2017 Christmas Challenge

I've decided we ought to have a fun and simple competition open with a Christmas theme that's to all forum members.

Your Mission: Create a pair of candlesticks.

They can be as big or small as you like (cake candles to churche candles), of at least two suitable materials.

Judgement will be entirely arbitrary, but might take into account:

1. Finish - are they well made.
2. Design - do they work properly and look nice.
3. Match - how well do they match each other.

So the basic challenge is to make something decent out of at least two different materials - and then make another one to match it.

All entries MUST be designed and made after I post this message, no 'here's one I made earlier'.

They don't have to be metal.

My decision is final, no squabbling.

Please use this thread to discuss ideas and share progress. I will start a thread to post pictures of your finished entries towards the end of November.

The deadline will be 10th November to give me a chance to find a small prize and get it to the winner via Santa.

Of course, all entrants will be winners because they will end up with a nice gift for someone this Christmas!

Good luck, and lets see some interesting ideas.

Neil

P.S. Blue Peter Advent Crowns are disqualified on taste and fire safety grounds.

So the basic challenge is to make something decent out of at least two different materials - and then make another one to match it.

I'm confused, any candlestick I know is made out of one different material

That's why it's a challenge

Some wooden candlesticks have a metal cup to catch dripping wax.

My candlestick from last year (not allowed of course) was brass and steel.

I'm more of a utility than beauty sort of person...

Iain

So this is a challenge to build two identical candlesticks, so one could be Brass one Aluminium. Or is it to build two candlesticks identical from two different materials? Is there an exclusion to 3D printing, (not that I have it, but I know there's a lot of different materials to use in a 3D printed parts. If there isn't someone will have one made in a Jiffy.

Conditions do say "suitable materials" not sure if plastic is a suitable material where it could contact a flame as the candle burns right down so only those with the ability to print metal parts may have it done in a jiffy

Jason just putting it out there as a possible, the stem could be turned from Ali, the base 3D printed?

Any sensible materials, but if it could melt or catch fire when the candle burns sown it will lose LOTS of points on design!

They should match, it's up to you to interpret 'match' and hope your interpretation matches the judges.

Neil

Neil, originally you said "Your Mission: Create a pair of candlestick" now you say they "should match"

Are entrants allowed to have the pair complement each other as a pair can often not be matching in which case your fellow Judge may have different interpretations than you! For example they could be mirror images or interlocking.

Hoist by my own petard again...

Dave

I have an idea in mind, will be a bit of a bodge, (ie made from the limited scrap I have). But i was thinking along the lines of a mirror image of each other. It won't be so much precision, as creative. Just hope it works.

Dave that made me chuckle, I like that idea, see Christmas off with a bang

Right: the base is a lathe chuck, with the jaws upwards. Clamped in the jaws is the stem of a hole cutter. In the hole cutter is a candle which fits snugly. Next to it, is another identical chuck, in the same position, etc.

No need to send the bits or even a picture, and no waste whatsoever as all parts can be returned to the 'useful kit' cupboard on twelfth night. It can't be more enviro-friendly than that, surely?

Regards, Tim

Do I get a prize for a Virtual entry? For a small fee I can provide the STL file so that Neil can print one for everybody.

Or as it might look in clear plastic:

The decorative holes spiral vertically up the inside of the candlestick. Can anyone suggest a way of producing an object like this (full of twirly holes) without using a 3D printer to build it up layer by layer?

Dave

PS Designed and rendered with Fusion360. Highlights tarted up with GIMP.

Would he not need to print two for everybody so they each had a pair?

J

Certainly. Good job Neil loves 3D printing - it will keep him busy until xmas next year.

Dave

Neil is working on his entry already

As I can't actually enter, I'm only doing one and it would be disqualified on several grounds anyway!

Neil

Virtual entries are only eligible for virtual prizes

I thought those were coolant holes.

Neil

Neil would it be an idea to ask entrants to take some in progress photos of the construction of their entries as it may be nice to have a write up from the winner of how them made their sticks either in the mag or on the forum.

J

PS stop playing with that 3D printer and get the next issue of MEW off to the printers