Chris Schafale on sat 6 nov 99
I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
Thanks in advance.
Chris
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@intrex.net
Gregory D Lamont on sun 7 nov 99
At 08:43 PM 11/6/99 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
>I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
>candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
>actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
>estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
>yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
>know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@intrex.net
The only way I've been able to get them to reliably fit is to do a
shrinkage test on my clay body, so I can do more than just estimate
shrinkage. Then I made myself a shrinkage ruler: I purchased a 12" long
C-Thru brand ruler at my local university book store. This is a very
clear, flexible ruler with red markings. Since red photographs black, I
took the ruler to the neighborhood copy place and made two copies the same
percentage larger than my claybody shrinkage--in this case 12%. I cut
them out and had them laminated back-to-back. Now when I want a candle cup
to fit, say, a 3/4" candle stem, I simply measure the opening out to 3/4"
on my shrinkage ruler and it fits after firing. I've also make
candlesticks with a fairly deep, tapering candle cup portion so that the
candles generally fit somewhere along the taper. Not as precise as using
the shrinkage ruler and, depending on the angle and depth of the taper, the
candles of a supposedly matching set of candlesticks can end up at two
different heights. It'll be interesting to read whatever other suggestions
are out there.
Greg
Greg
gdlamont@iastate.edu
http://www.ourwebpage.net/greglamont/
Mailing address:
Greg Lamont
3011 Northwood Drive
Ames, IA 50010-4750
(515) 233-3442
Jennifer Boyer on sun 7 nov 99
This would all be so easy if candles were all EXACTLY the same
size, but they aren't. When I make candle sticks I make the tube
part pretty deep: 1 1/2 inches. I can't tell you how wide, since
I'm not at my studio. But I'd take a candle and wrap it with
tape a little less than
1/8 inch thick. use that as your gauge(stick it in after
throwing the tube to measure opening) and then make it bigger or
smaller based on the shrinkage of your clay. Try to make your
finished holder fit a candle from the supermarket. I think
since candles vary, customers are used to trimming candles or
using foil to make them fit...and with a deep tube, there's no
way the candle can fall. I just measured a fired candlestick I
have in the house, and the hole measures 7/8" on the inside.
Hpoe this helps.
Jennifer
Chris Schafale wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
> I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
> candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
> actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
> estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
> yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
> know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Chris
> Light One Candle Pottery
> Fuquay-Varina, NC
> candle@intrex.net
--
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer Boyer jfboyer@sover.net
Thistle Hill Pottery
Vermont USA
http://www.vermontcrafts.com/members/ThistleHill.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
HD on sun 7 nov 99
This reminds me of the engineers trying to design a harvester machine for
tomatoes...after many different and unsuccessful designs someone came up
with the idea to redesign the tomato...which they did!
Don't change the candlestick holder just get the right candle...or drip wax
into the hole and put the candle there
At 08:43 PM 11/06/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
>I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
>candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
>actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
>estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
>yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
>know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@intrex.net
Daniel P. Considine, Ph.D.
Waseda University
102 Century Mansion
4-23-11 Irumagawa
Sayama City, Japan, 350-1305
Ph/Fax (81) 429 54 2401
Cell (keitai) 0908 105 8750
I started with nothing
and I still have most of it left.
Paul Lewing on sun 7 nov 99
Chris,
Back when I used to throw a lot, I made lots of spice jars that I put
corks in. To get them all exactly the same size every time, I used a
trick that might work for your candleholders. Find something just a bit
bigger that the size hole you need and, when you are throwing the last
stages of your holder, just close the opening around this thing till it
touches. I used to use a pill bottle for a template for #22 corks. If
you can't find something exactly the right size and taper, find someone
with a wood lathe to make you something.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Sheron Roberts on sun 7 nov 99
------------------
Good question Chris, I have the same
problem. I have been making small
goblet like vessels for fat candles and
I have melted my own wax and scent
combos and poured into small pots.
They sell well at Christmas. But I still
have a problem with the candlesticks.
