Wax sinkholes: causes and fixes
Time: 30–60 minutes active
Difficulty: beginner–intermediate
You need: leftover mixed wax, skewer, patience
Sinkholes are cavities that open as the center cools and contracts. They are normal in soy; the craft is timing the second pour so you do not trap wet wax under a skin.
Materials and tools
- Small batch of the same wax blend, reheated clean
- Skewer or thin poker
- Optional: infrared thermometer if you already own one
Instruction
1. Wait until the surface looks matte but the jar still holds warmth—poke a test hole near the wick. If liquid moves below, give it two more minutes, then open a vent channel.
2. Second pour slightly cooler than your first pour, just enough to bond without a visible seam ring.
3. Heat gun fans: use short passes to smooth cosmetics only after the structure is sound; heat alone does not replace missing wax.
Why poke-and-pour works: it gives shrinkage a vertical path so the surface tension does not seal a bubble underneath.
Related class: Twilight Glow Soy Lab. Contact to book.