Candle Cups

[John Peachey]

I've been asked to make a pair of oak candle sticks for my local church, but am currently struggling to find suitable candle cups, for the approx 30mm diameter candles.

I've done a search on the web, and thought that I had found some, only to find that the cups were nowhere near capable of holding a 30 mm candle.

Has anyone here found a source of candle cups that size? Ideally in brass.

They do need to be cups,as apparently people wander around with lit candles on occasion, so they need to hold the candle securely.

I've also looked at buying suitable brass rod, although I'm unsure about actually machining brass (I know people have done it)

Any thoughts appreciated.
John

[Dancie]

Is this any good ?

https://www.axminstertools.com/craftprokits-brass-pillar-candle-dish-with-10mm-spike-202156?queryID=40028fbc7e72ff5d07b236bea38afb3a

[burywoodturners]

I have used these in the past and I can recommend them, best not to wander around with a lit candle though

[Bill21]

Maybe you could use brass tube like one of these two?

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-20g/

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-16g/

[John Peachey]

Is this any good ?

https://www.axminstertools.com/craftprokits-brass-pillar-candle-dish-with-10mm-spike-202156?queryID=40028fbc7e72ff5d07b236bea38afb3a

I have used these in the past, but I don't think that they would be safe enough with people wandering around with them lit.

[John Peachey]

Maybe you could use brass tube like one of these two?

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-20g/

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-16g/

That might be an answer if I could find shorter lengths, then put a small piece of flat material in the bottom.

[Richard_C]

Would copper be OK?

One of the standard copper pipe sizes is 35mm, that's OD so you get c.32mm id.  Not sure how easy it is to buy 1m lengths, I'm sure some stockists will do it but a lot only do 3m which is expensive.  You can get 35mm solder end caps so pipe + cap should do the job.  I wonder if just the end caps would do it on their own - not sure how deep they are but for 15mm the depth is about the same as the diameter.  If that holds true for all sizes then a 35mm end cap (say) 30mm deep might be fine without the pipe. Copper is easy to work so you could perhaps 'flare' the top a little just by working round the edge with a hammer against some round bar horizontal in a vice - as the copper thins it has to go somewhere so you get a gentle flare without too much effort.

You can also get 35mm brass compression end caps but they are very 'chunky' so probably not helpful.

A 'proper' plumbers merchant where they store things on shelves instead of in shrinkwrap packs would likely let you go and handle each type. 

 (I sometimes use 15mm copper pipe with and end cap to line bud vases.  You need to drill 16mm so the cap fits down, a slight flare gives a nice tight fit at the top with a barely visible edge)

[Bill21]

Maybe you could use brass tube like one of these two?

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-20g/

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-16g/

That might be an answer if I could find shorter lengths, then put a small piece of flat material in the bottom.

Well they sell a 6” length and you said you need two? Check out the specs but one of those two is going to be pretty close to 30mm ID.

[John Peachey]

Maybe you could use brass tube like one of these two?

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-20g/

https://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/1-1-4-o-d-x-16g/

That might be an answer if I could find shorter lengths, then put a small piece of flat material in the bottom.

Well they sell a 6” length and you said you need two? Check out the specs but one of those two is going to be pretty close to 30mm ID.

Bill,

Sorry didn't spot the 6" length on the bottom of the list.

John

[John Peachey]

Well life has got more awkward.

I have just been given the stub of a candle that will go in, and its nearer 37mm in diameter.
So the brass pipe looks to be the most likely solution.
The  1 1/2 inch pipe has and external diameter of 38.1 mm

John

[Bill21]

Even if the ID of the tube is slightly too small I’m sure a little could be shaved from the candle to make it fit?

[seventhdevil]

Well life has got more awkward.

I have just been given the stub of a candle that will go in, and its nearer 37mm in diameter.
So the brass pipe looks to be the most likely solution.
The  1 1/2 inch pipe has and external diameter of 38.1 mm

John

unless they need dozens of these things why not just make them from brass sheet. you can for the shapes yourself and braze or solder it together.

[Bill21]

If you buy the tube John, cut it to length and then turn up a piece of wood to fit the ID, jam the tube on then you can clean up the end with a scraper. 

[Paul Hannaby]

The last time I made an ecclesiastical candle holder I bought some brass and turned my own holders. Brass turns reasonably easy on the lathe if it's the right type of brass. I still have some brass left if you decide to do something similar.

[Valkrider]

If you could persuade them to use larger candles then Tea light candle holders are about 38mm from memory so may be usable.