No matter how simple a candle can be, it also reaches a certain point where it needs to be fixed. There is this phenomenon we call candle tunneling. To use your candle use your candles to their full potential, you have to know how to fix a candle.
Ways on How to Fix a Candle
Candle Tunneling
Candle tunneling happens when a lit candle melts through the candle’s base without consuming all of the overlying wax. It leaves a firm wax border around the container’s edges. The flame on the wick produces a vertical “tunnel” towards the bottom as it burns.
It leaves a lot of wax around the edges. There are a few ways you can take to repair any tunneled candles, but the best therapy is prevention! If you leave a tunneling candle unattended, it will occasionally correct and melt the remaining wax.
But most of the time it will not, leaving you with a permanent ring of solid wax around the container’s perimeter. You must move quickly to prevent wasting any wax! The more you wait, the more difficult it is to repair.
If a candle keeps tunneling, what should you do? It may cease burning on its own if it loses oxygen. If the overlying wax melts and drowns the flame, or if it is struck by lightning.
It will burn out, but without eating all of the wax. It results in a much-reduced burn period for the candle. The simplest way for you to avoid tunneling is to not let it happen in the first place.
Causes of Candle Tunneling
Candle tunneling is easily distinguished by the distinctive “ledge” it leaves behind. Tunneling candles are caused by two basic factors. These two factors are wax memory and the size of the wick.
Wax memory
To comprehend wax memory, we must first discuss what happens during a candle’s lifespan. When candle wax melts, it turns into a liquid. However, when it cools back to a solid, it is not as “hard” as it was before the wick was lit.
It might take a few days for it to be as “hard” as it was before the wick was lighted. This depends on the wax. It implies that newly melted wax is softer and requires less heat to re-melt into a liquid.
When you re-light the wick, the previously melted portion will melt faster than the remainder of the wax. Wax memory refers to the part of the candle that melts significantly faster than the remainder of the candle. It is because it has not cooled back to its former hardness.
The wick will tunnel downwards until the flame can’t melt the outer ring at all because the heat is too low. It is if you don’t give the candle enough time to melt more of the outer ring of wax. It also enhances its memory.
The candle will continue to melt the softest portion of the wax until it runs out of oxygen. Also if it reaches the bottom of the jar, leaving a huge ring of unmelted wax. Candle tunneling induced by wax memory is caused by the candle owner’s poor burn habits.
Size of the Wick
Candlemakers understand that selecting the appropriate wick is the most important aspect of a candle’s design. Everything else in the candle can hum away, but it won’t matter if the wick isn’t the appropriate size. Wax memory prevents the wick from melting the outside wax, but a little wick makes this impossible.
A candle wick that is too tiny cannot create enough heat to melt a large enough area of wax. In this situation, it will burn downwards in a hole as large as the wick’s melting capacity. Extremely chilly rooms can make it more difficult to melt the proper amount of wax.
For example, if you lit a candle outside during the cold, you’d see that nearly every single candle tunnels. This is because the solid wax must be heated to its melting point. It takes much longer when it is lying in a chilly area.
There is no replacement for a candle with the incorrect wick size. Candle tunneling caused by incorrect wick size is the result of bad candle design. If we have these things in mind, we have to know how to prevent them.
What Can Be Done To Avoid Tunneling?
Figuring out how to fix a candle especially when it tunnels down can be tricky. There are three major ways for avoiding tunneling. The first pertains to regular candles. While the second applies to candle producers attempting to create a tunnel-free candle.
For at least 3 hours, light the candle.
It’s not a hard and fast rule, but you want to give the candle enough time to melt. What if it burns too deeply before melting anything else? The flame will not have enough time to fully melt the surface, which can be a problem.
Things happen, and sometimes you burn a candle only to find you need to extinguish it immediately. However, in the first few “sessions,” let the candle burn for at least 3 to 4 hours. If you don’t let it burn long enough, the wax memory will be little and your candle will most likely start tunneling.
Use the appropriate wick size.
The other major cause of tunneling is insufficient wick size. If you produce candles, make sure you test them to determine the best wick size and sequence for your wax and container. Nobody enjoys a bad candle.
If your candle is tunneling, simply increase the wick size for the next one. This is often used to remedy undersized wick issues. Don’t forget to perform a burn test.
Conclusion on How to Fix a Candle
You’ve spent money on your favorite candle, its lovely smell permeates the room while you relax on your sofa. But the thought of candle tunneling lingers huge in the back of your mind. So make sure you read our guide on how to fix a candle so you wouldn’t have to deal with tunneling anymore!