Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Stopped Buying Pre-Made Wicks and Started Cutting My Own
24
items If you're pouring candles at home and spending way too much on those little pre-tabbed wicks that come 100 to a bag for ten bucks, stop. I burned through money on pre-made wicks for two years before I figured out that a cotton wick roll, some tabs, a...
Sections
6
Cotton Wick Rolls for DIY Candle Making
Wick Tabs and Sustainer Bases
Wick Crimping Tools That Actually Work
Wick Centering and Holding Devices
Scissors and Cutting Tools for Wick Prep
Wax and Supplies to Complete Your Setup
Cotton Wick Rolls for DIY Candle Making
I used to buy pre-cut wicks in tiny bags and run out halfway through a pour session. Switching to rolls meant I could cut any length I needed and never pause mid-batch again.
Grab this if you make candles in batches of 20 or more. I got through about 60 candles before I even hit the halfway mark on the spool. Way cheaper per wick than anything pre-cut.
EricX Light #24PLY/FT Braided Candle Wick,200
Use this for soy wax specifically. The braid is tight enough that it doesn't mushroom as badly. I switched from a loosely woven roll and the difference in my burn tests was night and day.
1 Roll 200 Feet Braided Wick Candle Wick Spool
Keep this one around as a backup spool. It's basically the same quality as the pricier brands but costs a few bucks less. I tested it side by side and couldn't tell the difference in burn.
1 Roll 200 Feet Braided Wick Candle Wick Spool
Try this shorter roll if you're just starting out and don't want to commit to 200 feet. I gave one to my sister when she started making candles and she's still working through it six months later.
All Candles | Bath & Body Works Indonesia
Wick Tabs and Sustainer Bases
The first time I tried to tab my own wicks, I used random metal pieces from a hardware store. Terrible idea. These actual wick tabs made the whole process feel professional.
Snag these before your next pour day. They fit standard cotton wicks perfectly and the little neck holds the wick straight without any fuss. 120 tabs lasted me about four months of regular making.
EricX 200pcs 20mm Metal Candle Wick
Get the 200 pack if you're serious about volume. I crimped 40 wicks in one sitting last Saturday and barely made a dent. The metal is sturdy enough that it doesn't bend when you press down.
200 PCS Metal Candle Wick Sustainer Tabs Duraable Gift
Use these if you work with thinner wicks. The opening is slightly smaller so thin braids don't wobble around inside. Took me three orders of wrong tabs before I found ones that actually gripped.
100PCS Candle Wick Bases Candle Making Supplies
Pair these with the DINGPAI wick roll for a matching combo. Same manufacturer, same sizing, zero guesswork. I stopped mixing brands after a batch where half my tabs were too loose.
Candle Wick Tabs, Fun Candle Making Metal
Wick Crimping Tools That Actually Work
I tried using pliers from my garage for months. My thumbs were sore and the crimps were uneven. A proper crimping tool changed everything and cost less than a coffee.
Toss your pliers and use this instead. It crimps the tab around the wick in one squeeze, perfectly centered every time. My hands stopped hurting after pour sessions, which honestly should have been reason enough to buy it sooner.
EricX Light Candle Making Kit, 60pcs Candle Wicks
Keep this in your candle supply box. It's small, light, and the grip is comfortable even after 50 crimps in a row. I lent mine to a friend and she ordered her own the same week.
QccHieUs 200Pcs 30mm 35mm Pre Wicks for Candle
Swap to this if you have bigger hands. The handles are slightly longer than most crimpers, which gives you better leverage. My husband took over wick prep duties because this one actually fits his grip.
Harnico 8" Beeswax Candle Wicks (100 Count)
Grab this as a spare for your workspace. They're cheap enough to have two, one at your cutting station and one where you pour. Saves walking back and forth when you're in the zone.
DINGPAI Candle Making Kit, Candle Make Pouring Pot
Wick Centering and Holding Devices
Nothing ruins a candle faster than a crooked wick. I poured an entire batch of 12 jars once with off-center wicks because I was holding them by hand. Never again.
Use these every single pour, no exceptions. They sit right on top of the jar and keep the wick dead center while the wax cools. I went from a 30% crooked rate to basically zero.
EricX 21-Piece Wick Holder for Candles
Try these for wider mouth jars. The arms extend far enough to sit on jars up to about 3.5 inches across. Saved an entire batch of my holiday candles last December.
50pcs Wooden Candle Wick Holders Professional
Toss a few of these in your kit bag if you pour at craft fairs or workshops. They're metal so they don't warp like the plastic ones I tried first. Learned that lesson when a plastic holder melted into my wax.
50pcs Wooden Candle Wick Holders Professional
Stock up with the 100 pack if you pour regularly. I go through about 10 per session because I leave them on while candles cure overnight. Having extras means no waiting around.
Candle Wick Holder Base 100 PCS
Scissors and Cutting Tools for Wick Prep
Regular kitchen scissors left ragged wick ends that frayed and wouldn't slide into the tabs. A sharp, dedicated pair made wick prep actually enjoyable instead of frustrating.
Bring these into your candle station and leave them there permanently. The micro tip cuts wick cleanly without any fraying. I used to fight with dull scissors for ten minutes per batch. Now it takes two.
Fiskars Scissors 5 Inch Micro-Tip Scissors, Orange
Keep a pair of these for cutting longer wick sections off the roll. They're sharp out of the package and stay that way. I've had mine for over a year of weekly candle making and they still cut like new.
WESTCOTT, All Purpose Scissors, 5 inch, Stainless Steel
Use these if you want something heavier duty. The blade is thick enough to cut through doubled-over wick without crushing it. Perfect for anyone who also does sewing and wants one good pair for everything.
Singer Bent Fabric Scissors 8.5
Snag these for detail work when you're trimming wicks after the candle has set. The non-stick coating means wax doesn't gum up the blades. Wish someone had told me about non-stick scissors two years ago.
Scotch, Precision Ultra Edge Scissors, 8 in.
Wax and Supplies to Complete Your Setup
Once I started making my own wicks, I realized I was still overpaying for wax in small bags. Buying in bulk alongside my wick rolls brought my per-candle cost down to almost nothing.
Pair this with your cotton wick rolls for the cleanest burn you'll get at home. Ten pounds sounds like a lot but it goes fast. I get about 20 eight-ounce candles per bag, which works out to less than a dollar each.
Hearts & Crafts Soy Candle Wax Kit
Switch to this if you want stronger scent throw. Soy is great but paraffin carries fragrance further across a room. I use it for my kitchen candles where I need the smell to actually compete with cooking.
Virginia Candle Supply
Ditch the double boiler setup and use this for small test batches. I pour sample candles to test new wick sizes before committing to a full batch. Saved me from wasting a whole bag of wax on bad wick pairings.
Better Homes & Gardens Full Size Wax Warmer
Get these before they sell out during the holiday rush. They're simple, clean, and the mouth size works perfectly with standard centering devices. I gift candles in these and people always ask where I bought them.
Mainstays Unscented Filled Votive Glass Candles