Candlestick in Purpleheart

I’ve been turning pens for a little over a year now, but I don’t generally turn things that don’t fit onto a mandrel. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching and a romantic home-cooked meal in the works, I decided to break out the spur drive and the live center and work on my free-form turning skills to make a candlestick and have a nice candle-lit dinner with my wife. Though I hate purpleheart, it’s my wife’s favorite wood that I’m occasionally willing to work with, and it turns well. I hope she likes the surprise tomorrow!

The base and spindle are turned separately, with a simple round tenon into a hole to join the two pieces.

The project is finished with Briwax, applied like a friction polish while each piece was still on the lathe. I’m hoping (probably in vain) that with a wax finish I can chip off any candlewax that drips and then just buff out the finish with some more Briwax and a lint-free rag.

Thanks!

-Shafe

-- --Shafe