Design / objects / incense holder
cherry wood, Danish oil, finishing wax
April 2024
This project was a combination incense and candle holder made from cherry wood. It was created for a school assignment that required designing, manufacturing, and selling 20 identical units. The design prioritized affordability and a compact size to suit the needs of college students. The process involved refining production methods to ensure consistency and efficiency while meeting the constraints of small-scale manufacturing. This project served as a hands-on exercise in balancing functionality, cost, and scalability.
During the ideation of this object, I turned several sketch models on the lathe using scrap pine. This process not only refined my manufacturing technique but also resulted in models that were feasible for production.
After creating several pine prototypes on the lathe, I concluded the object should serve as a decorative item with a practical function: a candle and incense holder.
The final material selected was cherry wood, chosen for its surface grain, rich color, and density. Its considerable weight added a sense of substance to the design, while the minimal finishing allowed the wood’s natural appeal to be foremost.
The large boards were cut down and glued into blanks, which were then turned on the lathe. The blanks were marked with the dimensions for both parts of the design, and the diameter was frequently checked during turning using calipers.
The objects were processed in stages, with each going through the same steps simultaneously. This system allowed me to minimize setup time between tooling. Each piece was turned to the correct dimensions, sanded, then cut into two parts to have holes drilled on the drill press. Finally, each was oiled and polished with wax using a rotary tool.
After each object was constructed, I photographed them for promotional materials for the event where they would be sold. At this event, I sold out of my inventory within the first day.
The finished product could be assembled with a mallet alone.