You have done all of this work and now your homemade candle sinks in the middle, and you want to know why. The reason is pretty simple, and it has nothing to do with you.
The reason why candles sink in the middle is because of the wax itself. It doesn’t matter what type of candle you are trying to make or how careful you are, sinkholes may still occur. It happens because as the wax cools, it slowly contracts, causing it to sink in the middle, and it can also present as sunken dips around the wick.
Now you want to know how do you fix this problem! Well, just keep reading and I will explain.
Why Does It Sink?
Homemade candles sink in the middle because during the cooling process the wax that has hardened cannot stick to the wick. Pouring it at a cooler temperature or a second pour may help prevent that.
Melt the wax, pour it into the jar with correctly positioned wick, and then wait util it hardens, and after waiting long enough, you think that you have the perfect candle.
During this process, the wax starts to cool down and contract. It needs to stick to something, so it will first stick to the sides during the cooling process. This is what causes the wax to sink in the middle. The wax may also stick to your wick if it can grasp it, but the middle will still sink as it starts to cool down further.
The Right Temperature
You need to have the right room temperature. This means that the room must be well ventilated, and you can control the temperature in the room. This is important when it’s very hot or very cold outside.
Sink Holes in Pillars
Pillars are less likely to form sinkholes, but in order to prevent this from happening, or to fix a sinkhole, you can use a bamboo stick or a thick skewer to poke vertical holes in the top. You should do this a couple of hours after you’ve poured the wax, as it is beginning to properly set but long before it’s fully cooled. You’ll want to make deep holes, but an inch on the bottom. Be careful to keep your hole vertical and not to disturb the position of the wick.
Then pour your excess wax on top, making sure the holes are filled with the liquid wax. You should do this regardless of whether you see any sinking starting to appear on the top of the candle. Sinkholes can be hidden in the middle of your wax. This method will completely fill them.
Longest Lasting Candle Waxes (Top 5)
How To Stop The Sinking In The Middle
- Preparation
Preparing properly will help you prevent a lot of problems from happening later. An example is to leave the containers and molds in room temperature with enough time prior to the melting and pouring process, so they are at the right temperature when you are read y to start pouring.
Another option is to put your jars or molds on a cookie sheet and into your oven at the lowest setting you have for about 15 to 20 minutes. This way, they would warm up quicker, and you wouldn’t need to wait for them to warm up.
If your container is too cold, or if you want to accelerate the process and put the container into the refrigerator after you pour in the wax, then the exterior will harden too quickly before the inside area. This will trap air inside causing it not to release naturally. This will cause your candle to sink in the middle.
- Pouring Your Wax at a Lower Temperature
Pouring at a lower temperature will also help to prevent sinkholes from forming. But you have to be careful with this method, if it gets too cold, you will be below the suggested temperature, and your batch will not solidify the right way.
How To Fix A Sinkhole
There are two ways that can be used to fix sinkholes in your candles. One is by using a heat gun and the other is by pouring more wax. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a heat gun, there is an alternative.
How to Fix candle sinkholes with a heat gun
A heat gun is the best way to fix sinkholes in your candles. It is the fastest way to fix them. You can use it to heat the candle’s surface to fill up any holes your candle has. Also, once you start doing that, you can use a stick, like stated above, to poke in the hole to open it up, so the melted wax can fill it entirely.
How to Fix Sinkholes a Without Using a Heat Gun
There are alternatives that will work just as good, if you do not own a heat gun. For example, you can use a hairdryer or a low temp over. A hairdryer works the same as a heat gun. Use the same process. You will heat the surface of the candle till you fill-up the holes.
A low temperature on an oven can also work. However, make sure you only use the upper heat. I would do it very slowly till you are used to it because you may end up melting more than the surface. Regularly check and use a stick to poke in the holes to open them as you would do with the other fixes.
How to Fix Sinkholes by Pouring Again
This is not much different from the heat gun. Pouring a second round of wax does the same thing. It fills up the hole. This technique is ideal if you want to know how to fix sinkholes in soy candles.
If you want to use this method, save some wax from the next set of candles you pour for your next batch. Be careful here so that you are not pouring the second pour too fast after the first pour. This means your candle must have solidified entirely and cooled off before doing your second pour.
In most cases, it is advised that you pour the second pour of wax two hours after the first. If it is done too fast, you may have significant flaws in the physical look of your candle, or it may even create another sinkhole.
Again, use the same procedure here by using a stick. Poke in the holes, so you are sure all of them are filled and do it while you are pouring your second.
You can also try to heat up the glass before pouring it in. However, you will need to be careful not to heat them up too much. Heating them up too much will cause the candles to have a hard time solidifying as they cool down. You can quickly put them in the oven on warm mode for a couple of minutes. This should do the trick. It will help the wax to cool down evenly, and it won’t cling or stick to the sides.
Poking in the candle while it cools down may also be the best method to avoid dipping and sinking. You simply use a chopstick or a bamboo stick like suggested above to poke around the middle to make sure there are no air pockets. By poking relief holes, the chances of having sinkholes are much slimmer. Just be careful, as it may get messy if you start poking and your wax has solidified a little already. You’ll end up with a lot of wax on your stick and less in your candle.
What Is a Crackling Candle and How to Make Your Own
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prevent the sinkholes from occurring in the first place?
Yes, there are ways to try and prevent the sinkholes from forming. It all starts with the temperature of the room you are using, but remember that even if you get sinkholes, they are easy to fix
Does it matter what type of wax I use?
The simple answer here is no. Sinkholes can form no matter what type of wax you are using.
Does it matter what type of container I am using?
It really doesn’t matter what type of container you are using. However, if you are making a pillar candle, it may be less likely to form sinkholes.
Looking to start your own candle making business, check out my startup documents here
Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Candle Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online candle business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a candle business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Candle Business Boss: I want to help candle business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.