About the Shortening candle. Does a wick work if it isn't prepped with melted shortening before you make the candle? Have read that the prepping is necessary to draw the wax into the wick, otherwise it would just burn to a crisp and be gone.

Just asking. Haven't tried it myself.

BTW, first-time candlemakers. Those wicks are prepped with wax which makes them stiff but the hot wax poured around it can make it soft and sag into your candle. Tie the wick to a pencil braced over over the top of your container so it doesn't disappear. Fishing one out is messy, and not all that fun.

Also, if you overheat the wax and start a fire, using baking soda or a fire extinguisher. Water may just spread the wax, like an oil fire, and thus spreads the fire. You must suffocate the fire.