What Size Are Wicks?

A wick is a piece of string or fabric that is enclosed in wax, oil, or another flammable substance to provide a source of fuel for lamps and candles. The wick works by capillary action, drawing the fuel up to the flame where it can be burned.

Wicks are used in a variety of applications including candles, oil lamps, incense, and more. They serve as the delivery system for the fuel source to the flame. Wicks can be made from different materials including cotton, paper, wood, and fiberglass.

The most common material is cotton due to its capillary properties. Cotton wicks are comprised of several strands of loosely braided cotton yarn.

Wicks are sized and designed for the specific application. Factors like the type and viscosity of the fuel source are considered when engineering wicks.

Overall, wicks provide a continuous flow of combustible fuel to the flame in lamp and candle applications. They are an essential component in controlling the size, brightness, and burn time.

Table of Contents

Common Sizes of Wicks

Wicks come in a range of standard sizes for different applications. Some of the most common wick sizes include:

For candles:

– #1 – Very small wick, 1 ply, for votives and containers with 1-2″ diameter. Burns around 4 hours.

– #2 – Small wick, 2-3 ply, for containers 2-3″ diameter. Burns 6-8 hours.

– #3 – Medium wick, 3 ply, for containers 3-4″ diameter. Burns 8-12 hours.

– #4 – Large wick, 3-4 ply, for pillars 3-4″ diameter. Burns 12+ hours.

For oil lamps:

– #0 – Extra small, solitary spark. For nightlights.

– #1 – Small, steady flame. For lamps under 6 hours.

– #2 – Medium flame. For lamps under 12 hours.

– #3 – Large flame. For lamps under 24 hours.

For incense sticks:

– Regular size – 1-2mm diameter. For standard sticks.

– Jumbo size – 2-3mm diameter. For extra thick sticks.

Wick Sizing for Candles

Choosing the proper wick size is crucial for optimal candle burning. The diameter of the wick determines how much wax the wick can draw up during burning. A wick that is too small will not allow enough wax to burn, causing issues like tunneling, poor scent throw, and struggling flames. A wick that is too large can cause the candle to burn too hot, creating soot, excess smoke, or a dangerous flame.

As a general rule, larger candles need larger wicks to burn properly. Smaller votive and tea light candles usually need smaller cotton or paper wicks around 1/16″ or 2/64″ diameter. Container candles in the 4-8 ounce range often perform well with medium wicks around 3/32″ or 4/64″. Larger pillars, jars, and novelty candles may require wicks that are 1/8″ or 5/64″ for full melt pools and clean burns.

It’s important to test different wick sizes to find the best fit for your specific candle. Burn test candles for 4-6 hours, evaluating melt pool depth, burn pool shape, flame height, mushrooming or cording. Adjust the wick up or down until the candle burns ideally with no issues. Keep detailed notes on which wicks work for which candles to replicate your best results. A properly sized wick will maximize scent throw and provide the safest, highest quality burn.

Sources:

https://www.candlescience.com/learning/wick-guide/

https://www.theflamingcandle.com/wick-guide/

Wick Sizing for Oil Lamps

For oil lamps, the width or diameter of the wick is important for properly burning different types of lamp oils. Wider wicks are needed for thicker, more viscous oils like kerosene, while narrower wicks work better for thinner oils like whale oil or colza oil.

A good rule of thumb is that kerosene lamps require a 1/2″ or 5/8″ wide flat wick or a 1/4″ to 3/8″ round wick. Older lamps meant for burning whale oil, colza oil, or lard oil only need a 1/4″ to 3/16″ round wick since those oils are less viscous than kerosene. For antique lamps, refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper wick sizing.

It’s also important to trim wicks to the optimal height for complete combustion. To trim a lamp wick, make sure the lamp is completely cooled and use small scissors to cut the wick to around 1/4″ high. The flame should burn evenly across the wick without producing excess smoke. Trimmed wicks also help prevent excess carbon buildup on the wick and lamp glass (https://antiquelampsupply.com/pages/06-how-to-measure-the-correct-oil-lamp-wick).

Wick Sizing for Incense

Incense sticks come in a standard diameter of about 7-8 mm. For incense sticks of this size, cotton wicks between size #1 and #3 are commonly used.

Very thin #1 sized wicks work well for most standard incense blends. The #1 wick will allow the incense blend to burn slowly and evenly. The small diameter ensures the wick does not overpower the incense scent.Makesy

For thicker or more resinous incense blends, a slightly larger #2 or #3 wick may be preferable. The somewhat wider wick provides more fuel to keep the incense burning at an even pace. A too-small wick may struggle to stay lit in very thick incense doughs.Lone Star Candle Supply

In general, a narrower wick is recommended for incense sticks unless the incense blend specifically calls for a wider wick. The goal is for the scent to shine rather than the wick itself.

