Teach Soap

A friend of mine recently purchased hand-made candles from an Etsy shop, the owner has been making them for years and should have known how to properly select containers. But she didn't. She was cheap and purchased pretty glass jars from a craft store.

She is being sued for $1.5 million dollars for this mistake.

Cheap jars are generally NOT made for heat, and they EXPLODE when a candle inside burns low enough to expose the glass to the flame. My friend lost her right eye and suffered severe facial and upper body lacerations because the aforementioned lady wanted to save some money. The lady's business insurance will NOT cover her mistake.

Please please please use only containers that are meant for candles!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

A lady I know who sells candles at the markets says she puts her containers in the oven?

Would that be sufficient? and what temp and how long would you do it?

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Diane

OMG! Did she have liability insurance?
Usoapia, putting containers in the oven would make no difference if they are not made specifically for candles.
Anyone remember when the gel candles in champagne glasses was all the rage? I bought one and less then halfway through, the glass shattered. Obviously, champagne glass is not meant to take heat. I was lucky. I didn't get injured and nothing caught on fire. I had to clean up a dangerous mess.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

It seems to be very popular in the markets here, they are buying old sugar bowls, glass pourers, gravy jugs, tea cups and saucers
and turning them into candles.

I heard one lady tell a customer that before she could make the containers into candles, she had to test the containers in the oven

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Diane

Testing glass containers in the oven is not always indicative how well the glass will do when it's full of melted wax.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Oh. That is sobering. I did not know certain glass containers couldn't stand heat from melted wax. How can you tell if a container is candle-safe or not??

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Olivia :)

The best way to be safe is to buy from vendors that carry candle supplies as they carry containers that are specifically made for candles.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I put my glass containers in the oven too. It is done to reduce air pockets between the glass and wax, and that is the only thing it does IMHO.

The sellers' liability insurance will NOT cover her in this case as it was deemed "gross negligence" on her part and falls under a small print clause.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Well I'm certainly not going to sleep tonight...

That is super scary and I would've freaked in both women's situations! I'd feel so bad if I made a product that caused even a paper cut to somebody! It sucks for her but she should be sued with that level of injury!

I hope your friend is okay!







But yeah I'm going to start experimenting with container candles but I'm only going to use the BrambleBerry tin ones until I can do good enough to make larger sized candles!

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The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
Also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

Sadly, there are quite a few sellers on etsy that use cute containers that are not suitable for candles.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

WOW! I am so sorry your friend has to go thru something like that!

Are good quality mason jars alright for candle making?

Wow, that's terrible Hestey! I hope your friend will be okay and that her wedding is wonderful. I'll be extra careful from now on when buying candles.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

I am so shocked. I don't make candles but I do buy them at craft fairs. Never again will I risk it. I don't usually read the posts about candles but for some reason I did today. Thank you Hestey for posting this. It never occurred to me that there was a danger with these candles. Prayingfor your friends full recovery.

MaryLou

Heather, how awful for your friend! Sending prayers her way.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!