How to make a candlestick from concrete and cement with your own hands at home

A great do-it-yourself project that blends creativity and practicality is making a candlestick out of concrete and cement. It’s a great way to experiment with a versatile material and give your home decor a unique touch. Concrete candlesticks are ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings because they are both fashionable and robust.

The ability to personalize it to your taste is one of the nicest things about crafting your own concrete candlestick. You can select various sizes, shapes, and even colors to complement the design of your house. Concrete gives you the freedom to realize your design, no matter how complex or minimalistic it is.

Surprisingly easy to complete, this project doesn’t call for expensive equipment or sophisticated skills. All you need is a few simple supplies and a little perseverance to make a one-of-a-kind item that will wow your loved ones. Additionally, the fulfillment that comes from creating something by hand gives the final product a higher level of value.

We’ll walk you through the steps of creating a concrete candlestick in the sections that follow. We’ll provide you all the pointers and advice you need to guarantee a successful project, from assembling your supplies to mixing the mixture and applying the finishing touches. Prepare to let your imagination run wild and experience the joy of working with concrete!

Step Description
1 Gather materials: cement, water, a plastic mold, a mixing container, a stirring stick, and a release agent.
2 Prepare the mold by applying the release agent to ensure easy removal of the concrete.
3 Mix cement and water in the container according to the instructions on the cement package.
4 Pour the mixture into the mold, filling it to the desired height of the candlestick.
5 Tap the mold gently to remove air bubbles and ensure a smooth surface.
6 Let the concrete cure for at least 24 hours, or as recommended on the cement package.
7 Carefully remove the cured concrete from the mold.
8 Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper if necessary.
9 Decorate your candlestick with paint or other finishes if desired.
10 Insert a candle and enjoy your handmade concrete candlestick.

Making a concrete and cement candlestick at home is an easy and enjoyable project that gives your decor a chic, handmade look. You can follow this guide step-by-step to create a unique candlestick, starting from mixing the concrete and ending with molding. It only takes a few supplies and tools to create a sturdy, eye-catching piece that is ideal for giving or keeping for yourself. Regardless of your level of experience, this project is both easy to do and very satisfying.

Necessary inventory for creativity

All you need to prepare is a basic set of tools, materials, forms, and decorative trinkets to create a concrete décor by hand. It is best to first determine what the candlestick will look like, consider all of your options, and draw a sketch of the final product. This will cut down on the amount of preparation work and help you determine exactly what you’ll need for pouring.

Form, configuration, color, and other aspects of the candlestick that the master observes greatly influence the set of tools and forms that are available.

  • Any form made of plastic or glass (the first option is more preferable, since then you will most likely have to break the container) – an unnecessary can of Pringles chips, a soda bottle, a butter tray, a bowl and anything that will no longer be needed in everyday life, because it will be hopelessly spoiled. You need several molds of different sizes (so that one is inserted into the other, creating a recess for the candle).
  • Rubber gloves and goggles – protective equipment when working with concrete is required, as it will protect against injury.
  • Small stones or coins – will be needed as cargo.
  • Machine oil or Vaseline – to lubricate the mold before pouring, so that later you can easily remove the workpiece.

  • Sandpaper – for processing the finished candlestick and giving it a neat and aesthetic appearance.
  • Scissors and knife – for cutting shapes.
  • A balloon – if you plan to make a spherical candlestick, which is created by coating with a concrete mixture of an inflated balloon.

Water, ready-made dry mix, or ingredients for DIY concrete (sand, cement) are the materials you’ll need. If there is any décor, you must also take care of it beforehand: paint, decorations, etc.

Step-by-step manufacturing

This tutorial looks at the possibility of creating an oval-shaped candlestick with engraved letters on it in a tiny plastic container. As a result, you can use any shape—big or small, tall or low, square or round—and adding letter décor is optional.

Precautions

When working with concrete, it’s important to consider safety precautions. Wearing protective clothes is recommended, and gloves and goggles are necessary to prevent concrete from getting on exposed skin, including the face. Even when kneading the solution, skin (at least the hand that is held in shape) and eyes can suffer, even though the amount of work is minimal and everything can be completed fast and precisely.

