Common Questions About Our Candle Tins and Jars

• What makes tins good as candle containers?

  Here are some of our favourite reasons as to why we think tins are great when making and selling candles.

  • They are lightweight, especially when compared to glass.
  • Tins won't break or shatter like glass if dropped.
  • Our empty candle tins come with secure lids, which will keep your candles protected in transit and free from dust and dirt.
  • Tins are generally cheaper than glass equivalents.
  • Once the tins are empty again they can be recycled (forever) or used for alternative storage. We love to see pictures of our tins being used in creative ways, so why not send us a picture of how you reuse your candle tins

• Do metal candle containers help prevent candle tunnelling?

  Metal tins do not prevent tunnelling, where the wax only melts in the middle leaving a wall of wax around the edges. Tunnelling is more about wick placement and burn time than what the container is made of. That said, some glass jars with thick walls might encourage uneven melting and contribute to tunnelling.

  The best way to avoid tunnelling is to make sure that, at least for the first burn or two, the candle remains lit for long enough to allow the entire surface of the wax to melt and liquify. Once tunnelling starts, it is likely that the candle will continue to burn down in a narrow "tunnel". Without intervention, such as manually melting the wax around the sides, tunnelling can end up wasting a lot of wax.

  Larger diameter candles will often use multiple wicks to help the wax melt evenly and reduce the risk of tunnelling.

• Will my candle tin rust?

  Tinware Direct’s tins are coated with a lacquer to protect them from environmental degradation, which helps prevent rusting. However, it’s recommended to avoid using tinplate products for water-based items and instead opt for aluminium, which is highly resistant to corrosion. 

  Additionally, storing tins in high moisture environments, freezers, or very high temperatures can degrade the lacquer and potentially lead to rust. We recommend testing a sample first to ensure you’re satisfied with how our packaging complements your product.

• What candle tins or jars would you recommend for candle making beginners?

  When starting out making candles it is common to buy a box that has many of one type of tin or glass jar. This is great to help you practise the basic process of candle making and creating a consistent product. A box of 12 of our new glass candle jars is ideal, if you are looking to learn the basics.
  
  After the initial learning phase, or if you would rather work with metal candle tins from the get-go, we recommend buying a range of metal samples . This will give you important experience in working with different materials (glass or metal), volumes, and appearance. They all have a different aesthetic and often have their own little quirks when pouring. Some great starting tins are the silver seamless slip lid tin, black lever lid tin, and a rose gold side seam tin. This would give you a range of sizes, closures and colours to become familiar with.

  Candle making can become quite an addictive pastime, often leading to a side-hustle or business venture. At this point you will likely have found one or two containers and colours that suit your making and presentation style. At this point you can commit to larger orders.

  One of our employees recently had a go at making candles for themselves and kindly wrote about it. Read about their experience here.