So I wait along side you for any help
on this one. :=7D
Sheron in NC, sun burned, dehydrated,
exhausted and bummed out from an
all day street fair, with a lot of lookers
but few takers.
elizabeth priddy on sun 7 nov 99
make them a little deep, with a little
extra room for the pad of wax I am about to describe.
you can measure them with a giffen lid master
set on the 12.5 shrink rate and it will get you
close on the diameter
then make a litle sign that tells how to seat a candle properly.
to seat a candle:
light the candle and drip the hot wax into the
well that will hold the candle
place the candle in the hot wax pool and it will
sit without wobbling once set up
---
Elizabeth Priddy
personal email: epriddy@usa.net
website: http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
On Sat, 6 Nov 1999 20:43:14 Chris Schafale wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
>I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
>candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
>actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
>estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
>yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
>know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@intrex.net
>
--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Lynne Antone on sun 7 nov 99
In a message dated 11/06/1999 5:54:33 PM Pacific Standard Time,
candle@intrex.net writes:
<< I'm working on a series of candlesticks... I have a terrible time making
them so the candles will actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc....Anyone
have a tip?>>
Chris and all,
The best luck I have had with candle stick holders is to measure, allow for
shrinkage, etc. like you have done. Then I make a small template out of a
piece of counter topping laminate (like Formica). I measure for depth as well
as width. Also, I make the tip of the template slightly tapered, for about
the last 3/4 of the template, which helps fit a variety of sizes of tapered
candles. Once I open the holder, I slowly press the template down into the
hole, like you would a rib, making sure the hole is not too big or too deep.
I think it is better to have the hole a little deeper than too short, helps
keep the candle from tipping over.
Lynne Antone
Olympia WA
Brad Sondahl on sun 7 nov 99
I wrapped a real candle with masking tape to make it large enough to
allow for shrinkage, and I poke it in each top to assure proper fit.
Also tapering the holder part so it's skinnier toward the bottom makes a
shape that most candles can be wedged into. Tapers seem to vary a bit
anyway, so it is hard to produce the perfect holder.
--
Brad Sondahl
http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/bradindex.html
Sondahl homepage http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl
Original literature, music, pottery, and art
Debby Grant on sun 7 nov 99
Hi Chris,
You can buy brass candle cups or just the rims from Aftosa and
probably other suppliers and just glue them down in your openings.
That way the openings can be a little wider than the candle andactually
don't have to be quite as exact.
Good luck, Debby Grant in NH
Stephen Mills on mon 8 nov 99
I use a shallow tapered cork with a groove down one side attached to a
stick, the widest part of the cork is slightly wider than a standard
household candle. I throw the hole (!) smaller and then push the cork
into it, wheel still turning, and then remove it. The groove lets the
air back in. I never glaze the hole, the slight roughness of the clay
grips the candle.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Chris Schafale writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm working on a series of candlesticks, and I've just remembered why
>I don't usually make them (though I do make votive holders and oil
>candles). I have a terrible time making them so the candles will
>actually fit correctly, not tip over, etc. I've tried measuring,
>estimating shrinkage, etc., but I haven't been able to get it right
>yet. Couldn't find anything in the archives on this, but I
>know lots of you must make them. Anyone have a tip?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@intrex.net
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Tel: **44 (0)1225 311699
Fax: **44 (0)870 0526466
Cindy Strnad, Earthen Vessels Pottery on mon 8 nov 99
Chris,
This may be cheating, but I make my candle sticks with a somewhat
cone-shaped opening. That way, different sizes and shapes of candles (within
the general range of slim tapers) will fit them. I use them myself all the
time, and once a candle has been warmed into the candle stick, I have no
trouble. Tip--soften the butt end of the taper with a match/hot water/or
something else warm before inserting it into the holder.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
Custer, SD
Janet Kaiser on mon 8 nov 99
------------------
Chris,
I realise you are maybe selling candles as well as candlesticks, but if it =
was
just the candlesticks you needed to =22norm=22 I would suggest buying the =
candles
with the graded and fluted bottoms that will fit into a variety of different
sized holes. There are so many different sizes of candles and candlesticks,
something, somewhere is going to fit or not fit as the case may be=21 Or do =
you
have =22normed=22 candles in the USA?
Just a suggestion
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art: Home of The International Potters' Path
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales, UK
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox=40the-coa.org.uk
If you experience difficulties accessing our web site,
please e-mail me=21 Thank you=21
Bobbi Bassett on mon 8 nov 99
In a message dated 11/7/99 5:32:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,
gemini53@weblnk.net writes:
> I have melted my own wax and scent
> combos and poured into small pots.
> They sell well at Christmas.
Sheron,
I have been thinking about filling some of my small pots with wax and wick.
Do you sell them for enough more money to be worth the extra
work...................or do they just sell faster?
Bobbi in PA
Sheron Roberts on tue 9 nov 99
------------------
Bobbi,
So far the effort has paid off. I use small
pots, sometimes mugs, and sometimes
shallow bowls. People love these.
I would normally sell the small pots, and
they are small, too small to be a mug
for instance, for 3.00 to 5.00. With a
scented and colored candle in them,
I get 7.00 to 10.00. It is kind of funny to
me, people will ask, are these home made
candles? They don't ask about the pots.
Too bad I didn't have
any ready for the last fair, :=7B
Sheron in NC
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