TEALIGHT Centerpiece

Set the mood with this shimmering table topper

-  Willie Sandry

This tealight holder is a fun and inexpensive project, and makes a perfect gift for a friend or relative. Its highlight is the wonderful effect of flickering light through bands of translucent colored epoxy. The "candles" are actually battery-powered flicker lights set in glass votive holders. (Because there's wood involved, I don't recommend using open-flame candles.) Both the flicker candles and the glass holders are readily available from most craft stores.

Any clear two-part epoxy resin will work for the colored bands. You'll need 24 oz. of epoxy-about 12 oz. for each side of the centerpiece. I tinted the epoxy with mica powder, available in many colors from several online sources (see the Buyer's Guide on p. 60 for what I used). Instead of building an elaborate form to contain the epoxy, I poured it right into the grooves in the block after capping the ends off with scrapwood wrapped in non-stick Tyvek tape.

The finished dimensions of the piece are 3"-thick by 44' high by 10" long. Instead of sourcing 3-inch thick solid lumber, I glued four boards together to make an oversize block that I trimmed to size after pouring the epoxy. The one shown in the photos is made of maple, but you can experiment with different wood species and various colors to discover your favorite look.

Some of the steps in this project are simple enough for young woodworkers, which hopefully will light the candle of woodworking passion in the next generation.

Glued-up block with grooves for epoxy

Four face-glued maple boards make up the 3"-thick block. Three holes drilled in the top house glass votive holders with battery-powered flicker candles that shine and glimmer through tinted epoxy. Two different-sized grooves on each face hold the epoxy. And an arch at the bottom elevates the piece.

 

Order of Work

• Glue up block Saw grooves