DIY Tealight Candle Holder Made from Pallet Wood

Searching for sustainable dwelling decor that provides a contact of rustic class to any room? A DIY tealight candle holder comprised of reclaimed wooden is simply the factor. This information will present you tips on how to craft a ravishing tealight candle holder utilizing reclaimed wooden, minimizing waste and embracing sustainable practices.

Decreasing, reusing, and repurposing makes an necessary distinction for the surroundings By giving new life to discarded wooden, we divert it from landfills and preserve treasured pure assets. Reclaimed wooden boasts distinctive markings, knots, and textures, including heat and rustic attraction to your own home. By reusing wooden, you decrease your carbon impression whereas introducing a weathered look that’s arduous to match with any business lumber handled with stains. Higher nonetheless, sourcing free or low-cost wooden makes this venture extremely inexpensive, and also you gained’t want an in depth assortment of high-priced supplies.

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Right here’s a rundown of the important supplies you’ll want:

Pallet Wooden: Sourced from appropriate places, reminiscent of a lumber yard, wooden store, or an deserted barn, pallet wooden can usually be obtained without cost, or you should buy used planks on-line, making this venture remarkably budget-friendly. Bear in mind, pallet wooden isn’t your sole possibility. Reclaimed wooden like decking boards, floorboards, outdated cabinets, and even scraps out of your storage or backyard shed can suffice. The Spruce has a convenient guide to sourcing used pallets domestically. When purchasing for foraging, search for “HT” markings that point out the wooden is heat-treated and protected.

High quality Wooden Glue: Guaranteeing your tealight candle holder holds collectively securely calls for the usage of high-quality wooden glue. Whereas Titebond II is advisable, any respected model recognized for its energy and sturdiness will suffice.

Tealight Candles: Keep away from low cost, flimsy tealights from low cost shops, as they usually lack high quality and will burn inconsistently or unsafely. Put money into high quality tealights for a greater flame and longer, extra dependable burn. Strive soy wax tealights for cleaner burning flames with the  minimal environmental footprint.

Glass Votive Candle Holders: Important to this venture, glass votive tealight candle holders serve to guard the wooden from candle flames and mitigate potential hearth hazards. The glass votives we’re utilizing measure 5.5cm (roughly 2.2 inches) large and 6.7cm (2.6 inches) tall, with many buying choices available online. Search for used or recycled glass votives for an eco-conscious contact.

The Instruments You’ll Want

Go for hand instruments like saws, clamps, and planes every time attainable for a extra low impression strategy to woodworking. They require much less power and provide a satisfying hands-on expertise. Nonetheless, they do require talent and energy. So contemplate this too when making a venture. For those who want instruments to do that venture, discover native thrift and {hardware} shops for used instruments earlier than shopping for new ones.

You have to a miter noticed or hand noticed. When you’ve disassembled the pallet, you may make use of both of those instruments to trim the boards to measurement. A miter noticed gives velocity and precision, whereas a hand noticed supplies a budget-friendly different. Go for a sturdy-bladed hand noticed able to dealing with robust pallet wooden.

Typically neglected however important, clamps play a vital function in woodworking tasks. Fortunately, those wanted right here aren’t expensive. Make the most of F clamps or G clamps to securely glue the boards collectively.

Select your planer properly. Whereas a lunchbox planer is a useful device, it comes with a price ticket. For those who lack one to flatten the pallet wooden boards post-gluing, contemplate an electrical planer or a handbook handplane. The lunchbox planer gives velocity and consistency, however a hand airplane will also be efficient albeit requiring extra effort and talent. For those who don’t have a drill press, ask a neighbor. They’re hiding, usually little used, in garages and workshops all over the place. Additionally, you will want a 60mm forstner bit, which is crucial for drilling holes to create the flat-bottomed gap for the glass votive tealight candle holders. Normal drill bits gained’t suffice as a consequence of their incapability to match the 60mm diameter.

