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how to make luminaries
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How to Make Luminaries

Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Dry Time2 hours
Total Time3 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 1 luminary
Cost: $10

Equipment

Materials

  • 4 pieces tie plates galvanized, 3 1/8 x 7"
  • 4 pieces square dowels cut to 6 1/4" length
  • 1 piece scrap wood 3 1/8” x 3 1/16"
  • Gorilla Glue
  • Mod Podge Matte
  • Paper

Instructions

  • Cut a square wood base sized so the metal plates overlap neatly at the corners. For the 3 1/8" x 7" galvanized tie plates used here, cut the base approximately 3 1/8" square.
    luminary diagram
  • You want the dowels to rest on the base but not stick out the top. Measure the height of the tie plates and subtract the thickness of the base. For 7-inch plates and a 1/2-inch base, cut the dowels to approximately 6 1/4 inches long so they sit flush inside the structure.
    gluing the metal supports to the metal tie plates
  • Glue two dowels to one metal plate using Gorilla Glue, with the base as a guide so that the dowels are at the right height.
    Repeat with the second pair of dowels and another plate. Allow the glue to become slightly tacky before positioning the pieces.
    Dowels glued to two plates
    • The glue against the metal is slippery at first – I found that if I let it sit for a few minutes to get tacky I could make sure it was in the right place and then pile some weight on top to ensure a good bond without anything slipping.
  • Glue the dowel-and-plate sections to the wood base.
    Glue dowel and plates to the base
  • Position the remaining tie plates on the open sides and mark where the holes align with the dowels.
    6A Mark the holes
  • If desired, drill pilot holes and temporarily secure the plates with small screws while the glue dries.
    Drilling pilot holes into the dowels
  • Use clamps to hold everything in place until fully cured.
    Clamped tie plates
    • Remove any temporary screws when glue is dry – they just serve to hold the plate in place while the glue dries.
  • Apply decorative paper or printed images to the metal plates using Mod Podge Matte. Allow to dry completely, then brush on a sealing coat of Mod Podge. Trim away excess paper.
    Mod Podged images glued to the side of the metal
    • If these are going to be out in the snow or intense sunshine then I would use Mod Podge Outdoor.
  • Using a toothpick, carefully poke through the paper anywhere it covers the existing holes in the galvanized plates. Gently widen the openings so light can pass through.
    Poking holes using a toothpick
  • Place battery-operated tea lights inside each luminary. A tea candle look is perfect for creating ambiance, though battery-operated tea lights are the safest choice.

Notes

  • In this case I realized that I could have used the screw trick from step six when I attached the dowels. Just apply the glue, lay the metal down and screw it into place until it dries. Much simpler.
  • Also I realized that I should have painted the insides as it wasn’t too attractive when all was said and done. Since it was too late to paint, I instead cut a square of Plexiglas the same size as my base, hand sanded one side of it to make it opaque and dropped it in the top of the luminary. It looks great and gives it a nice, finished look.
  • If you’ve got a drill press you can drill even more holes through the sides to create more light.