What Wicks Are Best For Golden Wax 464?
Golden Wax 464 is an all-natural soy wax that is commonly used for candle making. Properly selecting the right wick is crucial for getting the best results when working with Golden Wax 464. The wrong wick can lead to issues like tunneling, poor scent throw, and weak flames. This article will provide an overview of Golden Wax 464 and recommend the top performing wicks to use with this popular soy wax based on testing and industry expertise.
What is Golden Wax 464?
Golden Wax 464 is a high-quality soy-based wax developed by AAK USA Inc, formerly Golden Brands. It is one of the most popular waxes for container candles and is known for its excellent scent throw, high gloss finish, and ease of use (https://www.candlescience.com/wax/golden-brands-464-soy-wax).
Golden Wax 464 has a smooth, creamy appearance and comes in flake form. Key properties of Golden Wax 464 include:
- Wax Type: Soy
- Form: Flakes
- Appearance: Smooth, creamy
- High scent throw
- Excellent glossy finish
- Easy to work with
- Good adhesion to containers
- Longer burn time than paraffin
Golden Wax 464 is valued by candle makers for its versatility. It can be used for containers of all sizes and shapes. The soy wax blends well with fragrances and gives candles a smooth burn pool and wax pool. It is an excellent choice for beginners and professionals alike. The natural soy wax also appeals to environmentally-conscious consumers (https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/aaks-golden-wax-gw464-soy-wax.html).
Wick Considerations
When choosing a wick for Golden Wax 464, there are several key factors to consider:
Wick diameter – Thicker wicks with a larger diameter allow more wax to melt and pool around the wick. Golden Wax 464 performs best with medium to large diameter wicks depending on the candle container size. Common wick sizes are CD 4-16.
Wick stiffness – Stiffer wicks keep upright as the candle burns to ensure an even melt pool. Most wicks for Golden Wax 464 are made from paper or cotton materials to provide stiffness.
Wick material – Paper, cotton, wood, and metal are common wick materials. Paper and cotton typically work best with Golden Wax 464 as they absorb wax well and promote full melt pools. Wood and zinc-cored wicks can clog or drown.
It’s also important to consider the candle container size and shape when choosing a wick. Follow manufacturer guidelines and testing to find the optimal wick for a clean, complete burn with Golden Wax 464. A wick selection chart can provide a starting point for testing different wicks.
Recommended Wicks
Based on manufacturer recommendations and candle making experts, the top wicks to use with Golden Wax 464 are:
CD Wicks
CD wicks are one of the most popular wicks for soy wax candles like Golden Wax 464. They are made of flat braided cotton and come in a wide range of sizes. CD wicks are known for providing a strong flame and good soy wax performance. Suggested CD wick sizes for containers with Golden Wax 464 are CD 3-5 for 2-2.5 inch diameter containers, CD 7-9 for 2.5-3 inch containers, and CD 10-12 for 3-4 inch containers (Source).
LX Wicks
LX wicks are another top option made of flat braided cotton pre-primed with zinc. They are excellent at retaining large wax pools and provide a bright hot flame. For Golden Wax 464, LX-18 to LX-24 are common wick sizes for larger containers 2.5 inches and above (Source).
Eco Wicks
Eco wicks are made of natural paper and ideal for an eco-friendly, clean burning soy wax candle. They are best for containers 2 inches and smaller with Golden Wax 464. Size ECO-2 is recommended for 1-1.5 inch diameter containers while ECO-4 works for 1.5-2 inch containers (Source).
CD Wicks
CD wicks are a popular choice for Golden Wax 464. They are cotton core wicks that have been specially formulated and treated for use with vegetable wax like soy wax (Golden Brands 464 Soy Wax – CandleScience). The CD stands for “Cotton Distilled” which refers to the proprietary process that CD International, the manufacturer, uses to treat their wicks.
CD wicks work well with Golden Wax 464 because their thinner diameter and special treatment allows for a full melt pool while avoiding issues like mushrooming. The distillation process removes impurities from the cotton to produce an even burn. CD wicks come in a range of sizes to match different candle diameters and provide the right wax melt for 464 soy (Golden Brands All Natural 464 Soy Wax – Candle Supply).
Overall, candles made with Golden Wax 464 and CD wicks will have a strong scent throw and bright even burn pool without common wick issues.
LX Wicks
LX wicks are a popular choice for candles made with Golden Wax 464. They are made of paper and designed to curl and cling to the wax pool as they burn, which helps maximize fragrance throw. According to Northstar Candle Supply, LX wicks come in a range of sizes to accommodate different candle diameters and wax viscosities.
There are a few key reasons why LX wicks pair so well with Golden Wax 464:
- They are stiff enough to stand upright in the molten wax, unlike some softer wick options.
