How to Make Wooden Candle Holder

A candle is just a small thing that fills up any room with its charismatic light. A rustic candle holder not only helps in keeping the bigger furniture safe but adds elegance and appeal also.

Working with wood can really be exciting. A tea light candle holder can be made from log of wood or any leftover 2”x4” (50 x 100 mm) piece of hardwood. Choosing wood carefully with nice grain that has a knot or a rough edge with some bark makes your candle holder interesting.

Things you need:  

• Log of wood or selected piece of wood
• Cutting and shaping tool

This is required for cutting and shaping the log of wood in desired shape. Any tool will do here like the bandsaw blade, handsaw or chainsaw

• Hatchet
• Plane
• Belt sander
• sandpaper
• A large forstner bit either 1 1/2″ (38.1 mm) or 1 5/8″ (41.27 mm)
• Drill

Let’s start doing it!

Step 5: If you notice bark coming out, you can fix it up with some carpenters’ glue, clamp it down and leave it to dry.

Step 6: A big gouge can be filled up with wood filler or could be left as it is if it enhances rustic look of candle holder.

Step 7: Do some more sanding to get away with extra glue or filler.

Step 8: Decide how many candles you want to insert and mark in the centre of candle holder if you want to hold odd number of candle (like 1 or 3). Position the remaining candles equal distance apart and mark the holes on the candle holder.

Step 9: For drilling accurate holes in the candle stand, use a 1 1/2″ (38.1 mm) or 1 5/8″ (41.27 mm) forstner bit depending upon the size of candle you want to fit in.

Step 10: If you have a drill press, drilling holes will be much easier. You can set the depth stop for the size of a candle and just start making wood chips. A hand drill would work ok but be careful to clamp your piece tightly. Make sure you drill straight into the wood.

Step 11: The rough edges of holes require little bit of sanding.

Step 12: Finish it up with tung oil, liming wax, staining or leave it natural as per your choice.

YeY! Your classy candle holder is ready. Place your candles in it and snap it. If you had fun creating your own candle holder, share your experience and candle holder’s picture with us and your friends.