Choosing the best wick
With many different types, lengths and thicknesses of wick it can be a little daunting trying to figure out which one to choose.
Fear not, here at Candle Creations we have chosen the best of the best wicks for making natural candles and in this tutorial we explain the basic differences in our wicks and how to measure and select the best wick for your candle; you’ll be an expert in no time!
1. Measure Jar Diameter
When choosing a wick the most important part is getting the correct thickness, height is not as important as you will be trimming your wicks to size later. So the first thing to do is measure the internal diameter of your candle jar as you will need this measurement to help match up a suitable wick using the wick tables below. For a straight sided jar simply measure across the top of the jar from one side to the other. For a tapered jar you want to measure the widest point at which there will be wax in the jar.
The guides below are for use with soy, palm and gel wax. When working with beeswax you should bump up at least three sizes.
2. Choose a Wick
Now refer to the wick charts and find the the wick that matches the diameter of your jar. There are often two or more wicks that match your size, this is to allow for “fine tuning” due to the many variables in candle recipes. We recommend starting out at the higher end of the scale and testing from there. Choose the height of wick (based on the height of your jar) and follow the links in the chart to go directly to the product page of your chosen wick.
If your diameter is wider than what our chart reaches then divide your diameter by the amount of wicks you would like to use EG: 120mm divided by two = 60mm. Use two (or three) wicks spaced evenly that burn 60mm.
ACS Series Wick Chart |
|||
| Wick Code | Diameter Guide | Height | |
| ACS 3.0 | 45 – 55mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 3.5 | 50 – 55mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 4.0 | 55 – 60mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 4.5 | 55 – 60mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 5.0 | 55 – 65mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 5.5 | 55 – 65mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 6.0 | 65 – 70mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 6.5 | 65 – 70mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 7.0 | 65 – 80mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 7.5 | 70 – 80mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 7.7 | 75 – 80mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 8.0 | 80 – 90mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 8.5 | 85 – 90mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 9.0 | 90 – 95mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 9.3 | 90 – 95mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 9.5 | 95 – 100mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 9.8 | 95 – 100mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS 9.9 | 95 – 105mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| ACS series wicks are a flat braided candle wick made from textile-grade cotton and are developed to work best in natural waxes, especially soy wax. These wicks tend to burn cleanly and can be less prone mushrooming (subject to testing and fine tuning). ACS wicks are all natural and are Zinc and Lead free. Download or print the ACS Series Wick Guide | |||
CDNSeries Wick Chart |
|||
| Wick Code | Diameter Guide | Height | |
| CDN 6 | 40 – 45mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 7 | 45 – 50mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 8 | 50 – 55mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 10 | 55 – 60mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 12 | 60 – 65mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 14 | 65 – 70mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 16 | 70 – 75mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 18 | 75 – 80mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 20 | 80 – 85mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 22 | 85 – 90mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 24 | 90 – 95mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 26 | 90 – 100mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 28 | 95 – 105mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| CDN 30 | 100 – 110mm | 150mm | 300mm |
| The CDN wick by Heinz Verhaegh are one of the best in the industry and feature a paper braid style designed to ‘self trim’ by bending at the tip while burning. The CDN series of candle wicks are made from pure cotton with a paper core and a paper braid running through the wick which helps to deliver a more complete combustion and a cleaner burn. The paper braid is is what gives the wick its light brown color. Perfect for use in natural waxes including soy, beeswax and palm wax. CDN wicks are all natural and are Zinc and Lead free. Download or print the CDN Series Wick Guide. | |||
CDN or ACS?
We sell two types of wick and they are both great for making soy candles, if you are starting out we recommend the ACS series because there are more options for sizes and they tend to be less prone to mushrooming. That is not to say you need to be afraid to try the CDN wick, some customers love the look of the paper braid. The trick is to get started with a wick you think is about right for your jar and fragrance and test until you have fine tuned the wick size, if after all your testing you cannot get one type of wick to work really well, it is time to switch to the other.Too Complicated?
If you are still not sure what size wick to use and would like to understand abit more about candle making then why not attend one of our candle classes.We run classes every month and it pays to book early.