact Wicks Unlimited to discuss whether sustainers with non-puncture or puncture crimping are appropriate for your next production run.

What’s the Difference Between Regular and Safety Length Wick Sustainers?

December 7, 2021September 15, 2021 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

The candle-making process includes many different considerations such as the general use of the candle, wax type, scent profile, wick type, color, container type, the overall size, and which metal wick sustainer tab is appropriate. End-customers purchase candles for different reasons: candle power, scent throw, melt pool, and how much wax remains at the candle’s end of life. Candle manufacturers understand their customers’ preferences, two of them being the temperature of the candle’s base and the amount of wax remaining at the candle’s end of life. The candle combustion experts at Wicks Unlimited work with manufacturers to determine the appropriate metal wick sustainer for their specific candle system to meet their customers’ expectations. Let’s explore why Wicks Unlimited candle sustainers are preferred by leading candle manufacturers globally.

Metal Wick Sustainers

As a division of Stimpson, the leading global manufacturer of standard and special eyelets, Wicks Unlimited wick sustainers meet the latest international quality standards and management systems stipulated in ISO 9001:2015. Wicks Unlimited manufactures and supplies 24 different sustainers of varying base diameters, neck heights, and hole diameters. They are made from the highest quality tin-coated steel to inhibit corrosion often caused by fragrance and essential oils, featuring an industry-leading .010″ (0.254) metal thickness.

Safety vs. Regular Wick Sustainers | An Introduction

During the candle formulation or troubleshooting phase, Wicks Unlimited works with manufacturers to understand their combustion requirements and their customers’ expectations, especially how much wax remains on the bottom of the candle’s container. Wicks Unlimited offers 3.8 mm, 6.0mm, 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 13.2mm, 14.5mm, and custom wick sustainer lengths. The sustainer’s height determines the container’s base thermal profile, indicating an aggressive or a conservative system and the remaining amount of wax at the candle’s end of life. As a rule of thumb, sustainers above 10.0 mm can be considered safety sustainers, while sustainers below 10.0 mm are considered regular. It is important to note that the height of the neck determines how much wax remains on the container’s glass bottom at the candle’s end of life.

Creating a Better Candle Experience with the Appropriate Wick Sustainer

Take the guesswork out of selecting the appropriate wick sustainer by partnering with the combustion specialists at Wicks Unlimited. We work with candle manufacturers during the candle formulation or troubleshooting phase to ensure their candle system uses the appropriate metal wick sustainer for optimal combustion and to meet their customers’ expectations. In addition to regular and safety length wick sustainers, Wicks Unlimited offers an innovative self-centering sustainer that enables candle manufacturers to “drop and pour” , saving them both time and money. With over 450 different wicks stocked on-site including cored and flat braided wick, 26 different candle sustainers, and an assortment of wick clip assemblies, Wicks Unlimited is the ultimate destination for all of your combustion needs. Use the form below to contact Wicks Unlimited to discuss the different safety and regular candle wick sustainers available for your next production run.

Candle Wick Designations: What Do They Mean?

November 9, 2021February 28, 2021 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

Even for the most experienced candle manufacturers, keeping up with the latest wick offerings and designations is a daunting task. Since each wick and candle has its own burn characteristics, the combustion experts at Wicks Unlimited compiled all of the wick designations inventoried to help manufacturers save time. Let’s explore the different candle wick designations available and their unique characteristics.

Cored Wicks

Paper Core Wick

Paper core wick remains one of the most popular wick options in the marketplace. Constructed of 100% natural fibers, the paper core wick features a cotton outer braid surrounding an inner paper filament. This wick type’s paper core enables the wick to remain rigid in the molten wax pool in various candle types, including in votives, pillars, and containers. Paper core wick’s burn characteristics make them ideal for slower-burning waxes, like soy that require additional heat for optimal combustion.

Zinc Core Wick

During pouring and burning, the Zinc core wick provides increased wick support since it is the most rigid of all cored wick. This wick type features a cotton outer braid of natural fibers surrounding a thin filament of zinc running up the wick’s center. Zinc core wick is known for its cool flame profile and its ability to remain upright in the molten wax pool. This wick is typically recommended for use in paraffin wax tealights, votive, pillar, and container candles.