- The capillary action draws wax up the wick evenly and efficiently.
- They generate a moderate flame that is not too high or too low in order to fully melt and pool the wax.
- The curled shape allows more surface area for the fragrance to evaporate as the candle burns.
According to discussions on the Soap Making Forum, the LX-22 wick works particularly well in a 6 oz tin candle made with Golden Wax 464, producing an excellent scent throw. The wick shape and medium flame help maximize fragrance dispersion. Overall, the pairing between LX wicks and Golden Wax 464 results in great performance for many candle makers.
Eco Wicks
Eco wicks are popular for use with Golden Wax 464 due to their high quality construction and excellent performance.[1] Eco wicks have a paper core surrounded by natural fibers and are designed to provide a nice, even flame. They come pre-tabbed for convenience and have a wide diameter that matches well with the viscosity of Golden 464 wax.
The natural fibers in Eco wicks help absorb and distribute the wax while reducing clogging and mushrooming of the wick. This gives the wicks good capillary action to draw the wax up while burning, providing excellent fragrance throw. The pre-tabbing also allows for quicker wick placement and easier straightening. Overall, the quality materials and thoughtful design of Eco wicks make them a recommended choice when using Golden Wax 464 soy wax.[2]
[1] https://www.candlescience.com/wax/golden-brands-464-soy-wax/
[2] https://www.theflamingcandle.com/candle-wax/soy-wax/golden-brands-gw-464-soy-wax-flakes/?revpage=2
HTP Wicks
HTP wicks are a popular choice for use with Golden Wax 464 soy wax. HTP wicks are made from natural fibers and designed for optimal capillary action to efficiently draw up the soy wax liquid during burning. They have a flat braid construction which maximizes surface area contact with the wax pool.
HTP wicks contain paper in the core which provides stability and allows the wick to remain upright as the candle burns down. The flat braided cotton exterior has excellent absorption abilities to work well with soy wax. HTP wicks come in a wide range of sizes to match the diameter of any candle container or pillar.
Compared to other wick types, HTP wicks are praised for their reliability and versatility with soy wax like Golden 464. The natural materials provide a clean, even burn without clogging or drowning issues sometimes seen with other wicks. Testing shows HTP wicks perform consistently well in 464 soy candles, making them a top recommendation from most candle makers.
For more details on selecting the proper HTP wick size for a soy wax candle, refer to the HTP wick charts at https://www.theflamingcandle.com/htp-wicks/. With the right wick, HTP offers excellent results when paired with Golden Brands 464 soy wax.
Troubleshooting
Wick issues are the most common problem when working with Golden Wax 464. Here are some troubleshooting tips for wick problems:
If you are experiencing issues like tunneling, drowned wicks, or poor wax adhesion, the wick may be too small for the wax and container. Try going up 1 or 2 wick sizes to allow the wick to burn hotter and create a fuller wax pool. Refer to manufacturer testing notes for recommended wick sizes. [1]
Testing wicks in small batches first is advisable before scaling up. Test 2-3 wick options in votives or small containers to find the best wick before making large jars or pillars.
Make sure wicks are centered properly in the container. Off-center wicks can create an uneven burn and wax pool.
Trim wicks to 1⁄4” before every burn to prevent mushrooming and sooting issues. Long wick trims create excess carbon buildup.
Avoid using wicks too large for the container, as it can cause overflow, sooting, and risk of fire. Use manufacturer guidelines and test wicks first.
Change wick series if you see signs of poor performance like drowning, poor scent throw, or mushrooming. Some wick types perform better than others in 464.
Maintain proper pouring temperatures of 130-135°F to ensure good wax adhesion to wicks and prevent frosting.
[1] https://www.candlescience.com/wax/soy-wax-trouble-shooting-guide/
Conclusion
When selecting the best wicks for Golden Wax 464 soy wax, there are a few key factors to consider. The diameter, fiber content, and construction of the wick all impact how well it will burn with this wax. Based on testing and customer reviews, CD wicks, LX wicks, and Eco wicks consistently perform the best.
CD wicks have a flat braid design that provides excellent capillary action for full wax pools with Golden 464. The cotton fiber won’t clog, and the flat shape helps stabilize the melt pool. LX wicks also have a flat woven design but with a paper core that makes them extra rigid. This results in strong wax adhesion and retention of the wick shape. Finally, Eco wicks are made of natural fiber and burn clean without releasing contaminants. Their spiral pattern allows adjustable wax pooling.
In summary, any of these three wick options – CD, LX, or Eco – will provide a great experience with Golden Wax 464. Focus on selecting the proper diameter for your candle vessel, and you can expect excellent performance with minimal issues like soot or drowning. With quality wicks matched to the soy wax, you can create beautiful candles that burn evenly from top to bottom.