Factors in Choosing Wick Size

There are several key factors that determine the optimal wick size for a candle:

Wick diameter – The thickness of the wick affects how much wax it can burn. Thicker wicks can absorb more liquid wax and yield bigger flames. Standard wick sizes range from extra small (.02 inches) to extra large (.075 inches).

Candle diameter – Wider candles need larger wicks to burn evenly across the surface. As a general rule, larger diameter candles need thicker wicks. A good formula is the wick should be 1/6 the diameter of the candle width or container opening.

Wax type – Softer waxes like soy wax require smaller wicks than harder paraffin waxes. The composition and melting point of the wax impacts the ideal wick size. According to CandleScience, harder waxes can support larger wicks and bigger flames without drowning the wick.

Fragrance – Heavily fragranced candles may need larger wicks for proper scent throw. More fragrance oil can clog wicks, so a thicker wick helps absorption and diffusion.

Burn time – Longer burn times require thicker wicks that won’t get completely drowned in wax. Shorter candles can use smaller wicks.

Flame height – The right height for the flame is around 1 inch tall when lit. A shorter flame indicates the wick is too small, while a larger flame means the wick is too big.

Melt pool – An even melt pool across the candle surface is the goal. If wax only melts in the center, a larger wick is needed. If wax melts too close to the container sides, choose a smaller wick.

When to Use a Larger Wick

There are a few key reasons you may need a larger wick when making candles:

If you need a taller flame, a larger wick will provide more fuel for combustion, creating a taller flame. As CandleScience notes, a larger wick is often required for pillar candles to ensure an appropriately tall flame.

For a warmer melt pool, increasing the wick size can provide more heat to melt more wax. Some waxes like soy and palm require more heat, so a larger wick is needed, according to Lone Star Candle Supply.

To allow more fragrance to be released, a larger wick that burns hotter helps disperse fragrance oils more efficiently. As CandleScience explains, “The hotter a candle burns, the more rapidly volatile fragrance components vaporize.”

In summary, when you need more heat, a taller flame, or increased fragrance, choosing a wick that’s 1-3 sizes larger can create the right burn for your candle.

When to Use a Smaller Wick

There are a few key signs that indicate you should use a smaller wick in your candle. The most common signs are sooting, mushrooming, and an overly deep melt pool.

Sooting occurs when the wick is too large for the wax pool, causing incomplete combustion and leaving black smoke deposits on the candle and container. This happens because the wax cannot liquify quickly enough to provide a large enough pool for the size of the wick. Switching to a smaller wick will prevent sooting.

Mushrooming is when carbon builds up on the tip of the wick during burning, causing it to expand and bend over like a mushroom cap. This prevents the wick from burning properly. Mushrooming is an indicator that the wick is too large for the particular wax and candle design. Using a smaller wick will stop mushrooming.

An overly deep melt pool means the wick is too large and producing too much heat, melting the wax too quickly and deeply. This can cause the candle to burn unevenly, create soot, or be prone to blow outs. A smaller wick will create a melt pool with the proper depth – around 1/4-1/2 inch deep for container candles.

Always reference manufacturer guidelines, but if you notice these signs it is generally best to size down your wick by one or two sizes. Test burn the candle again to ensure optimal burn and fragrance throw with the new smaller wick.

Source: https://www.candlescience.com/learning/choosing-the-right-wick-size/

Specialty Wick Sizes

In addition to standard wick sizes, there are some specialty wicks designed for specific uses:

Custom Wicks

Custom wicks allow you to specify the exact wick width and braid pattern for your needs. Custom wicks are great when you need an unusual shape or size not available as a standard wick. Some suppliers like CandleScience will work with you to create a custom wick tailored to your candle design.

Menorah Candles

Menorah candles used for Hanukkah often use a wider wick size to produce a brighter flame. According to Lone Star Candle Supply, a #2 or #3 wick is common for menorah candles to ensure good melt pool coverage.

Birthday Candles

Birthday cake candles need an extra thin braided flat wick that burns slowly and evenly. The wick is designed to keep the flame small and controlled. Wicks for birthday candles are often custom made for this specific use.

Conclusion

Proper wick sizing is critical for optimal candle performance. The wick works to deliver the fuel to the flame and regulates the burn rate. An improperly sized wick can lead to issues like tunneling, sooting, drowned wicks, or flames that are too small or too large. Key takeaways on wick sizing include:

Match wick size to both wax type and container diameter. Wider containers need larger wicks.
Use wick charts as a starting point, then test to find the ideal size.
Bigger wicks are needed for pillar candles, while smaller wicks work for containers.
Customize wick size based on desired burn time, hot throw, and melt pool.
Consider testing multiple wicks to determine the best fit.

With the proper testing and adjustments, you can dial in the perfect wick to allow your candle to burn cleanly and efficiently. Taking the time to optimize wick sizing will lead to a better end product.