Question: Which Wick to Use? Answer:    It Depends!

                                                  
Not meaning to sound facetious that is the answer. It depends on the following factors:

1. FUEL: Is it paraffin, beeswax, gel, soy, etc.
2. MELTING POINT:  Is it a low point votive wax or a high point pillar...
3. SIZE and SHAPE: Free standing pillar, votive, container...what is the diameter...
4. SCENT: what kind and how much...
5. DYE: what kind and how much
6. ADDITIVES: Vybar, Stearic Acid, Mold Release...

Testing is imperative! You need to test and experiment with different types of wicks if you aren't satisfied with the results. Once you are satisfied keep a record of your formula so you can repeat this success. See our form here. If you are having problems with your candles see the chart at the bottom of this page. For the wicks we carry click here.

TYPES OF WICKS

Flat Plaited or Regular Wicks	- taper and pillars - automatically bends
Square Wicks	- pillar, taper and citronella candles
Cored Wicks - Cotton	- votives, pillars & containers - produces the hottest flame of all cored wick & will help control carbon buildup - constructed of 100% natural fibres
Cored Wicks - Zinc	- pillar, votive or containers - these wicks can cause mushrooming (carbon build up) - has the coolest flame & has the most rigidity
Cored Wicks - Paper	- tightly rolled paper at the core - burns hotter than zinc but cooler than cotton - rigidity is between zinc and cotton - produced from 100% natural fibres
Cored Wicks	- votives, containers - cotton, paper and zinc cores
Performa Wick	- curling wick with a high stalk height - creates a more symetrical wax pool & a self-trimming posture - aids in burning the more viscous waxes - useful in beeswax candles - 100% natural fibres
Square Braided Wick	- open construction & the chemical treatment makes them an excellent wick for highly viscous waxes (like beeswax and vegetable waxes) - designed to give a curl when burned to minimize carbon buildup - 100% natural fibres
LX Wicks	- flat braided wick stabilizing threads and a special treatment - designed to improve the burning of solid scented, solid colored votives, and container and pillar candles - solid wick construction from pure ring spun cotton yarn - self-trimming wick minimizes or eliminates carbon heading (mushrooming)
HTP Wicks	- votives, containers - American version of "German Wicks" - works well with the IGI One pour wax and vegetable wax - self-trimming wick - has the posture of a cored wick due to a specialty yarn fibre that is incorporated into the construction of the braid - 100% natural fibres - high burn temperature results in less carbon head formation

Possible problems and their solutions:

Symptom	Problem	Possible Solution
Smoking	wick too large	use a lower burn rate wick
	air pocket in wax	pour at higher temperature
	wick too long	trim wick to 1/4"
	wick too large	use a lower burn rate wick
Dripping	drafty location	move candle
	wick off centre	move wick to centre
	wick too small	use higher burn rate wick or increase size of wick (this will draw up and burn off more of the fuel)
	wax too soft	eg. votives wax will melt as it has a lower melt point (that is why it is not recommended for pillars)
Mushrooming	too rich of a wax formula	use a harder wax
	too much colour or scent	use less, try different brands
	wick too small	use a higher burn rate wick
Drowning	wick too small	increase wick size
	wax too soft	add stearic or use a higher melt point wax (our One Pour wax can have this problem if you do not have a hot enough flame - use the HTP wicks)

Here you see a tealight wick test. I wrote the product number of the wick on a sticker. After they were lighted, I took notes on which ones were more effective. It is strongly suggested that you test your wicks before buying in bulk - it can save you a lot of aggravation.