Baluster Candleholders

Our Place : Episode OPL-118 -- More Projects »
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Instead of tossing it into the fire, take an old piece of junkyard wood and turn it into a decorative candleholder.
Host Renai Ellison shows how to transform an old baluster into a decorative candleholder.

Materials:

old balusters
sandpaper
plywood
ruler
drill
countersinking drill bit
wood glue
green paint
sponge
brown acrylic paint
petroleum jelly
white paint
towel

Steps:

  1. Search a junkyard for some old balusters and remove any nails and trim from the wood so that it's flush and is steady when upright. Sand the piece before painting.
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Figure A
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Figure B
  • Cut a square piece of plywood to serve as the base for the candle, and place the board on top of a frame of other boards. Mark the center of the board by using a ruler to draw diagonal lines from each corner (figure A). Drill a hole in the center, where the lines intersect, using a countersinking drill bit.

  • Drive a large nail through the hole, making sure the top of the nail sits beneath the surface of the wood. Then glue a second, slightly smaller, square of plywood on top of the original board to form the platform for the candle. Glue the assembly to the top of the baluster (figure B).

  • Glue together two more pieces of plywood, cut to the same sizes as before, to make the base of the candleholder. Do not bother with drilling and the nail, and glue the sandwiched wood to the base of the baluster.
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    Figure C
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    Figure D
  • Age the baluster even more by painting with a base coat of green paint. Then use a sponge to dab brown acrylic paint on the surface to achieve a weathered look (figure C). When the second coat is dry, dab petroleum jelly on the baluster at random spots. The last step is to give the baluster a coat of white paint.

  • After the final coat dries, wipe with a towel and the white paint will come off in the spots where the jelly was applied and will result in a chipped look (figure D).
    • Also in this Episode
    Our Place : Episode OPL-118
    •Weathered Garden Sign
    •Salvage Creations
    •Baluster Candleholders
    •Trade Secrets