Cotton Core Wick

Cotton core wick is made of braided cotton strands dipped in wax and then compressed to hold their shape. This wick type produces a reliable and robust flame with minimal carbon buildup. It is designed for use in votive, pillar, and container candle systems. Wicks Unlimited carries a variety of cotton core wick types.

HP-CNP Wick

HP-CNP is a cellulose-based wick with a rigid paper core for increased stability engineered to meet the demands of today’s complex wax formulations, especially those with high scent throws. This round-cored wick is known for its stable burn cycle characteristics and is designed explicitly for scented wax formulations.

Aroma-Lite™ Wick

Constructed of 100% natural fibers, the Aroma-Lite™ wick is designed explicitly for candles with high scent throws. By design, this cored wick is self-trimming and inhibits mushroom capping, often found in candles with high-levels of fragrance.

HP-N Wick

This self-trimming wick is often used in paraffin wax, palm, and soy candles. Since the HP-N is self-trimming this is an option for candles with heavily scented wax blends. Made of 100% cellulose fibers, the long strands of tightly braided cotton help reduce afterglow.

RRD Wick

RRD wick is a directional round wick featuring a 100% braided cotton core enabling the wick to curl slightly during the burn cycle. This wick series performs well with viscous fuels such as vegetable wax without clogging or drowning during capillary action. They are known within the candle industry for their consistent burn pool and flame profile in pillar and container candle systems with high fragrance loads.

Flat Braided Wicks

HTP Wick

HTP wick is a coreless, flat braided wick constructed from high-performance fibers and natural materials with a paper filament throughout. Engineered for those tough-to-burn applications, HTP wick features a paper filament throughout, providing a similar effect of paper core wick’s structural strength. This versatile wick offers a more predictable wick posture resulting in increased rigidity and the benefits of a self-trimming wick resulting in minimal mushrooming and soot. The burn characteristics of HTP wick make them appropriate for viscous wax types, including paraffin and vegetable formulations.

Ply Wick

Often referred to as flat, classic, or regular wick, Ply wick is a popular option for dipped, poured or extruded candles. This wick is constructed of 100% natural fibers and curls at the tip throughout the combustion cycle reducing carbon buildup during its lifespan for an even burn.

Stabillo/Stabillo KST Wick

Stabillo wick is a flat braided cotton wick series with paper filament thread woven into the braid for increased rigidity. The wick’s reinforced construction promotes a consistent capillary action in various waxes, including natural waxes and waxes with high scent throws. This wick series is ideal for candle systems such as tealight, votives, and pillars, where increased wick rigidity is essential.

ECO Wick

Made from ring-spun cotton interwoven with thin paper threads, the ECO wick series are known for their controlled curl during combustion and consistent burn profile. These self-trimming coreless wicks are appropriate for container candles and wax formulations with high scent throw. The design of this wick produces minimal afterglow and carbon deposit formation.

HP-NF Wick

HP-NF wick combines natural fiber’s burn characteristics and the hot throw characteristics of a cotton wick to create a high-performance flat wick. Constructed of tightly braided long strands of cotton and natural fibers, this versatile flat wick is used in paraffin, palm, soy, and heavily scented wax blends. Both HP-NF and HP-CNFW have their own rate charts but share burn characteristics.

HP-CNFW Wick

HP-CNFW wick is specifically geared towards citronella candle systems.This high–performance wick combines the natural fiber’s burn characteristics with the hot throw characteristics of a cotton wick to create a high-performance flat wick. Constructed of tightly braided long strands of cotton and natural fibers, this versatile flat wick is used in paraffin, palm, soy, and heavily scented wax blends including citronella.

HP-SP Wick

HP-SP wick is constructed from specially treated cotton and designed for pillar, taper, votive, and tealight candles. This wick is known for its superior scent throw and engineered to minimize soot and afterglow. Due to its slow-burning properties, it is excellent for a variety of waxes, including coconut wax. The all-natural cotton construction is lead and zinc-free.

LX Wick

LX wick features a specially flat braided coreless wick that curls throughout the burn cycle. This unique feature minimizes carbon buildup and reduces smoking since the curl moves to the flame’s highest heat concentration area. Added benefits of the curl are a tighter, more controlled flame profile and a self-trimming effect. Also, this wick series is lead and zinc-free.

TL Wick

Made from some of the thinnest high-grade ring-spun cotton threads available, TL wick is a specialty coreless flat wick. This wick series features stability threads braided throughout the wick for additional wick strength often required for in-line manufacturing. Due to the slow rate of wax consumption, along with a small flame profile, this wick is appropriate for tealights and votives.

