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Candle Wicks
Braided or plaited cotton core wicks are usually recommended as suitable for all candle types. But there are many types of wicks. They differ in size, material and in their making processes.
The type of the wick for your candle is influenced mostly by the wax type, candle type and the diameter of the candle.
Candle wick is made by twisting or braiding a bundle of fibers together. Braiding or plaiting wick fibers is considered better than twisting them.
Braided wicks come in few types. Single braided or flat wicks are often used, usually in paraffin dinner candles and in pillars. Square wicks are also used in tapers and pillars and by most beeswax candle makers.
Cored wicks have a material in their core that keeps the wick straight in candles that have deep melt pools. That means container candles, but also pillars, votives and novelty candles. Those wicks can be cored with cotton, paper, zinc, hemp.
All wicks can be chemically treated so the burning quality is improved. Wicks can be bought raw or waxed, by foot or already cut for specific candle sizes.
If you're making container candles, or even votives, you can use wicks that are already cut, waxed and pre-tabbed. Before pouring the wax into the containers, you need to stick the tabbed wicks to the bottom of the containers. You can do it with a hot glue gun or with the help of a double sided adhesive tape. When making votives, wicks can be inserted when the wax is already in the mold and starts forming skin on the top.
Wicks that are sold by foot are cut at home according to the candle height. Keep in mind that you have to cut a piece that's a bit longer because you'll be tying one side of the wick in order to keep it straight while you're pouring wax and while the candle is cooling. In case you bought a raw wick, you can wax it yourself. You just dip it a few times in hot wax in order to prevent bubble-release from the wick after the wax is poured. There are also auto wick pins, used for making molded candles in molds that are not made with wick holes.