Build a traditional wooden wall sconce for your home to add a rustic country style to any room. The soft glow of a candle will provide subtle lighting against the wall. Build the sconce out of a decorative hardwood such as walnut or cherry. A simple wall sconce consists of a mounting board and a ledge for the candle to rest on. The ledge is perpendicular to the mounting board and projects out from it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place the 1-by-3-by-3-inch board with the 3-by-3-inch side flat on the table of a drill press. This is the ledge board.
2. Drill a 5/8-inch diameter hole 1/2-inch deep into the center of the block with the drill press and 5/8-inch drill bit. Sand the drilled hole with a fine-grit sanding pad until it is smooth. This is the hole for the candle.
3. Place the 1-by-3-by-18-inch board with the 3-by-18-inch side flat on the table of the drill press. Drill a hole through the center of the width of one 3-inch end down 2 inches from one end using the drill press equipped with a 1/8-inch drill bit. This is the mounting hole. Sand the board with a fine-grit sanding pad in the same direction as the wood grain.
4. Lay the 1-by-3-by-18-inch board flat on a work surface. Orient the board away from you with the mounting hole on the top end. This is the mounting board. Place the ledge board on top of the mounting board up 6 inches from the bottom end. One 1-by-3-inch side should be flat against the surface of the mounting board. The hole for the candle should be facing away from you.
5. Turn the assembly on its side while holding the boards in place. Drive three evenly spaced wood screws through the back of the mounting board into the ledge board with a screw gun.
6. Brush on two even coats of wood finish over the entire assembly with a paintbrush. Allow the first coat to dry 4 hours. Wait 24 hours for the final coat to dry.
7. Select a location for the sconce on the wall. Hammer a wrought iron nail into the wall at the desired location. Leave the nail projecting out from the wall approximately 1-1/2 inches. Slide the mounting hole over the nail to hang the sconce on the wall.
Tags: mounting board, board with, drill press, ledge board, mounting hole
