Niggling drill bit issue

[HeyBub]

Perfect excuse to buy a new tool.

But don't lathe the holder, chuck up the candles and have a go.

[HeyBub]

You've got the wrong sized candles.

[Ed Pawlowski]

? "Wilfred Xavier Pickles" wrote

McMaster Carr has a brad point bit for $22.

[Tom Dacon]

Wilfred, google for "candle sharpener". Like a pencil sharpener for candles. About two bucks apiece or a little more. For example:

D

I've got a little John Nelson plan for a dinner-table-type folding candle-holder that's full of "Gotcha's".

One is candle size. I need to drill hard curly-maple for the base of the candles. Nelson sez to use candles with .5" base: I can't find any locally. But I've got some with 17/32" base.

I have no bits greater than .5". I don't *think* they make a 17/32" spade bit. I tried wiggling the .5" bit to enlarge the hole a little. It didn't work.

Do I have to special-order a 17/32" drill bit? Is there another way.

Apologies for the nickel/dime question.

Will

[Wilfred Xavier Pickles]

I had an old Irwin 5/8 that I ground down.

Crude but effective: I think it'll do the job.

Many Thanks, Will

[-MIKE-]

I've ground down spade bits before and even put a taper on them. It's pretty easy to sharpen the side enough to get a decent hole.

[Mac Davis]

Any size drum sander.. or make your own, as suggested.. A 1/2 drum sander is only a few bucks and will let you customize the hole to the candle..

[Leon]

I would think that it would dry out and become loose again and add to that it may split as it dries again.

[Hoosierpopi]

I've taken a spade bit and ground it down to a needed size - and, you can make it a taper bit in the process. Drill your half-inch hole, then enlarge with the spade bit. If these candle holders are for your own use, you could make the half-inch hole, cut a kerf, insert/glue a bit of old hack saw blade and use it to cut teh candle bases down to size - I think they sell something like this for making dowels.

[Wilfred Xavier Pickles]

The plan said .5" diameter, 5" hi. Just a half-size taper.

I live in a good-size city, figgered they'd be easy to find.

I couldn't find 'em anywhere. Most stores had full-size tapers and all kinds of fat candles and candles in glass. Target had

2 full shelves of that and nary a taper. Curious.

What I got at a Catholic supply store (alleged 17/32" x 5") has got to do.

Will

[Lew Hodgett]

---------------------------- Give General Wax & Candle a call.

1-800-929-7867.

Lew

[joeljcarver]

I've seen devices that will taper down a candle to fit in a holder. Also you could get a 9/16" spade bit and grind or file the sides down to a slight taper (or even to cut a cylinder)for holes for the candle.

[HeyBub]

Now THAT'S thinking outside the box. Good idea.

We've gotten so far away from making our own tools that you were the first to come up with the idea.

[Larry W]

It should be easy enough to push a 17/32 wax candel into a 1/2 inch hole in hard maple. It's only 1/32 inch difference.

[J. Clarke]

Depends on the wax though, remember that pure carnauba is harder than concrete.

[Morgans]

Buy a spade bit a little bigger than you need. Grind it to the size and tapper you need. Drill with regular care.

[DanG]

Most commercial candles have a tapered base. If you have much of this to do, buy an extra spade bit or get an old one and file and/or grind the taper on the bit. Do some marking on the bit before you start and take equal amounts of material from each side. Once you get it right, it is always ready for candle work.

[Jim Weisgram]

[...snip...]

With a template and a bearing guided bit, it could be done accurately and safely. On the template, drill a 1/2" hole and enlarge it with a dowel wrapped with sandpaper, or whatever.

With the holder, drill the holes to 1/2" to remove almost all the waste, place the template over the hole (with double stick tape, or make a jig to fix the holder into place) and enlarge the hole with the router.

[Jim Weisgram]

In which case a spade bit ground to a taper to match the candle should be the answer.