Making a 1/12th scale Brass Candlestick
This is a brief step by step photo essay on how I make a miniature candlestick. These are machined out from brass stock as opposed to being cast. This process makes each one an original. The subject for this essay is a circa 1760 English candlestick. It features a cove molded square base with concave corners.
Starting with measuring the original candlestick a drawing is made and the dimensions reduced to 1/12th scale.
Sawing 1/2” diameter round brass stock to length.
Turning base on a larger lathe to rough shape while being held in a collet.
Using a ball end milling cutter to shape cove molding on base. This is done in a milling machine with the work held in a rotating indexing fixture.
Turning a detail on the base in a small lathe.
After turning a bead with hand held gravers.
Hand filing the sharp machined edges to match the softer rounded edges of the original.
Drilling the hole for the nozzle in 3/16” brass stock that will become the stem.
Turning the stem to rough shape.
Hand turning the nozzle details with a graver. Note both original and drawing are used as a constant reference.
Cutting screw threads on the bottom of the stem with a 0-80 size die.
After hand turning the stem with gravers. Note the original is within line-of-sight to the miniature being made.
Adding the fine details like turned beads and smoothing all the surfaces.
Filing 8 facets on the stem just below the nozzle.
Polishing with jewelers rouge.
Signing with a .012” name stamp.
Screwing the stem into the base.
The finished miniature next to the base of the original.
A matched set of four miniature candlesticks.