Wooden wick, .02 crossed, 12.7 mm

Wooden wick .02 cross with a width of 12.7 mm is a container candle wick that replaces the classic cotton wick with a thin wooden slat. It is chosen for its low, wide flame and gentle crackling during burning, which gives the candle a calmer, fireplace-like character. The cross design joins two slats in an X shape, so the wick stands more firmly and draws more wax to the flame than a simple flat slat.

The set also includes a metal sustainer, which holds the wick upright on the bottom of the container and keeps it in place during wax pouring. According to the manufacturer, the wood is from certified sources, allergen-free and biodegradable.

How a wooden wick differs from a cotton wick

• Flame shape – the wooden slat burns with a low, wide flame that melts wax evenly across the full diameter of the container.
• Sound – the wood crackles gently during burning. This is a natural property of the material, not a defect of the wick or the wax.
• Appearance – the wide slat is visible in the candle and becomes part of the design.
• Stability – the cross shape of two slats holds its form even in melted wax and does not tilt as easily as a single thin slat.

Cross shape and slat thickness

The designation .02 is the manufacturer's slat thickness code; a higher number means a thicker slat. Thickness together with width determines how much wax the wick draws to the flame, and therefore the flame size and the width of the melt pool. A cross wick has more mass than a flat wick of the same width and is therefore typically used in wider containers or with waxes that are harder to melt.

There is no universal chart matching wick width to container diameter, because the result depends on the type of wax, fragrance load, colourant and container shape. The correct size always needs to be confirmed by test burning.

How to work with the wick

Insert the wick into the metal sustainer and fix the sustainer to the bottom of the container using a wick sticker or a drop of melted wax. Before pouring, check that the wick stands straight and centred in the container. A crooked wick burns unevenly and leaves unmelted wax on one side. Pour the wax at the temperature recommended for the given wax type and leave the wick undisturbed while the wax sets.

Once the wax has set, trim the slat just above the wax surface. A wooden wick does not burn down the same way as a cotton wick. A charred layer remains on its edge, which must be removed before each subsequent lighting, otherwise the flame decreases or the wick goes out.

Which candles it is suited for

• Candles in glass containers – the slat is visible; it works particularly well in clear and frosted glass and in low, wide containers.
• Candles in tins and ceramics – the sustainer holds the wick on a flat base; test burning will confirm whether the wick strength matches the container diameter.
• Candles made from plant-based and blended waxes – wooden wicks are commonly used in soy, coconut, rapeseed and blended waxes.

The wooden wick with sustainer is not suitable for free-standing candles (pillar, moulded) because it requires a firm base to which the sustainer can be attached.

Good to know

• Wood is a natural material; individual slats may vary in grain and shade, which has no effect on burning.
• A higher fragrance load and some colourants can slow wax melting, resulting in a smaller melt pool. In that case, try the next wick size up.
• The sustainer remains at the bottom after the candle has burned down. When reusing the container, remove it after warming the remaining wax and dispose of it in metal recycling.
• The set is not intended for contact with food or cosmetics and is used exclusively for candle making.

Frequently asked questions