Candle Dripping Problem
Troubleshooting Guide

Candle makers come across uneven burning and / or dripping candle problems caused by a variety of things. The most common causes of dripping candles are listed below in the order of how difficult they are to correct. To use this page, just follow the steps in order.

Step 1 - Burning In A Draft
Burning candles in a draft, even a slight draft can cause one side to burn more rapidly than the other. This causes a low spot on the edge of that side which allows the wax to drip and run out.

Prevention - When possible, eliminate the source of the draft. Since many houses contain micro currents (from air conditioning systems mostly), this is not always possible. Large drafts need to be avoided, however small drafts can be compensated for by rotating the base of the candle 90 degrees every 30 minutes or so. This will even out the burning somewhat.

Step 2 - Wick Position
Failure to center the wick within the candle will cause more heat on one side causing it to burn as if it was in a draft. This is a common problem with triple wick candles - since there are three wicks, three areas of the candle's edge will be closer than the rest of the edge.

Prevention - For single wick candles, just make sure the wick is centered properly before pouring. For triple wick candles there is no way to prevent this that does not negatively impact the way it burns.

Step 3 - Untrimmed Wick
An poorly trimmed wick produces a larger flame, and therefore more heat than it should. This can cause the wax to melt faster than the wick can consume it.

Prevention - Keep all wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch.

Step 4 - Wick Size
An improperly sized wick may cause a candle to drip. This is most common with wicks that are too small for the wax formula being used, but on occasion it may happen with exceptionally large wick sizes as well. It is important that a wick be the correct size for the wax formula / candle diameter combination.

Prevention - A properly sized wick will ideally consume the wax at the same rate it is melting it. This will prevent the buildup of excess melted wax. Experiment with progressively larger wick sizes. Note: Wick size charts are approximations that cannot take all factors into consideration - consider these as suggested sizes for starting experimentation.

If this does not help with your problem, please search our knowledgebase. If the answer is not in the knowledgebase, click here to submit your question.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common candle making practices as of the time of this writing - January 2006. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This article is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.

Author: Bob Sherman

Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.

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