FW “SU” Wick

The FW “SU” wick series is a flat braided coreless wick composed of natural fibers. This self-trimming wick is known for its consistent burn characteristics, minimal sooting, and low carbon buildup. Often found in taper and pillar candle systems, this wick works well in most paraffin wax formulations.

Square Braided Wick

Square Braided™

Initially constructed for beeswax, Square Braided wick ™ is constructed with 100% natural fibers and finished with chemical treatments to improve the candle’s overall burn qualities. Constucted to curl while burning, Square Braided wick™ performs well in various candle applications, including tealights, votives, pillars, and containers.

During the candle formulation or troubleshooting process, having a working knowledge of the different wick designations will not only help you in selecting the appropriate wick for your candle type but also ensures the experienced candle combustion specialists at Wicks Unlimited are on the same page as you when communicating by Zoom, phone or email. With over 450 different wicks stocked on-site, 26 different candle sustainers, and an assortment of wick clip assemblies, Wicks Unlimited is the ultimate destination for all of your combustion needs. Use the form below to contact Wicks Unlimited to discuss the different wick designations available for each unique candle system since no two burn cycles are the same.

Candle Burn Troubleshooting for Manufacturers

September 13, 2022January 27, 2021 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

Candle-Combustion-Troubleshooting-WIcks-Unlimited

Candle manufacturers sometimes focus on appearance, scent, and aesthetics during the formulation process rather than performance and functionality to meet customers’ initial demands at the point-of-purchase. It is only after several burn cycles that customers begin to encounter entirely avoidable combustion issues. More often than not, candle combustion issues are caused by the incorrect wick size or family used in a particular candle since each wick and candle type has unique burn characteristics. Let’s explore some observable candle combustion issues often encountered and remedied in Wicks Unlimited’s in-house combustion workshop during the formulation process.

Mushroom Capping

An oversized wick providing too much fuel (wax) to the flame or using an incorrect wick size/type for a particular candle system can cause mushroom capping. If the candle wick is too large, the flame starts to consume more wax (fuel), resulting in carbon buildup on the wick’s tip of partially reduced molecules unable to reach the flame. The buildup of partially combusted material then falls back onto the wick. It forms a mushroom shape on the wick’s end, known as mushroom capping.

Mushroom capping can be avoided with thorough testing of your candle to determine the perfect wick for your individual candle formulation.

Afterglow

Mushroom capping often causes wick afterglow, whereby the carbon mass on the tip of the wick continues to throw off a gentle glow for a considerable amount of time once extinguished. Not only is this unsafe, but it can also damage the candle brand’s reputation.

Like most combustion issues, afterglow is entirely avoidable. To prevent this phenomenon, candle manufacturers should partner with combustion specialists like Wicks Unlimited early in the formulation process. Once we understand your burn objectives, we will perform test burns to ensure that the appropriate wick size and type meet the particular candle system’s needs.

Excessive Flame Height

An excessive flame causes “sooting” consisting of tiny particles of unburned fuel. This indicates not only incomplete combustion but also improper wick selection for this particular candle system. In other words, the candle wick is delivering more fuel to the flame than it can burn.

To prevent excessive flame, manufacturers should work with candle combustion specialists to complete burn tests and identify the appropriate wick size and type for their specific candle application to refine their manufacturing specs.

Excessive/Long Wick

Excessive or long wick modifies the candle’s overall combustion process and causes mushrooming, sooting, and an uneven burn. The soot sticks to the candle jar, surrounding walls, and potentially the ceiling resulting in an unhappy customer and damage to the brand’s image and reputation.

For an optimized burn and to protect the brand’s reputation, working with experienced candle combustion specialists can prevent excessive wick through test burns.

Oversized Wick

An oversized wick generates a larger than the average flame size that causes a deep burn pool liquifying a large portion of the candle. This type of wick causes sub-optimal combustion causing the wick to mushroom. An oversized wick also increases the candle’s surface temperature resulting in fragrance destruction, which greatly reduces the intended scent profile of your candle. A properly sized wick creates an appropriate burn pool according to the candle’s width with the correct flame height. Wicks Unlimited combustion specialists can identify an oversized wick during controlled burn testing. Once complete, our combustion technicians make appropriate wick recommendations based on various criteria, including the container’s width and scent combinations.

