Sculpting a Tealightholder With an Anglegrinder!

Today i'm making a new gift for one of my friends. a tealightholder with a special message.

Step 1: Step 1: Finding and Sizing the Right Piece of Wood.

For my project i want to use peartree wood, since i has a very nice look when sculpted. And here it is a pretty cheap wood, since we have a lot of peartrees.

The piece i had was too big, so i cut it to size with my tablesaw.

If the piece is right, we go to the next step...

Step 2: Step 2: Drill the Holes for the Tealights and Draw a Profile for Shaping.

First we look where we want to put the candles. Draw where you want the curves and candles.

Next use a forstner bit a little bigger than the tealights ( we want to get them out pretty easy later).

When the holes are drilled to the depth you like for the tealights, we skip to the next step.

Step 3: Step 3: Prepare Your Anglegrinder and Shape,shape,shape...

these disks are called "raspdisks" for anglegrinders. My brand is from SABUR. They seem to be hard to find. But, i have them, and, the cn last VERY long is you don't hit steal with it.

For the shaping, just use your FEATHER TOUCH to follow the lines you've drawn. DON'T push it. let the rasp do its work very gently. better to go over it 5 times than 2 times and damage the vains of your wood.

I myself first follow my lines.Then i go over it a few times and also go wider until all flat and stright pieces of the wood are gone. same for the sides.

Next step...

Step 4: Step 4: Optional Writing

This time i wrote a text for the person on it.

First i write the text with a pencil.

Next i use a simple soldering iron and keep dipping on the writen text, so we get a pointy dot text burned in the wood.

Step 5: Step 5: Sanding and Finishing

So just some basic fine sanding to make sure everything is smooth.

If you like you can put 4 rubber paws/dots on the underside so it lays better on the table. (i do it all the time)

I finish it with Danish oil. Pretty know to most woodworkers. (don't put it in your house just after the coats, or you will get the smell indoor!! a day later no smell will be found when bringing indoor,just saying. wife not happy :D)

Step 6: Step 6: Finished Product

Not much to say. It's done :-)

Comments

[JörgenBörg]

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[Bee Queen]

We have also done some tea lights with our dried spalted maple and other wood we have in our shop. Enjoy the raw wood piece on any table you choose , we recommend as we sell them to customers that they place sand in the cavity and then the tea light, for safety as sand doesn't burn, we give them about half a cup of sand , I would also insist that you burn REAl BEE WAX candles for health reasons,,, Bee wax candles are the only candle you can burn in you home with out getting any toxins!! l Most other candles are like burning diesel oil right in front of yourself !!. Go on line and check it out!!!.Bee wax release negative ions and clean the air as you breath, and the glow , the brightest longest burning light, relaxes the retina in ones eyes .! Your wood piece looks great, Just a note of interest thought I`d pass it along. Stewart`s Honey & Bee wax Candles.

[JörgenBörg]

thx for the enlightenment :). i'll check it out. have a nice day.

[GJ8]

Well Done

[JörgenBörg]

Thank you, it is a great gift to the right person :-)

[receiverainy]

Amazing

[JörgenBörg]

thanks :-). love doing it!