Why is my candle only burning in the middle?

Candle tunnelling happens when a candle burns down its centre, leaving hard wax around the outside. As the flame burrows further down the middle, the wick will become more and more difficult to light and eventually be drowned by melting wax. Candle tunnelling can happen to any candle regardless of the quality or price.

Considering this, how do you get a candle to burn evenly?

Heed the following guidelines and you'll get way more mileage out of your favorite candles.

Trim the wick. Every.
Let the wax melt all the way across. Once your candle's lit, don't blow it out until the top layer of wax has melted all the way across.
Buy multi-wick candles.
Keep the flame away from moving air.

Beside above, what causes candle tunneling? Tunneling occurs when the wick used is too small and flame does not sufficiently melt the whole surface of the candle. This will result in the candle burning unevenly, a smaller flame, lower scent throw and the candle extinguishing itself.

Furthermore, how do you stop a candle from tunneling?

You can get rid of that unsightly tunnel by folding a piece of aluminum foil in half, wrapping it around the candle, and then folding it up over the flame like a tent (leaving a hole for it to get oxygen). Keep the foil on for about 30 minutes, and all of that built-up wax should be melted off the sides.

How do you stop a pillar candle from tunneling?

Hug in the edges of the pillar candle at the end of each burn by cupping your hands to fold the wax inwards. This will help avoid candle tunneling and allow the excess wax on the edges to be burned along with the center. Tunneling will cause your candle to not last as long.

28 Related Question Answers Found

Do you light all 3 Wicks?

Burn all three wicks and you'll get a fast-and-furious blast of lovely aromas, which is particularly necessary when you're in need of masking other smells fast. If you still crave more, but not the whole potent shebang, light just one of the wicks and switch off each time to keep the wax level even.

Can you fix candle tunneling?

One way to fix a tunneling candle is to get the wax to a level that the flame can melt it all the way across the diameter of the candle. 1) Scoop the higher wax out with a spoon or a butter knife until the flame can melt the wax evenly.

Can you burn a candle all the way down?

The National Candle Association (www.candles.org) states that the reason to not burn the wax (in a container or just a candle itself) all the way down is SAFETY. A glass jar or container can become too hot, causing it to break or shatter and possibly causing a fire as well as other damage.

Why can't you burn candles for more than 4 hours?

If you burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time, carbon will collect on the wick, and your wick will begin to "mushroom." This can cause the wick to become unstable, the flame to get too large, your candle to smoke, and soot to be released into the air and around your candle container.

When should you throw out candles?

After 4 hours of burn time, let cool for 2 hours before trimming. During longer burns, the wick will begin to form a "mushroom" like shape, care should be taken to remove these burned remnants and retrim the wick to ?” inch after every burn. Throw out your candle when there's ½” of wax left at the bottom.

How do I get a candle to burn evenly?

Steps

Position a candle vertically on a flat, stable surface.
Light candles with a long lighter or long matches.
Keep burning candles away from drafts.
Trim candle wicks to be ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ in (0.32 to 0.64 cm) tall before each use.
Melt the entire top layer of wax during the first burn.

How do you stop a candle from burning in the middle?

How to prevent candle tunneling

The first time you light the candle, don't trim the wick.
Let the candle burn long enough to get the entire top liquid wax.
After the first burn, try to let the candle burn for long stretches as often as you can to keep that really wide opening and prevent tunneling later on.

How do you fix a broken candle?

How to Fix a Broken Candle

Fill a small pot or pan with water and set it on the stove on high heat.
Dip the broken ends of the candle into the pot until the wax begins to melt.
Immediately secure the two pieces together in their original form as soon as the pieces are taken out of the water.
Place some newspaper or an old cloth on a table.

Why has my candles sink in the middle?

Candle wax sinks when it sets because as the wax cools, it slowly contracts and can leave what I refer to as 'sink holes' in the middle of your candles, but can also present as sunken dips around the wick. Then you'll want to pour your excess wax on top, making sure the holes are filled with the liquid wax.

Can you melt candles to make new candles?

Microwave each group of wax in a microwave-safe dish in 1-minute increments at about 60% power. It took about 4 minutes for mine to melt down. Place a wick in the jars you plan to reuse. Once the wax is melted, hold on to the wick with one hand and slowly pour the wax into the jar with the other hand.

Can candles explode?

Candles can explode due to a chemical reaction when water combines with certain fuel types. This explosion may also be referred to as a candle fire. By breaking the fire triangle, a fire can be extinguished safely, without intensifying the matter.

Why is my beeswax candle tunneling?

According to the National Candle Association: The most common reason a candle will tunnel down the middle and leave a lot of wax behind is that the candle was not burned for the appropriate amount of time for that candle. Here at Big Moon Beeswax Studios we created a nickname called "The Melt Pool Rule."

How do you keep beeswax candles from tunneling?

Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax should help the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling, but technically you can also make a 100% beeswax candle as well. Pour the wax and oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.

How do you melt all the wax in a candle?

Pour boiling water into the pot around the candle, making sure that the water does not get into the candle jar. Let the jar sit in the hot water until the wax has softened. Hold the jar in one hand and use a butter knife to loosen the wax.

How should a pillar candle burn?

How Do I Burn A Pillar Candle?

Before lighting, remove any labels.
When you first light your pillar candle, let the pool of wax reach within ¼” of the outside edge, then extinguish.
Before lighting always trim the wick to ¼.”
If dripping or smoking occurs, extinguish the candle, allow the wax to harden and trim the wick.

What is a pillar candle?

Pillar candles. The candle which has a rigid wax that makes sure that the candles stand all alone in a bowl or on a platform without melting into a flabby muddle is known to be a pillar candle. These candles are present in different sizes, shapes and can have a great height as compared to other candles.

How do you melt the sides of a candle?

First, safely light your candle. Then, being careful not to burn yourself, wrap a layer of aluminimum foil around the top of the candle making a domed lid with a hole in the top. This allows the heat to stay in and melt the rim of hard wax on the sides.