Undersized Wick

An undersized wick is a wick that is too small for a particular candle system and does not generate enough combustion (heat) to melt the wax, causing tunneling. While tunneling is most common in a large container and votive candles, it can also happen with other candle types and sizes. It is indicated by the burn pool not forming edge-to-edge and forming a circular “tunnel” around the wick down to the core of the candle. Candle tunneling and an unhappy end user are entirely avoidable by selecting the appropriate wick size to generate optimal candle combustion.

Partnering with experienced candle combustion specialists like Wicks Unlimited during the formulation process can prevent combustion issues from happening in the first place. Even if the formulation phase has passed and a candle is experiencing combustion issues during real-world applications, our candle technicians can perform a complimentary troubleshooting burn analysis. Once completed, we confidentially report our findings and make product recommendations, including the appropriate wick size and sustainer type to produce an optimized burn. With over 450 different wicks stocked on-site, 26 candle sustainers, and an assortment of wick clip assemblies, Wicks Unlimited is the ultimate destination for all of your combustion needs. Use the form below to contact Wicks Unlimited and schedule your confidential candle combustion troubleshooting or optimization test since testing and observation are vital in the candle formulation process.

What is the Difference Between Cored and Flat Braided Wick?

November 10, 2021November 9, 2020 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

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

November 10, 2021November 9, 2020 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

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!

Characterization of Paper Fiber Flat Braided Cotton Wicks

November 9, 2020December 8, 2019 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

The braiding pattern utilized in the construction of this type of wicks, in combination with the fiber components utilized (cotton and paper), result in a natural braiding pattern of intertwined light colored cotton and dark colored paper fibers. The unique pattern is different on each “side” of the flat braided wick and can be observed with the naked eye.

Paper fiber flat braided cotton wicks are generally considered to be self-trimming wicks with a predictable posture and good rigidity. This type of wicks are good performers in a broad number of different base material formulations and are offered by all the major wick braiders servicing the candle industry around the world. The braiding pattern utilized in the construction of this type of wicks, in combination with the fiber components utilized (cotton and paper), result in a natural braiding pattern of intertwined light colored cotton and dark colored paper fibers. The unique pattern is different on each “side” of the flat braided wick and can be observed with the naked eye.

During the waxing process, it is normal for the flat wicks to align on the reel on their different “sides” and, may “rotate” several times on the same reel. As the flat wick rotates from side to side, the visual appearance of lighter and darker areas on the reel may be apparent. This is a normal occurrence which does not affect the performance of the wick.

An Accountant’s Look at Waxing Wick

August 17, 2022December 8, 2019 by wicksunlimiteddbc1

In our travels and discussions with people in the candle industry, we have been surprised to learn that there are still manufacturers who believe that their cost to wax their candle wick is simply the cost of the components…the wick and the wax. Surprising, but true.

Fortunately most people in the industry realize that this is just the beginning of the cost of preparing the wick for the candle making process. But how much does it really cost to wax your wick? To try and answer this question, we put on our accounting hats and prepared an outline of what we view to be the typical and “hidden costs” of waxing your own wick.

Phase 1: Raw Materials – The cost of raw materials (wick and wick-wax) is the beginning point. To this we need to add an allocation of time of the purchasing staff, as well as the time of receiving and inventory personnel. To be safely prepared we need to purchase and inventory raw material in adequate quantities to ensure availability as required by production. Space must be allocated to store both raw materials and in-process product. Are these overhead expenses minimal in relation to the cost of the actual raw material? They probably are. But they are there and need to be accounted for. But what about the space demands of storing the waxed and unwaxed wick and of the wick-wax? Minimal space demands, probably not. Could this space be used for more productive purposes? Probably so.

Phase 2: Production – Next we move to the production process. The wick is removed from inventory and the wax baths prepared. Care must be taken to ensure a satisfactory and consistent application of wax. Drying the wick perfectly is imperative. Timing of the flow of waxed wick to candle production must be maintained. If there is a delay, there is downtime and loss of profits. What costs have we incurred up to this point? We have the direct labor of the wax bath operators, as well as the indirect labor of the material handlers and supervisory personnel. Then there is the maintenance of the waxing machines. We are all aware that traditional waxing machines require maintenance. The finished waxed wick is then forwarded to candle production. What costs have we now incurred? Well there was material handling into, within and from the department. There is the waxing personnel. There is the maintenance and engineering staffs. There are fringe benefits and employee safety programs. There is downtime and vacation time. And, we really haven’t gotten to overhead yet.

