Precisely positioning the wick hole in a handmade ceramic candlestick requires first determining the basic hole position based on the overall structural design of the candlestick. The key is to ensure that the hole aligns with the candlestick's oil storage space and the curvature of its inner wall. During handcrafting, the size of the candlestick's cavity must be determined. If the cavity is shallow, the hole should be positioned as close to the center as possible to prevent oil spillage due to low edges. If the cavity is deep, cylindrical, the hole can be slightly offset from the bottom center, but ensure that when the candle is upright, the oil naturally flows back to the bottom of the cavity rather than seeping outward along the walls. Furthermore, the symmetrical shape of the candlestick (e.g., round or square) should be considered to determine the center reference for the hole. For example, for round candlesticks, the center mark left during casting can be used as the hole reference. For square handmade ceramic candlesticks, the intersection of the four sides serves as a reference point. This prevents offset holes and oil spillage from the structure itself.
The use of positioning tools during the hand-molding stage is a key method for improving hole accuracy. Because manual production lacks the stability of mechanical positioning, simple yet precise tools are needed to mark the hole positions. After throwing the pottery, use a thin wire or bamboo needle to draw a cross-reference line on the bottom of the candlestick or cavity. The intersection marks the center of the hole. If the candlestick has an irregular shape (such as an irregular bionic shape), a simple template can be made to match the candlestick cavity (for example, by cutting a thin cardboard into the shape of the cavity from a top view). After determining the center hole position on the template, fit the template to the inner wall of the candlestick and mark the actual hole position using the template hole. These tools can reduce the error of manual visual positioning and ensure that the hole is always located in the core area where candle wax is most likely to collect and least likely to spill.
The design of the candlestick's internal diversion structure must be considered simultaneously with the hole positioning, using the structure to prevent candle wax from overflowing into the surrounding area. When hand-shaping, a slight inward curve can be designed around the hole to create a "reservoir" centered around the hole. This allows the wax produced by combustion to naturally collect at the bottom of the reservoir, rather than flowing toward the edges of the cavity. For larger handmade ceramic candlesticks, a shallow, narrow channel can be hand-formed between the hole and the edge of the cavity, slightly sloping from the hole toward the edge. This allows even a small amount of wax to flow back along the channel to the reservoir surrounding the hole. This coordinated "hole-reservoir-reservoir" design structurally reduces the likelihood of wax spillage, compensating for the shortcomings of simply positioning the holes.
The size and depth of the holes should be tailored to the specifications of common candles to avoid spillage caused by improper dimensions. When hand-drilling, the hole diameter should be determined based on the candle's diameter. Too large a hole diameter can easily cause the candle to wobble and tilt, leading to wax spillage along the inclined surface. Too small a hole diameter can make it difficult to secure the candle, and the candle's thermal expansion during combustion may compress the hole wall, causing lateral wax leakage. The hole depth must penetrate the bottom of the candlestick or cavity, but not too deep, resulting in a thin wall. Sufficient thickness is required to stably support the candle. The hole walls must be manually trimmed into a smooth cylindrical shape to prevent rough holes from scratching the candle's outer shell or causing candle wax to accumulate and overflow in the gaps due to unevenness.
Pre-firing hole alignment and post-firing fine-tuning are essential steps to account for the shrinkage characteristics of handmade ceramics. Handmade ceramics shrink to some extent during the firing process. If the hole is positioned directly according to the finished product's dimensions, the hole position may shift after firing due to shrinkage. Therefore, when positioning the hole during the green stage, appropriate allowance should be made based on the clay's shrinkage characteristics. For example, the hole center can be slightly shifted toward the direction of greater shrinkage, or the hole diameter can be appropriately enlarged to offset the resulting shrinkage. After firing, if slight deviation is detected, the hole edges can be manually trimmed with fine sandpaper or a small grinding head to adjust the hole center verticality to ensure that the candle remains upright after insertion and to prevent candle wax overflow caused by hole deviation during firing.
The glaze treatment around the hole must ensure both sealing and anti-slip properties to prevent the glaze's characteristics from affecting the hole's functionality. When hand-glazing, ensure that the glaze covers the inner and surrounding areas of the hole evenly and is free of bubbles or pinholes. Defects in the glaze can allow candle wax to seep into the body through these defects or leak through the gap between the hole wall and the candle. Furthermore, the glaze surface around the hole should not be too smooth. After glazing, lightly sand the glaze surface at the hole entrance with fine sand to increase friction between the candle and the hole wall. This prevents slight vibrations during burning, which could cause the candle to shift and spill candle wax. Care should also be taken to prevent glaze from clogging the hole. A thin wire can be inserted into the hole to block the glaze from entering. Remove the wire before firing to ensure the hole is unobstructed.
Compatibility with actual usage scenarios requires incorporating hole positioning design to accommodate different usage scenarios. For example, if a candlestick is to accommodate a candle with a metal base, space must be reserved for the metal base when positioning the holes, allowing the base to fully fit into the grooves around the hole to prevent the base from protruding and causing the candle to tilt. If the candlestick is to be used outdoors, the holes must be located in the most stable area of the candlestick. At the same time, the bottom of the candlestick must be manually weighted or designed with a non-slip structure to prevent wind-induced swaying, which could indirectly cause the candle to tilt at the hole and spill candle wax. By combining the needs of the use scenario with the hole positioning, the hole design of handmade ceramic candlesticks can be not only precise but also adaptable to various possible situations in actual use, fundamentally reducing the risk of candle wax contaminating the candlestick body or tabletop.
