Lisa on sun 22 sep 96
In June, I took an order for a dinnerware set and have been working on it
ever since. The set was to include a pair of candlesticks about 12"
high.
I have been trying since June to get a matching pair of 'sticks, but I
have been quite unsuccessful. Can anyone suggest a book, or tell me how
to go about this? I'm at the end of my rope. Thanks.
Charles Williams on mon 23 sep 96
Sounds like you are throwing? You might consider hand building. The pieces
could be either square or round and as tall as you desire.
CW
vpitelka@Dekalb.Net on tue 24 sep 96
Lisa -
Many years ago I used to make lots of candlesticks, because they invariably
did so well at craft fairs and Christmas studio sales. If you want to make
the kind of candlestick which has a little attached plate at the base, you
simply divide off a portion of the centered lump, and form that into the
plate, and penetrate the remaining centered lump and form the stick part.
The secret to making good candlesticks is to penetrate (right to the
wheelhead) and lift a narrow cylinder, but certainly much wider than you
want the finished candlestick to be. At the top of this cylinder, neck in
the opening and form the candle cup (to fit the size candles you wish to
use) and drip-catching flange. After the candle cup and flange are fully
formed, use a necking-in motion to narrow and raise the vertical shaft
beneath the candel cup. When it starts to get quite narrow you will need to
support the candle cup and flange with one hand while continuing to thin and
raise the shaft with the other hand. With a twelve-inch-tall candlestick
you will not be able to get the vertical shaft very thin, because it simply
will not stand up. I have made candlesticks eight or ten inches tall, and
they work well if I allow the vertical shaft to taper from a fairly wide
base up to a thin shaft just below the candle cup.
Good Luck,
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166
Sandra Dwiggins on tue 24 sep 96
Hi Lisa---You could try making a thin wood or cardboard template of the
shape you want, then after you have thrown the basic candlestick
shape, hold the template against the shape and either try to duplicate the
ins and outs or (this is the best way)---use the template as a jiggering
tool and shape the candlestick by using the template like a rib against the
side of the clay. Actually, if you have access to someone who can
make you a shape out of thin acrylic and then sharpen the edge, you'd
be able to make candlesticks until the cows come home--which I think is
about 4 p.m. in Wisconsin and 3:30 in upstate New York.
Good luck,
Sandy
Cobalt1994@aol.com on wed 25 sep 96
Hi Lisa,
Have you tried making the candlesticks in 2 pieces? It's easier to make this
tall thin conplex shape in 2 pieces. Try making them sort of like a goblet:
1. A simple elongated funnel shaped base thrown upside down. 2. Throw a one
piece candleholdiing section that looks like a candle holding tube on top of
a little saucer. This saucer serves as a wax catcher. You then put the 2
pieces together like a goblet. You can trim the funnel shapes to get them the
same size. Throw alot of the top shapes so you can mix and match to get sizes
you want. Make at least 6 candlesticks to get a pair that are the same size.
Hope this helps.
Jennifer in Vermont where the leaves are turning.
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