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How to Make a Pierced Wood Candle Holder

Today I’m sharing how to make a wood candle holder that can be used for decor in any season.

Each side of my wood candle holders contains holes of varying sizes to let candlelight shine through.

Square wood candle holder with round holes in the sides to let candle light shine through.

This project was relatively easy and Mr. SP and I made two candle holders in under an hour. 

Painting and waxing took extra time, but all-in-all this project was completed fairly quickly.

How to Make a Pierced Wood Candle Holder

This post was first shared back in 2015. I’m sharing an updated version of it today since it’s a project perfect for fall or Halloween decor.

DIY square tea light holder

Holes drilled into the sides of the candle holders make pretty patterns of light to enjoy when the candles are lit at night. 

It looks like the insides of the holders are painted with gold paint but they aren’t, the paint is black with liquid wax applied over the top.

Eat Drink and Be Scary Chevron table runner with black candleholder with holes to let light shine through

Combined with a orange and white chevron table runner and a semi-scary centerpiece, my candle holders make a great decoration for my kitchen table.

Materials

Cut the Candle Holder Sides

The first step for this project was to decide on the dimensions.

After experimenting a bit, we decided to make a 4” square box meaning we would need these pieces for each box:

  • 2 – 4” x 4”  (Sides of the Box)
  • 2 – 3 1/2” x 4”  (Sides of the Box)
  • 1 – 3/ 1/2” x 3 1/2”  (Bottom of the Box)

Our poplar board was 6” wide, so we used the table saw to cut the board to a 4” width.

Our basement doesn’t have a dust collection system, so we work outside as much as possible. 

Mr. SP put wheels on my grandfather’s 1950’s table saw so that we can roll it outside to use.  This antique piece still works just fine and we are thankful to have it but we both eye more modern saws when we shop at Lowe’s or Home Depot or when we browse tools online.

Vintage table saw

We set the saw up to cut the board 4” wide.  A Bench Dog Feather-Loc stabilizes the board and helps to give a clean cut.

Using a table saw to cut a piece of wood to size

The tightening nut on the end of our table saw’s fence is broken so we have to clamp it in place.  That’s the down side of using a 60+ year old piece of machinery.  🙂

Using a table saw to cut a piece of wood at an angle

After ripping the board to 4”, the next step was to cut the box pieces. 

Since two pieces needed to be cut at 4”, we clamped a scrap piece of wood 4” from the right side of the saw blade to serve as a stop-block as we cut. 

We then moved the stop-block to 3 1/2” for the other two side pieces and the box bottom.

Wood block on chop saw

Using a stop-block works like a charm to do accurate cuts.

Cutting wood with a chop saw

Drill Holes in the Candle Holder Side Pieces

The next step was to drill holes in the box sides using a drill press. 

I experimented with our forstner bit set and chose a large and a small bit size.

Using a drill press to make holes in wood

Sand the Pieces

After the holes were drilled, I sanded both sides of all of the pieces.

Sanding wood with an orbital sander

The pieces of our two candle holders are now ready to be assembled.

Stack of square wood pieces with holes cut in them of varying sizes

Assemble the Candle Holders

These are the pieces for two boxes.  They are on a vintage teacher’s desk that I found at Goodwill. See what the desk looks like after I refinished it here and check out another vintage office desk that I restored here.

Wood pieces to make two DIY square tea light candle holders

Since the pieces needed to be glued, I put them on scrap wood with scrap paper over it since I knew the glue would ooze out.  (In retrospect, the paper over my scrap wood was unnecessary.)

Wood glue was squeezed on all edges and the box was assembled. Have a rag handy to wipe off any glue that oozes out.

Four pictures showing steps to make a candle holder

After assembling each box, we clamped them in as many directions as possible to keep them square as they dried. You can never have enough clamps in a workshop!

Multiple clamp used to hold a wood candle holder together

In my excitement to complete this project, I didn’t take a picture of my candle holders when the clamps were removed.

Paint or Stain the Boxes

After removing the clamps, I sanded the sides smooth and then painted them with two coats of paint from The Plaster Paint Company in Black Tie. 

To add a sheen to the paint, I waxed them with liquid wax also from The Plaster Paint Company.

The inside of the candle holder looks like it is painted gold, but it’s painted black with liquid wax over the paint.

Isn’t it pretty with a tea candle lit inside?

Box shaped Candle holder with holes in the sides

Decorate Using the Candle Holders

My pair of wood candle holders are on my kitchen table being used for Halloween decor.

Table decorated for Halloween

The skull and spiders are from the dollar store.  I spray painted the skull a silvery color and glued it to a scrap piece of wood so that it would stand up on its own.  The tray is a $2 Goodwill find.

Halloween table decor

To be honest, I am not crazy about using skulls as Halloween decor because I think it is disrespectful to the dead.

Halloween table decorations with candle holders and skull and spider centerpiece

I have no issue with spiders and think I may replace the skull with gourds that I bought last week.  I think I’d rather admire gourds through Halloween rather than a skull! 🙂

Skull and spider on a silver tray with a orange and white chevron table runner and black square candle holder

This project was fun to make and I’d like to make a few more with stained rather than painted wood.

35 Comments

  1. These are so fun, and I think I’d have to keep them out year round too:) I can’t get over your vintage table saw! Wow.. How special that it’s been in the family and now you have it to build stuff with as well!

  2. Oooo these are so cool! I like that they are spooky for your Halloween table but I bet you can dress them up differently for other holidays! It’s amazing how many tools it can take to make smaller projects!

    1. It’s crazy how that liquid wax makes the light reflect different colors. Candy corn colors are perfect for this time of year!

      Paula

  3. Wow, Paula! I didn’t know you were so handy in the workshop! These candles are a brilliant idea for fall. I can imagine they cast many pretty streams of light on the table.

    1. I used to be in a blog group that shared a woodworking project every month. It really motivated me to make things and my husband and I had a great time in the workshop coming up with projects and then making them.

      Paula

  4. Easy for a beginner and looks very high end. I’d love it if you shared this project on my Friday Favorites Linky Party

  5. Paula your candle holders are so good looking! I’m always amazed with your projects…I guess you can say I have power tool envy LOL! I’m looking forward to featuring your post this week on the Tuesday Turn About Link Party.

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