Candlestick Drill

[Michael Mendelsohn]

Woodworkers Supply used to carry a tapered drill matched to the taper on a candle. This was ideal for drilling the top of candlesticks. They seem to have discontinued this item and could offer no help in finding one. Does anyone know of a source for this tool?

I know that I can grind a spade bit to the correct taper, but this tool drilled a much cleaner hole in hardwoods.

Mike

 

[Bill Boehme]

I imagine that they didn't sell very well because it is so easy to just use a spindle gouge to make a tapered hole. Or drill a straight hole and then taper the side. A twist drill that has a taper is more likely to walk than turning a clean hole.

 

[jschnell1203]

I think I saw somewhere someone regrinding a spade bit to match the taper.

 

[Jerry Bailey]

you could try something like this if you don't want to grind a spade bit:

Neiko Heavy Duty Titanium Step Drill Bit, 7/16 to 1-1/8-Inch by 1/16-Inch Increments:
http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Titaniu...sim_hi_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=06QYXFN3W232SNJX7BTZ

or
Neiko Pro Quality Titanium Step Drill Bit - 13/16" - 1-3/8" by 1/16" Increments
http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Quality..._sim_hi_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MXFEWSE6V0PE6C1EQXY

 

[john lucas]

Woodworkers supply no longer sells the candlestick drill bit. That's why I wrote an article about how to regrind a spade bit using a Dremel with a grinding bit and your wood lathe. It's in American Woodturner Vol 29 no4 page 18. The article is entitled Half ring candleholders. If your an AAW member you have electronic access to all the Journals and can look it up.

 

[Sergio Villa]

I think I saw somewhere someone regrinding a spade bit to match the taper.

These self made bits are commonly used by chair makers for making holes for chair rungs etc. Lee valley sells a very good selection. They might work for candles but I'm not sure if they will work along the grain.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=57713&cat=1,180,42337

 

[john lucas]

Well spoon bits just drill a straight sided hole. They were designed to be able to start a hole at and angle and work really well for that. I have a few that I use for Windsor chairs. You can just drill a 3/4" hole for candles but the candle fits very sloppy and you almost need to melt some wax and put in the bottom before inserting the candle. They do sell tapered spoon bits also but the taper is wrong for a candle. The tapered bit that I make matches the taper of the candle base so the candle fits really good. I made the first one by just marking on the bit and grinding it as close as I could to the marks by hand. It chattered badly so I decided I needed a way to grind it very accurately. I rigged up a system on my metal lathe and it worked really well so I thought I wonder if I can rig up something on the wood lathe. That worked just as well although the size of the bit is not as accurate. However for holding a candle it really didn't need to be an exact size. The only thing that was critical was getting both sides of the bit ground to the same angle so the chatter was reduced.
If your not an AAW member you should consider it. You have access to all of the issues of American Woodturner which is a wonderful resource. I"ll be glad to mail you a copy of the article if your not a member, send me your snail mail address.

 

[hockenbery]

Wood does burn!

In my opinion any candle stick, candle holder design should include a metal of glass component that isolates a burnt down candle from the wood in the candle stick.

Buy the insert first then find a drill bit to work with the insert.

For a special effect,
cast inserts from pewter,
turn them from aluminum or brass.
Or beat copper into an insert

My 2 cents,

Have fun be safe
Al

 

[john lucas]

Al I've read the wood burns statement many times so one day I set up several of my smaller candle holders and let them burn until the candle went out. None of them caught fire. So I tried the same thing with a couple of spindle like candlesticks. No problem. Not saying it's impossible but I quit worrying about it after that. I think the more likely scenario is knocking a candlestick over or having curtains blow into the flame.

 

[Terry Vaughan]

I tried letting a candle burn out in one of mine and it went up like a torch. It had a candle cup turned from the wood as part of the design. Maybe flat top ones would be less flammable.

 

[Edward Weber]

I imagine that they didn't sell very well because it is so easy to just use a spindle gouge to make a tapered hole.

That's true, but if you're turning a set or candelabra, anything more than one, it's much more efficient to use a bit designed for it.
Micheal, unfortunately this has become a specialty bit and almost impossible to find. Here is a link to a spade type bit designed for candles.
http://www.mhcrafters.com/servlet/the-2316/Candlestick-Bit-for-Wood/Detail
For hardwoods, as you mentioned, you might be better off drilling a straight 5/8" hole and using something like this. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=336-0010&PMPXNO=2611066&PARTPG=INLMK32
Good luck

 

[R Henrickson]

That's true, but if you're turning a set or candelabra, anything more than one, it's much more efficient to use a bit designed for it.
Micheal, unfortunately this has become a specialty bit and almost impossible to find. Here is a link to a spade type bit designed for candles.
http://www.mhcrafters.com/servlet/the-2316/Candlestick-Bit-for-Wood/Detail

That bit you linked is rather large -- 28 mm (roughly 1 1/8") -- the usual tall table candles are roughly 3/4" or so at the base. 'Candle cups' on craft sites are mostly 7/8" diameter.

 

[Dale Miner]

Wood does burn!

In my opinion any candle stick, candle holder design should include a metal of glass component that isolates a burnt down candle from the wood in the candle stick.

Buy the insert first then find a drill bit to work with the insert.

For a special effect,
cast inserts from pewter,
turn them from aluminum or brass.
Or beat copper into an insert

My 2 cents,

Have fun be safe
Al

You forgot 'Metal Spin' the cups on your wood lathe.

 

[Bill Boehme]

LED candles are rapidly replacing the messy wax candles.

 

[R Henrickson]

And plastic and resin are replacing those nasty and hard to clean wooden bowls.

 

[hockenbery]

You forgot 'Metal Spin' the cups on your wood lathe.

I sure did! :-(
My apologies to Vince Wilson, Bill Moore , Michael Mocho, and all the other spinners out there.

casting bronze like Trent Bosch or Ron Gerton is another possibility

 

[Edward Weber]

That bit you linked is rather large -- 28 mm (roughly 1 1/8") -- the usual tall table candles are roughly 3/4" or so at the base. 'Candle cups' on craft sites are mostly 7/8" diameter.

Yeah, sorry, that's for a tea lite.
The standard tapers (candles) are roughly 5/8" at the base increasing to approx 7/8" where the candle starts. It's about a 5 degree angle.