##Why Do My Candles Sink In The Middle?
Have you ever noticed that your candles sometimes develop a hole or sink in the middle? This occurrence is known as “candle tunnelling” or “candle coning” and is caused by improper burning technique.
When a candle wick is too short, it allows the flame to become overwhelmed by melted wax. The wax begins to build up around the edges of the flame until it extinguishes and causes the candle to sink.
When this happens, the candle has been “tunnelled” and must be extinguished before it can be used again. Let’s take a closer look at why this happens and how to prevent it.
###The Causes of Candle Tunnelling
The cause of candle tunnelling is usually attributed to one of three primary causes: burning the candle too long, burning the candle too short, or burning the candle on an uneven surface. Here’s a closer look at each of these causes.
* Burning the Candle Too Long: When you burn a candle too long, the heat can become overwhelming and cause the flame to become overwhelmed by melted wax. The melted wax will begin to build up around the edges of the flame, causing it to become “tunnelled”.
* Burning the Candle Too Short: Candles that are “tunnelled” due to burning too short can be identified by the lack of melted wax along the edges of the candle. This is because the flame hasn’t been able to build up enough heat to melt the wax along the sides of the candle.
* Burning the Candle on an Uneven Surface: Candles that are burned on an uneven surface can cause the flame to become overwhelmed by melted wax, resulting in candle tunnelling. When this happens, the heat from the flame can be unevenly dispersed, causing it to sink in the middle.
###Preventing Candle Tunnelling
Now that you know where candle tunnelling comes from, let’s take a look at how to prevent it.
There are a few simple steps you can take to keep your candles tunnelled-free:
* Trim the Wick: Trimming the wick of your candle will help to ensure that it is burning at the optimal rate. A wick that is too long can lead to an overly hot flame, while a wick that is too short can lead to an inadequate flame.
* Burn the Candle Evenly: Evenly distributing the flame when you’re burning a candle will help to ensure that it is not tunnelling. Make sure to keep turning the candle every few minutes to make sure that the flame is being evenly distributed.
* Burn the Candle in a Draft-Free Area: Burning a candle in a draft-free area will help to ensure that the flame is not being affected by wind or air movement. Drafts can cause the flame to become overwhelmed by melted wax, leading to candle tunnelling.
###Conclusion
Candle tunnelling is caused by improper burning technique and can be prevented by trimming the wick, burning the candle evenly, and burning it in a draft-free area. Taking these simple steps will help to ensure that your candle is burning optimally and that it stays tunnelled-free.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
