Maddie James
Candle tunneling is a common issue that occurs when a hole forms down the center of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This happens when only a small portion of the wax surrounding the wick melts while the candle is lit. Candle tunneling can be prevented by burning the candle long enough to let the entire surface melt before blowing it out. This usually takes at least an hour or two, depending on the size of the candle. If tunneling does occur, it can be fixed by melting the entire candle surface with a hairdryer or using aluminum foil to reflect heat back down to the candle's edge and melt the wax.
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What You'll Learn
Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before lighting
Trimming the wick of a candle is an important step in ensuring a long, even, and fragrant burn. While keeping the wick at 1/4 inch is a good rule of thumb, the optimal wick length can vary between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch, depending on the type of candle. For example, Spoken Flames recommends keeping the wick of their wooden wick candles at 1/2 inch.
Trimming the wick helps to maintain a healthy flame height, which is typically between 1/2 inch and 1 inch. If the wick is too long, it can lead to a flame that is too tall, increasing the risk of fire and causing the candle to burn improperly. A taller flame generates too much heat, causing the candle wax to melt faster and accelerating the vaporization of the scent and wax. This results in an increased amount of soot, which appears as black puffs of smoke coming from the wick.
Trimming the wick before lighting the candle also helps to prevent candle tunneling, a common issue that occurs when a candle is not burned carefully. Tunneling happens when a hole forms down the center of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This occurs when the wick is too long, causing the flame to get too hot and melt excess wax. By trimming the wick to the recommended length, you can help ensure that your candle burns evenly and prevents tunneling.
To trim your candle wick, use a wick trimmer, sharp scissors, or nail clippers to cut the wick vertically to a length of 1/4 inch before lighting. Make sure to cut the wick evenly across, not at an angle, for a cleaner burn. You can also use your fingertips to remove excess wick, but be sure to let the candle cool down before doing so.
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Burn for 1 hour per inch in diameter
Burning your candle for at least an hour per inch in diameter is a crucial step in preventing candle tunnelling. Tunnelling occurs when a hole forms down the centre of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This happens when a candle is not burned carefully, and only a small portion of the wax surrounding the wick melts while the candle is lit.
The first burn of a new candle is critical in preventing tunnelling. If the first burn is too short, a barrier is created that will remain on subsequent lightings. This is because wax has a 'memory' – previously melted wax is softer and takes less heat to melt again. So, if you only let the wax in the centre melt during the first burn, on the second burn, only that small central portion of wax will melt again, while the surrounding wax remains hard.
To prevent tunnelling, it is recommended that each time you light your candle, you let the wax melt to the edge of the container. This usually takes 1-2 hours, depending on the size of the candle. For the initial burn, a good rule of thumb is to burn the candle for one hour per inch in diameter. This will allow the entire surface of the candle to melt before the candle is blown out, preventing tunnelling and ensuring the candle burns evenly.
It is also important to note that trimming the wick before each lighting can help prevent tunnelling. A trimmed wick enables a cleaner, more consistent burn. Additionally, ensuring you buy candles with a proper wick diameter can help prevent tunnelling. If the wick is too small, it may not be able to generate enough heat to melt the wax at the edge of the candle.
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Melt the entire candle surface with a hairdryer
To reshape a candle with a hairdryer, start by lighting the candle and letting it burn for a while. Then, turn off the flame and grab your hairdryer. Set the hairdryer to one of its lower warm settings—you don't want it to be too hot. Now, direct the airflow towards the uneven sides of the candle, focusing on the portions of wax that need to be smoothed out. Keep the hairdryer on each section for around a minute or two, depending on the heat of your hairdryer. Be careful not to point the hairdryer at one section for too long, as you could end up burning the wick due to prolonged exposure to heat.
The goal here is to soften the wax so that you can reshape it. You'll know it's ready when the wax looks softened and you can easily manipulate it with a tool or your hands. If you're using a hairdryer to fix candle tunnelling, this process will help even out the wax, creating a smooth surface and potentially exposing a buried wick.
If you're reshaping a taper candle, you can use the warmth of the hairdryer to make the wax malleable, then twist and bend the candle to your desired shape. You can also use a rolling pin to flatten the candle before twisting it. Just be sure to work quickly, as the wax will start to cool down and become inflexible after about 30 seconds.
Once you're happy with the shape, you can set it by submerging the candle in cold water for 10 to 30 seconds. This will ensure your candle keeps its new shape.
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Use aluminium foil to reflect heat to the candle's edge
The aluminium foil trick is a simple way to fix or prevent candle tunnelling by encouraging the wax to melt evenly. Tunnelling occurs when a candle melts through the centre without melting the surrounding wax, leaving a ledge. This can be caused by using a low-quality wick or burning a candle for too short a time.
To use the aluminium foil trick, tear off a piece of foil and wrap it around the top of the candle, creating a tent or dome that covers the unmelted wax while leaving an opening in the centre for the flame to breathe. The foil should hang over any built-up wax areas. The foil traps and reflects heat inward, helping the outer wax to melt and level out with the centre.
Let the candle burn for 1-2 hours. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface. Once the wax on the surface has melted and become level, remove the foil.
For larger candles, make sure the flame can still burn strongly and create enough heat to melt the wax. The opening in the centre of the foil should be large enough to allow plenty of oxygen in as it burns.
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Prevent wax memory by letting the whole surface melt before blowing out
Candle wax has a "memory" that refers to its ability to "remember" how far it melted during its first burn. This initial melt is crucial because it determines how the candle will burn in the future. If you let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the container during the first use, the candle will remember that full melt, and each time you relight it, the wax will continue to melt evenly.
However, if you extinguish the candle too soon, before the wax reaches the edges, you may experience the tunnelling effect. This is where only the centre of the candle burns, leaving a ring of unmelted wax around the edges. Tunnelling shortens the life of your candle as it prevents the candle from burning fully and efficiently. To prevent tunnelling, it is recommended to burn your candle for one hour per inch of its diameter, or a minimum of one to two hours, depending on the size of the candle.
The first burn is the most important as it creates a foundation for how the candle will burn from then on. By understanding wax memory, you can ensure your candles burn evenly and last longer, while also releasing their full fragrance.
To summarise, always ensure the entire surface of the candle has melted before blowing it out to prevent tunnelling and promote an even burn.
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Frequently asked questions
Candle tunneling occurs when a hole forms down the centre of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges.
Candle tunneling happens when only a small portion of the wax surrounding the wick melts while the candle is lit. This can be due to a wick that is too small, or the first lighting being too brief.
To prevent candle tunneling, it is recommended that you let the wax melt to the edge of the container each time you light your candle, especially during the first lighting.
To fix candle tunneling, you can melt the entire candle surface with a hairdryer or use aluminium foil to reflect heat back down to the candle's edge to melt the wax.
Yes, another way to fix candle tunneling is to place the candle in a low oven between burns to melt the wax and keep it even.
