Wooden wick, .02 cross, 19.1 mm

The wooden wick .02 cross with a width of 19.1 mm is a candle-making wick that replaces a cotton wick with two wooden strips joined in an X shape. It comes as a set with a metal sustainer that holds the wick upright on the bottom of the container, so it stays in place during wax pouring. While burning, it crackles softly like wood in a fireplace and produces a wide flame, making it particularly suitable for container candles with a larger diameter.

Why choose a cross wooden wick

• Wider melt pool – two strips in an X shape have a larger burning surface than a single flat strip; the melted wax spreads to the container wall and the candle does not tunnel.
• Crackling sound – wood crackles softly while burning, which is the main reason many customers seek out wooden wicks.
• Steady, upright flame – the wooden strip does not bend or curl like a cotton wick, and the flame stays in position.
• Stability in the container – the metal sustainer keeps the wick upright on the bottom; no need to hold it in place or centre it with a skewer during pouring.
• Natural material – according to the manufacturer, the wick is made from certified wood produced in the USA, free from allergens and biodegradable.

How to work with the wick

Insert the wick into the sustainer and adhere it to the centre of the bottom of the cleaned container, typically using a wick sticker or a drop of melted wax. Before pouring, verify that the wick is centred and upright, as it cannot be repositioned once the wax has set. Pour the wax at the temperature recommended for the given wax type and leave the wick undisturbed while the wax cures.

The wood must absorb wax before the first lighting, so finished candles should be left to cure for several days before burning. Only a short trim should extend above the wax surface. A longer wick burns with a large, sooty flame and extinguishes quickly, while one that is too short may drown in the melt pool.

The designation .02 refers to the strip thickness as defined by the manufacturer – a higher number indicates a thicker strip. With harder waxes or a higher fragrance oil load, verify by test burning whether the .02 strip produces a sufficient flame.

Suitable for products such as

• Container candles with a larger diameter – glass jars and tins where a single flat wick is not sufficient to achieve a full melt pool.
• Candles made from soft natural waxes – soy, coconut, rapeseed wax and their blends.
• Scented candles with a fireplace effect – where crackling is part of the experience.

Wooden wicks are generally not used in free-standing pillar candles without a container, as the flame and melt pool are too wide for that format.

Good to know

The behaviour of a wooden wick depends on the combination of wax, fragrance oil, dye and container more than is the case with cotton wicks. Fragrance oils and dyes can hinder wax capillary action into the wood, causing the flame to weaken or go out. In such cases, a thicker strip or a lower fragrance load may help. When testing, it is worth noting the wax batch, fragrance percentage and container diameter.

The wick is not trimmed with scissors as a cotton wick would be. The burnt black portion is broken off with fingers or snipped with nail clippers; scissors would split the strip. The same procedure should be noted for customers on the label or an insert card, along with a recommendation to let the candle burn until the melt pool reaches the edge of the container on the first lighting.

Once the candle has burned down, the metal sustainer can be removed from the container, and the wooden wick is replaced with a new one.

Frequently asked questions