Grundsau Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Was thinking of making wall-hanging sconces for the fall craft shows. One style will hold a 3" pillar candle. What I'm trying to come up with is the best way to attach a short thin nail to the drip cup, pointy side up that keeps the candle from being bumped off. I thought about gas welding the nail in place but had wanted to rivet the drip cup on and wasn't sure how that would go together. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 If you are in the USA you could get concrete form nails that have a double head on them. Cut or grind off the top head and make it your spike and then use the bottom head as the rivet end in the cup and cut the long shaft as needed to make the rivet through the supporting piece. Here's an example of what I mean---they are calling them "duplex nails" You will need to make a bucker with a hole in it to set the spike end in so you can rivet the other side tight---drill a hole in some 1" rod and dress it to fit the curve on your candle cup. Have it held in your postvise or make it a hardy tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundsau Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 GREAT idea! Thanks Thomas. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I hate the spikes on candle holders. A lot of times the candle will spit, or crack when the spike is pushed into it, leaving you wiith a lopsided base. Back home we would light the candle, and drip hot wax onto the holder, then set the candle onto the hot wax sticking it to the holder. Another way would be to forge out some springy arms , say 3 of them so it is self centering, that would hold the candle in place. They would also be able to hold several diameters if springy enough. Instead of a flat base, what about more of a cup shape that the candle sets into? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I'm not positive, ... but I think you're supposed to heat the spike, before you stick the candle onto it. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I'm not positive, ... but I think you're supposed to heat the spike, before you stick the candle onto it. Don't know about the US, but in the UK, the majority of the larger diameter candles seem to have been manufactured with a washer at the base of the wick which is on the centre line, and any spike, hot or cold, hits this washer and that tends to split the candle's base. Spikes were also banned under the H & S EU regs as being dangerous. So some of the options for tall candles are: A tube, (flared, pierced or other decoration), Coiled (like a spring, finish with small motif? leaf, taper, wiggle or other) External peripheral supports, ie three (or more) legs that the candle slots/slides/fits into, of a suitable shape to fit the design, or this could also incorporate a ring around the top of these legs to secure the candle and stiffen the legs This is a sample of one made of 1/8" material to hold a 3" diameter candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I suspect the "spike" design, predates modern Socialism, and all it's "Big Brother" regulation. As well as any particular, proprietary manufacturing expedient ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) I've said this already today but. Check out Brian Brazeal's how to posts and see if he has one showing how he makes drip pans and adds the spike. He showed us when he was here in the Mat Su valley and it's an elegantly simple technique that also takes into account not splitting the candles. If he hasn't already posted a how to we'll just have to pester the stuffins out of him till he does. Frosty the Lucky. Edited September 18, 2011 by Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Spikes were also banned under the H & S EU regs as being dangerous. I'm flabergasted. Thats gotta be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Breathing causes death. So stop breathing everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Heard a year, or so ago, that they were looking to ban sharp pointed knives too. We have some pretty goofy regs here too, it isn't just the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbeast Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Spikes were also banned under the H & S EU regs as being dangerous. Does this seriously mean i can't put spikes on my candle holders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Does this seriously mean i can't put spikes on my candle holders? Any deviation is at your own risk Just as an aside, most of the candles you purchase these days have a wick with a washer on at the base, if you try and mount these on a pricket (spike) they tend to break and crumble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbeast Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Ok thanks, i'll bear that in mind next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundsau Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 Since my last post, I tried the duplex nail into a spike idea but discovered 3/16" flat headed rivets thru Grainger. The flat head goes on top and it lays flat enough to not interfere with the base of the pillar candle. Hey Frosty, thanks for the tip and I'll look around for that from Brian. JohnB, thanks for the visual. I like it. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Grundsau, you can find the tooling and how to install a candle cup spike in "Another Forge Welded Bundle". That is the name of the thread I started, and it got moved to the metal art and sculpture section. The candle cups are used on the candelabra and chandelier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 If you want a flat top you can just use a 16 penny nail cut to size---generally cheaper than buying rivets---this is an old SCA armour making trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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