Phase 3: Capital and Factory Usage – Waxing machines are not inexpensive and depreciation and repair outlays add to your waxing cost. Next, let’s give some thought to the significant amount of floor space required for the storing of raw and in-process wick, and especially as needed for the waxers. How much space do they occupy that could be used for other needed purposes or expansion to meet the needs of the marketing team. With square footage, don’t forget to allocate their proportionate share of overhead in the nature of real estate taxes, electric, building depreciation and maintenance.

Phase 4: Allied Expenses – Do you need to invest more money in waxing machines just to keep up? Then there’s the Human Resource challenge of finding and hiring operators and mechanics…and let’s not forget the cost of their fringe benefits, vacation time and sick days. And, we need to add in a factor for machine downtime. The operators continue to accrue labor and benefit costs as the mechanics repair the waxers once again. Now the accountants’ adding machines are really cranking away. Now we’re getting a feel for what it really costs.

Alternative: So, these are the tangible expenses of doing your own waxing. The option (whether to do it yourself or take some of the burden off of your own team) is to receive top quality product made to your specifications, in house, on time, every time, ready to go into production. Seems a lot simpler. You work with us to select the wick and wick-wax. We provide you with exactly what you choose. Let’s be straight forward here, if you don’t like our product or service, we lose. If all goes as anticipated, you’ll feel like a genius. Simple, delivered to your door, ready to go. We see ourselves as a value added premium combustion component supplier to the candle industry. You purchase the candle wax, fragrances, glass as a finished product. Why not the waxed wick? The choice is yours.

And, Now for the Fun “Stuff”: Enough of the cost accounting, let’s touch base on some of the inherent benefits you will reap by obtaining the finished waxed wick, ready to go into production, from Wicks Unlimited.

- No need to secure and stock raw wick. Wicks Unlimited maintains large quantities of the most technically advanced wick from Wedo, Technical Braiding, Sao Vitor and Atkins & Pearce. We work with the leading wick manufacturers to develop new wicks to meet the requirements of today’s candles. Once your wick requirements are determined, we go out and purchase and maintain in inventory a minimum of six months supply of your raw wick. The potential for delivery delays is curtailed right from the start.
- It gets better. With our very popular “Make and Hold” program we will wax your wick and maintain it in OUR inventory. You place orders for your upcoming requirements and agree to take shipment of it within six months. We go ahead and wax your orders to your specifications and put them into inventory. When you call up requesting shipment, it goes out our door the same day!
- Now let’s talk about the quality of the product you will be receiving. Let’s start with the machinery itself. Traditional waxing machines “cover” the wick by applying a thin coating of wax to the outside of the raw wick. It is not uncommon that during this procedure, gear or chain driven waxing machines will not smoothly pull the wick through the wax bath, but will tend to stress the wick, distorting the braid. Furthermore, the waxing machines available to the candle industry today are not engineered with the most reliable and consistent rewind components to ensure consistent stress free waxing. The result of these deficiencies is that you have a wick that is inadequately saturated, contains air pockets and has braids that are not evenly tensioned for the burn process they were designed for. The end result is inconsistent flame height when your customers burn your candles.
- In contrast, Wicks Unlimited’s waxing machines saturate the wick to its core by gently forcing air out of the wick, without stressing it. This allows the wick to burn in a more uniform and predictable manner and makes it stronger to work with in production. All our waxing machines are engineered and built in house to our exacting specifications. Our goal in the construction of these machines was 100% predictability in the quality of the waxed wick.

As a final note, we are pleased to provide confidential preliminary and problem solving test burning and wick selection for our customers. Drawing on decades of experience and with the assistance of formidable library of wicks, time lapse and infrared photography, our busy lab is not only a place of technical assistance, but also continual learning.

Conclusion:

Unless you are Wicks Unlimited, who really wants to wax wick? Are you really saving money by doing it yourself? It’s more than the cost of the wick and wick wax…and all that floor space, all that capital investment…are you really saving money by doing it yourself? Can you trust someone else to help you out? We welcome you to the world of Wicks Unlimited. The partnership potential is unlimited!