Woodturning Project: Creating a Traditional Pair of Travelling Candlesticks

A new woodturning project has been shared by Stuart Thomas, which combines various techniques to create a traditional pair of travelling candlesticks. This project is a great opportunity for woodturners to challenge their skills and create a unique piece that can be a talking point for family and friends.

Travelling candlesticks have a long history, dating back to around 1735 and were used by explorers, travellers, and military officers. They were originally made of brass, bronze, copper, and other metals, or in woods such as olivewood, yew, elm, and other species.

In this project, Stuart Thomas is making a pair of candlesticks in yew, using a locally felled tree given to him by his friend Dave. The inserts are made of African blackwood. This project requires patience and attention to detail, as the parts need to fit together well to ensure a long-lasting piece.

To minimize the risk of wood movement, Stuart Thomas is using the rough turning method, which involves rough turning some parts first, allowing them to dry, and then re-turning them to the final shape. This method requires extra time and patience but ensures that the parts will fit together well in the future.

The project involves various techniques, including faceplate work, spindle turning, inserts, and thread chasing. Thread chasing may require some practice, and Stuart Thomas recommends using threading jigs or practicing on dense, close-grained hardwoods.

The tools required for this project include a 20mm spindle roughing gouge, a 6mm bowl gouge, a 10mm three-point tool, a 16mm spindle gouge, a 13mm skew chisel drill, a drill bit for the screw chuck, a 19mm Forstner bit, a 12.5mm Forstner bit, a round nose scraper, a pair of 16 TPI thread chasers, yew wood for the half bowls and stems, African blackwood for the male and female inserts, a four-jaw chuck with a screw-thread attachment, a jam chuck, brass candlestick inserts, abrasives, cellulose sanding sealer, and buffing wheels.

Drawing and Preparation

To ensure the best results, it's essential to prepare the wood properly. Stuart Thomas recommends part-turning the blanks and leaving them in the house to allow the wood to dry out and settle. This may take some time, but it's better to be patient at this stage than to risk the wood moving after the project is completed.

Getting Started

To start this project, you'll need to prepare the wood and create the necessary parts. This involves faceplate work, spindle turning, and inserts. The project requires attention to detail and patience, but the end result will be a unique and functional piece that can be a talking point for family and friends.

Tools and Materials