Guys...

Want the braided rope to stay in a particular shape without stiffening it with glue or paint? Try feeding a thin piece of copper wire down the middle. Works a treat! I got the idea from the type of candle-wick that has a burnable wire stiffener in it.

I hate it when your wicks go flat in the cooling pool of wax, and ya gotta dig 'em out? That or the wick sags to one side as it burns, and you get an uneven burn on the candle.

WhiteWolf