WHAT IS THIS BLACK THING PRODUCED BY THE WICK?
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WHAT IS THIS BLACK THING PRODUCED BY THE WICK?
IM BOTHERING BY THIS THING, EVERYTIME I LIGHT A CANDLE THERE IS SOMETHING SOLID BLACK PRODUCED AT THE TIP OF THE WICK I UPLOADED THE PICTURE
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levydin
- eye_of_tiger
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Carbon mushrooming or wick tip blooming
Dear Moonstar,
This explanation is admittedly very long in coming, but the small lumps of black substance are carbon or soot, and their particulate form is due to a phenomenon called "carbon mushrooming" or "wick tip blooming".
There is nothing at all paranormal or supernatural about this, but it can become a major problem especially when you are burning highly scented and dye coloured candles.
What causes "mushrooming" and how do I reduce this?
"Mushrooming" is carbon build-up on the wax when a candle is burnt. The main factors contributing to "mushrooming" are the choice of wick (type and size), the fuel (wax) and what the fuel is made of. Adding scent and dye to the wax "contaminates" the combustion process of a candle. Scent and colour are non-fuel sources that can collect in the wick creating the "mushroom" or carbon ball. Changing the wick, scent and dye combination will correct this problem.
Non cored wicks are always recommended, being more resistant to these carbon deposits building up and preventing a constant, clean burn from happening. Wicks should be regularly trimmed to about half an inch or about 1.25 centimetres in length throughout a burn, in order to further reduce any incidence of mushrooming occurring.
Hoping that this information finally puts your mind at rest in knowing that nothing paranormal is going on with your candles, even though this advice arrives almost ten months late.
I am embarrassed!
EoT
This explanation is admittedly very long in coming, but the small lumps of black substance are carbon or soot, and their particulate form is due to a phenomenon called "carbon mushrooming" or "wick tip blooming".
There is nothing at all paranormal or supernatural about this, but it can become a major problem especially when you are burning highly scented and dye coloured candles.
What causes "mushrooming" and how do I reduce this?
"Mushrooming" is carbon build-up on the wax when a candle is burnt. The main factors contributing to "mushrooming" are the choice of wick (type and size), the fuel (wax) and what the fuel is made of. Adding scent and dye to the wax "contaminates" the combustion process of a candle. Scent and colour are non-fuel sources that can collect in the wick creating the "mushroom" or carbon ball. Changing the wick, scent and dye combination will correct this problem.
Non cored wicks are always recommended, being more resistant to these carbon deposits building up and preventing a constant, clean burn from happening. Wicks should be regularly trimmed to about half an inch or about 1.25 centimetres in length throughout a burn, in order to further reduce any incidence of mushrooming occurring.
Hoping that this information finally puts your mind at rest in knowing that nothing paranormal is going on with your candles, even though this advice arrives almost ten months late.
I am embarrassed!
EoT
- eye_of_tiger
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Hi Ketan,
Yours is the short answer, while mine is the longer and more detailed one.
Both are in themselves complete and correct.
In mathematical terminology, your answer is a subset of my own.
Neither indicates that there any valid reason for concern by Moonstar, as to a possible paranormal explanation for this perfectly normal and scientifically explainable phenomenon.
EoT :smt045
Yours is the short answer, while mine is the longer and more detailed one.
Both are in themselves complete and correct.
In mathematical terminology, your answer is a subset of my own.
Neither indicates that there any valid reason for concern by Moonstar, as to a possible paranormal explanation for this perfectly normal and scientifically explainable phenomenon.
EoT :smt045
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