Wooden wick, .02 cross, 11.11 mm

Wooden cross wick with a width of 11.11 mm is a container candle wick that burns with a soft crackling sound and a wider, flat flame. The set includes the wick and a metal sustainer: two wooden laminates joined in an X shape slide into the sustainer, which holds the wick perpendicular to the bottom of the container. It is suitable for candle makers who want to use wood instead of a cotton wick — for the sound, the appearance, and the more even melting of wax across the entire surface.

Key properties

• Cross shape – two laminates in an X shape give the flame more surface area than a single flat laminate. The wick maintains combustion more effectively and works well in waxes where a simple flat wick is harder to keep burning.
• Crackling while burning – wood produces a gentle crackling sound while burning, which is characteristic of wooden wicks and is one of the main reasons candle makers choose them.
• Metal sustainer included – the wick does not need to be glued or pressed into the wax. The sustainer is adhered to the bottom of the container, the wick is inserted into it, and it stays upright during pouring.
• Laminate thickness .02 – the manufacturer's designation; a higher number indicates a thicker laminate. Thickness together with width determines how much wax the wick draws and how large the flame will be.
• Certified wood – the manufacturer states that the wicks are made from certified wood, are natural, free from allergens, and biodegradable.

Working with the wick when making a candle

The sustainer is placed in the centre of the container and adhered to the bottom with a wick sticker or a small amount of melted wax. The wick is inserted into the sustainer so that it stands perpendicular, and only then is the wax poured. During pouring, the wood absorbs some of the wax — this is normal; the wick becomes saturated and will light more easily.

Once the wax has hardened, trim the wick just above the candle surface. A wooden wick that is too tall is difficult to light and produces smoke; one that is too short will sink into the melted wax. A few millimetres above the surface is generally sufficient — the exact height is best determined by testing with the specific wax.

Proper wick performance depends on the diameter of the container and the type of wax. The same wick behaves differently in soy, coconut and paraffin wax, and varies further with the amount of fragrance oil and dye. It is therefore not possible to determine in general whether a width of 11.11 mm is suitable for a given container diameter. It is recommended to make a test candle and check whether the wax melts evenly across the entire surface and whether the flame is neither too high nor too weak.

Suitable for products such as

• candles in glass and ceramic containers – the wick with sustainer is designed for container candles, where the sustainer holds it at the bottom;
• soy and coconut candles – natural waxes are commonly combined with wooden wicks, and the cross shape is beneficial in waxes that are slower to sustain combustion;
• scented candles – always verify wick performance with your chosen fragrance oil dosage by making a test candle.

The cross wick with sustainer is designed for use in containers; it is not suitable for freestanding candles without a container.

What is worth knowing

• Testing is necessary. Wooden wicks are more sensitive to the combination of wax, fragrance and container than cotton wicks. A single test candle will reveal whether the wick burns as a tunnel, produces smoke, or burns too high.
• Trimming before each burn. Before each lighting, remove the charred tip from the wick. An untrimmed wooden wick burns weakly and may extinguish.
• First burn. Allow the candle to burn until the wax melts evenly across the entire surface. This creates a uniform melt pool and reduces the risk of tunnelling.
• Sustainer stays in the candle. Once poured, it is embedded in the wax and is part of the finished candle — it is not intended for reuse.
• Wax with additives. A high proportion of dye or solid additives can clog the pores of the wood and cause the wick to extinguish. With coloured candles, it is worth testing with a lower dosage.

The wooden wick burns along with the candle; the metal sustainer is removed from the container after the candle has burned down and sorted as metal waste.

Frequently asked questions