Christmastime Carving Lesson

I spotted this video from Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Recently, Dolly Parton made a public service announcement with Smokey Bear to remind people of fire safety, especially in dry conditions.  Unfortunately, a terrible wildfire event has occurred in and around the Chimney Tops area near Gatlinburg.  Here I will share Dolly's fire prevention message as well as a nice video from Dollywood about carving candles. 

Dolly has helped in sponsoring a fund for fire victims, for more information, see:
https://dollywoodfoundation.org/

Comparing Soy Waxes

These are a few notes comparing a few soy container waxes.
The Golden Brands waxes are very nice; I have used GW415,
GW444, and GW464.  Of the three, the GW415 is a 100% soy
wax without any additives and it is poured at a cooler
temperature than the other two.  The appearance of the
GW415 varies just a bit, the surface isn't quite as
smooth, but the lower melt point seems to help with
glass adhesion.

Choosing which wax you prefer to use has much to do
with your own preferences, availability, scents,
containers, etc.  For instance, if your glassware
is clear and you wish to try to avoid wet spots that
will be seen, you may be more comfortable with a
lower melt point wax; or, if you want to be able to add
more scent, a wax that has a higher fragrance load may
be more suitable for you.  So far, I've only tried these
three waxes, but plan to see what the differences
may be with some others, such as Cargill’s NatureWax C-3.

Pouring temperatures vary and results may be dependent
upon the temperature of your work space or glassware.
Your pouring temperature can have something to do with
wet spots upon the glass, frosting, or surface flaws.
For instance, if you pour too hot, the surface may crack,
so after adding your scent and stirring well, be sure to
allow for cooling prior to pouring.  If your work area
is cool, warming your glassware on an oven top or a
hot plate can help prevent wet spots or other issues.
If the top of your candle has any flaws and the surface
requires smoothing, a light brush with a heat gun should
take care of it.  Some sources say that the pouring
temperature should be about the same as the melt point
temperature.  Soy candles should be allowed to cure
for about a week before burning to allow the scent
to properly bind with the wax. 


Here are some specifics and comparisons ...

Meltpoints:
GW415 - 120-125
GW444 - 120-125
GW464 - 115-120
C-3 - 125-130dF


Fragrance Loads:
GW415 - 6%-9%
GW444 - 9-11%
GW464 - 7-9%
C-3 - 6%


Pouring Temperature:
GW415 - 90-100dF
GW464 - 125-145
GW444 - 125-145
C-3 - 120-165°F


Other Notes:
GW415 - Blends with other waxes, such as paraffin or beeswax.

GW464-  
Does not mix well with beeswax, but mixes with paraffin.

The source of the above information is wax manufacturers' websites in combination with some information from resellers or tips gathered personally & from other crafters.