Let There Be Light
Winter is coming, and you know what that means: cold weather and early nights. The perfect way to combat the winter gloom is with candles, but make sure you have a great candle holder, too!
Candle holders are more than a way to hold up your candles, they can tie into the decor of a space or be used to commemorate special occasions. In this article, we’ll be going over our 10 favorite 3D printed candle holder models.
Before we get into the list, we should mention that candles obviously generate heat, which could deform some 3D prints. For this reason, we recommend using heat-resistant filament such as ABS or ASA if you have it. When makers suggest using other filaments such as PLA or PETG, we’ll state it as such. However, if you’re going down the fire-safe route of LED candles instead of the real thing, then this is much less of a concern.
If you want to style your space with some new candle holders but don’t have the time or means to print them yourself, try Craftcloud. With a huge choice of suppliers who can print in your choice of heat-safe filament, you’ll be hosting candlelit dinners in no time.
And now, let’s get to that list!
Low-Poly
First up, this low-poly candle holder is simple yet elegant. The low-poly concept replaces curvatures with polygons, as seen in the picture above. This candle holder is meant for 38-mm tea lights, according to the designer.
The maker states that this print is very easy and requires no supports. They also mentioned that they used layer heights of 0.15 and 0.2 mm to print the models in PLA, wood PLA, and carbon fiber PLA.
Who made it? jeanmatthieud
Who printed it? This low-poly candle holder has almost 8,000 downloads. 12 people have already posted successful Makes, so you should be able to print it too!
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Voronoi
This cradle-like candle holder showcases an intricate Voronoi structure. Voronoi is a mathematically-constructed partition of a plane that has a complex look and would cast great shadows!
The creator of this design suggests printing this model with no raft and no supports. The designer also recommends printing this candle holder with a 0.1-mm layer height and a 20% infill.
Who made it? Burki2512
Who printed it? This Voronoi model has over 1,000 views and 134 likes.
Where to get it? Cults
Split-Level
This split-level candle holder shows a person holding up platforms for four candles over two levels. The maker labeled the candle holder design as minimalistic and stated that the model is holding up lights of hope for our world.
The maker suggests printing this model at a 60% scale in a low-warping material, and recommends using PET or HIPS. The creator of this design also advises using a 0.19-mm layer height, some supports (20-degree minimum angle), and a cooling fan.
Who made it? AlyxkaPro
Who printed it? This split-level candle holder has almost 2,500 views and over 100 downloads, though no one has shared their print as yet.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Wormhole
Looking for a subtle way to show your love of space? This wire-frame-looking candle holder was designed based on spiral paths to represent a Lorentzian wormhole. It will hold a taper candle, but you’ll want to make sure to use a heat-resistant filament as it will unavoidably come in contact with hot wax!
The maker recommends printing this model with a raft; this is probably because the model only touches the bed in a few spots. The designer also suggests printing this model without supports, but other makers have commented that they found supports useful.
Who made it? JamieLaing
Who printed it? This wormhole candle holder has over 7,100 downloads. 10 people have already successfully printed this model, including one person who has repurposed it as a vase!
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Twisted Flower
This candle holder is in the shape of a twisted and pointy flower. The maker suggests that the model was meant for ceramic printing, but it will look great in standard (heat-resistant) 3D printing materials, too! However, the candle holder surrounds and somewhat encapsulates the candle, so best not to leave the candle unattended!
The creator of this model shares that they used a 0.2-mm layer height with a 10% infill. The maker also states that the print consumed approximately 170 grams of material.
Who made it? www.sharai.eu
Who printed it? This twisted flower has over 4,100 views and 307 downloads, though only the designer has shared photos.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Skeleton
Set a spooky vibe with this skeleton candle holder! This model is loaded with detail from head to toe and looks even better when painted and finished, as seen in the picture above. The designer used an EinScan 3D scanner with a 1-micron accuracy to replicate an existing candle holder.
The maker suggests printing this model with a 0.1-mm layer height for detail and a heavy infill, which should probably be above 25%. The designer states that they printed the model with supports because their printer couldn’t handle the overhangs, but if you trust your 3D printer, you might be able to skip this step.
Who made it? magiczztab
Who printed it? This model has 26 recorded Makes so you should definitely be able to print it. This design has almost 13,500 downloads, too!
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Tall Dual-Holder
This tall and dual-wielding candle holder has a distinctive curved design, which makes it a stylish addition to any room. Print it in a fun color as pictured to really make it pop!
Although there are no printing tips provided, you might need a taller-than-average build space for this one. Add tall taper candles to finish the look, but once again be mindful of hot wax drippings!
Who made it? italymaker
Who printed it? This dual-wielding candle holder has over 1,100 views and 38 downloads.
Where to get it? Cults
Minimalistic
This minimalistic and challenging model can hold a single tea light in the middle of a Voronoi-like structure. This candle holder was designed in Vectary and will only take a tiny amount of filament to print.
Although the designer provided no printing advice, a recorded maker shared their successful printing settings. They stated that they used a 0.24-mm layer height, three perimeters, four top and bottom shells, and a 100% infill to print the candle holder.
Who made it? VECTARY
Who printed it? This minimalistic candle holder has nine recorded Makes, one Remix, and over 13,500 downloads.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Tri-Holder
This triple candle holder holds three tea lights on raised platforms of equal height. The model uses a twisted arm structure and can perhaps be used for a no-supports-challenge print.
The maker listed this model as support-free, but we suggest that you should activate support if your printer struggles with gradual overhangs.
Who made it? catalin
Who printed it? This tri-holder candle holder has 102 downloads as well as 1,070 views.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Spine
Lastly, this modular spine candle holder was designed based on one seen in the fourth Harry Potter movie. This candle holder is meant to hold a standard 38-mm tea light.
The model is split up into different parts, and the designer suggests gluing them all together with acetone. If you’re not using an acetone soluble material (ABS, ASA), hot glue or even a 3D pen will likely also work.
Who made it? billythemighty3Dprinter
Who printed it? This skeletal candle holder has over 5,000 views and over 400 downloads.
Where to get it? Cults
Lead image source: Papa-jo via Thingiverse
License: The text of "3D Printed Candle Holders: 10 Prints to Fight the Winter Gloom" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.