Simplify the duty of drilling tealight candle holes with a drill press, although a drill with an inexpensive drill information can obtain related outcomes. Keep away from free-handing, as controlling the massive forstner bit required for this venture can show difficult.

You have to to chop the strips within the tealight candle holder with a desk noticed, observe noticed, or router permits the candlelight to shine via. Whereas a desk noticed gives comfort, a trim router presents a extra budget-friendly possibility. Sadly, there’s no straightforward handbook different for this step. Alternatively, get artistic with a drill and modify the design to include drilled holes for the candlelight to shine via.

Step-by-Step Information

For a step-by-step video tutorial on tips on how to make a pallet wooden tealight candle holder, take a look at our video tutorial on YouTube.



First, collect your pallet wooden. For those who’re uncertain tips on how to safely dismantle a pallet, confer with our tutorial on the topic.

The reduce the boards to their tough size. Trim the pallet boards to a tough size barely over 30cm. (1.181 inches). Pallet wooden usually measures round 2.2cm (0.866 inches) thick, so goal for 4 boards to create a sturdy block. Regulate dimensions in case your wooden is thinner.

Glue the boards collectively, making use of wooden glue to 3 sides of the pallet boards, coating the complete floor with a silicone brush, toothbrush, or finger. Clamp the boards collectively utilizing F clamps, G clamps, or related, guaranteeing correct alignment. Permit the glued boards to dry fully in a single day or as per the glue producer’s suggestion for a powerful bond.

Aircraft the boards, flattening the highest and backside surfaces of the glued block utilizing a lunchbox planer. Reduce snipe by establishing a planer mattress and create a jig to maintain the block upright throughout planing. Alternatively, use a hand airplane or electrical airplane if a planer is unavailable.

Sand the block completely on all sides utilizing a palm belt sander or random orbital sander. Progress from 80 grit to roughly 240 grit to acheive a easy end. Hand sanding is an possibility if energy sanders are unavailable.

Mark the candles holders, trimming the block to 29cm size (roughly 11.42 inches), guaranteeing flat reduce ends. Divide the highest floor into three equal sections with diagonal strains. Mark the precise heart of every part. Drill evenly spaced holes at these factors with a 60mm forstner bit, guaranteeing enough depth for glass votives (roughly 7cm).

Reduce lateral strains within the block utilizing a desk noticed to chop down the block’s sides, set at 1cm incements (roughly 0.394 inches — you may modify as you want) and to a depth of 1 board thickness. Alternatively, a observe noticed or trim router can be utilized. Train warning with energy instruments, guaranteeing targeted consideration. Alternatively, get artistic with a drill bit for gap reducing. The ultimate dimensions ought to be 29cm lengthy roughly 11.42 inches), 8.5cm (3.35 inches) large, and eight.5cm (3.35 inches) excessive.

Insert the votive tealight candle holders into the block, every with a tealight candle.

You’ll be able to stain the wooden or go away the tealight candle holder unfinished for a pure, weathered look.

Step again and admire your handiwork! Your pallet wooden tealight candle holder provides heat and class to any room, a proud testomony to your craftsmanship.

Embrace Imperfections & Personalize

Bear in mind, imperfections add character, which is the attraction of reclaimed woodcraft. Embrace the distinctive markings and variations in your reclaimed wooden. Be happy to personalize the design with completely different shapes, sizes, and even pyrography for a really one-of-a-kind piece.

Crafting with reclaimed supplies lets you specific your creativity whereas minimizing your environmental impression. This DIY tealight candle holder venture is a rewarding method to create a ravishing and sustainable piece of dwelling decor that displays your values and brings pleasure to your house. So, seize your instruments, embrace the upcycling spirit, and embark on this eco-responsible venture!

Concerning the Authors

Michael Martin and Nikki Rixon began their enterprise Reclaim Design in 2013. Subscribe to their YouTube channel for extra movies full of sensible recommendation, eco-friendly suggestions, and inspiration that can assist you dwell a extra sustainable life.