Setting up a location for the work to be done is also a good idea. During the warm season, outside, in a level, open space free from obstructions, is the best option. If you’re pouring the mixture at home, you’ll need to clear off most of the table, cover it with newspaper or film, and arrange everything so that it’s easy to work on.

You should not allow small children or pets into the room where the work is being done if you have any of these in your home. In addition to ruining interior décor and furnishings, the concrete mixture can be very problematic for individuals who are not skilled with handling it.

The guidelines for using a concrete candlestick are exactly the same as those that apply to using a standard candle stand. Keep the candlestick away from anything that can catch fire, such as wallpaper, furniture, curtains, etc. You should only light a candle when it is out of reach for kids and animals.

It’s likely that some people have heard terrifying tales of concrete exploding in hot weather. However, in this instance, there is no need for concern because cement products can actually blow up at temperatures as high as several hundred degrees, as well as in conditions of high pressure, humidity, etc. This should be taken into account when building a subway, not when filling a tiny container with cement.

Making a mold

Any type of container—wood, glass, metal, thick, waterproof cardboard—can be used as a mold. For these uses, superfluous food product containers (such as those for chips, soda, soft cheeses, etc.) are most frequently discovered.

If you would like to make letters on a candlestick, you will need to carefully cut them out of thick cardboard and glue them to the mold from the inside. Additionally, the bottom of the mold is covered with decorative round candle shapes, which are glued there to create recesses in the finished product for their installation.

To ensure that the letters appear correctly on the completed candlestick, keep in mind that they are adhered upside down and in a mirror image. Oil is poured into the mold to facilitate the easy removal of the finished product.

Fill the molds – and it"s ready

The solution needs to be mixed next. The simplest method is to use a premade dry mixture that just needs to be mixed with water, adding it in the amount that the directions specify. The components are taken in the following proportion if you intend to prepare the solution yourself: One part cement to two parts sand, plus water in an amount to achieve the right consistency.

Materials needed: clean, fine sand free of impurities is preferred; cement can be of grade M300 or M400.

After pouring the completed mixture into a ready-made container, air bubbles in the concrete’s thickness are removed by giving the mold a gentle shake or tapping on its sides. After allowing the solution to set thoroughly, the workpiece must be allowed to completely dry before being painted and decorated as desired. The mold must then be carefully removed (cut or removed so as not to ruin the candlestick).

How to make a spherical concrete candlestick?

Inside, sphere-shaped concrete candlesticks have a very distinctive and sophisticated appearance. They can be created in two different ways: as fully formed balls (where a candle is made into a recess when concrete is poured into a round form) or as hemisphere shells (a more interesting option, which is easier to make).

You will need a balloon, a paper cup that can be thrown away, tools for mixing concrete, acrylic or enamel paint, and a brush to create concrete candlestick balls.

It is necessary to inflate the balloon to the required size. To ensure stability, a few tiny stones or coins are positioned on the cup’s bottom. After adhering the balloon to the glass, a thin layer of concrete is applied to the ball’s top, and it is left overnight. The mass should have solidified by morning; in this instance, the ball is punctured, taken out, the concrete is left to dry, painted, and a candle is inserted.

Making a concrete candlestick at home is a fun and fulfilling project that blends imagination and usefulness. All you need is a few simple materials and a little perseverance to create a one-of-a-kind piece that will give your home decor a dash of modern flair.

You’ve gained knowledge about how to mix concrete, use molds, and personalize your candlestick during this process. Whether you went with a simple, minimalist design or something more complex, the finished product shows how much work and imagination went into it.

Furthermore, there are countless possibilities for future projects when working with concrete and cement. Your newly acquired skills can be put to use on a variety of do-it-yourself projects, from coasters to planters, giving your house a distinctive and fashionable touch.

Never forget that patience and practice are essential for successful concrete crafting. Try experimenting with various finishes, colors, and shapes without fear. Every project offers you the chance to hone your skills and experiment with novel concepts. Savor the process and the fulfillment that comes from using your hands to create something exquisite.

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Marina Petrova

Candidate of Technical Sciences and teacher of the Faculty of Construction. In my articles, I talk about the latest scientific discoveries and innovations in the field of cement and concrete technologies.

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