Winter Votive LED Candle Holder - with Updates 1 & 2

In a rush?

Hate reading instructions and want to get down to it? Pick a shade, pick a base. All models are properly oriented for printing when loaded into the slicer and ready to print provided that you align seams to the rear. PLA works great--on my 0.4 mm nozzle, I used 0.1 mm layers for the shades and 0.2 mm layers for the bases. No brim, no support. Enjoy!

Getting Started

This Winter Votives model is a set of shades and bases for printing custom, winter-themed votive holders for LED tea lights and votive candles. Wiggle room exists for the inexact sizing of LED lights, and you can optionally configure the light for a full-time charging cable.

Let's set expectations. LED candles are not used in lighthouses, and a Winter Votive will not serve as a reading lamp. It shines when the lights are low (or off!). With a 75 mm-high shade and bases from 21 to 130 mm high, these Winter Votives can fit most everywhere to bring a gentle light of the season.

The Parts

A complete Winter Votive set requires these parts. Bold indicates those with print files in this model.

1. One shade - pick from a dozen designs

2. One base - pick from five heights, choosing a patterned or traditional surface

3. One LED tea light or votive candle

4. An optional lid to limit light output for nightlight or other low light situations

5. An optional riser to bump up the position of the candle

6. An optional base extension and cable clip, plus the cable.

Now, on to the details!

Shades

They don't stand alone, but the shades are the star of the show, especially at night! Any shade fits any base, so play around with different styles as the mood fits.

Shades measure 75 mm high and are 75 mm in diameter, with internal threads at the bottom for connecting to the base. These are lithophane-style designs, meaning that the thinnest parts will let through the most light. As a result, the shade image looks inverted when printed.

Print shades in white or cream. Choose the Snowflakes design if you want to print with transparent filament because the light will overwhelm other designs (see the images for an example).

Some design wrap around the shade, although you cannot avoid seeing the printing seam at the back if you look. Others are not seamless but are set to cover the transition at the back. The images show each shade from three vantage points and include the source image to better show the design.

Use the following chart and the table below as a reference to match shade designs to filenames.

Bases

The bases take their supporting role seriously, and options abound. I started with a plain ("traditional") look with what is now the Medium size base that seemed the nicest proportion. Subsequently, the other sizes came along, and I then added patterns to give the Winter Votives a festive look when brighter light that overwhelms the LED candle.

All bases are 75 mm in diameter and can be used with any shade. Their height varies by size:

• Small - 21 mm

• Medium - 32 mm

• Large - 51 mm

• Extra Large - 81 mm

• XXL - 130 mm

These patterns are available for all heights:

• Cmas Medley

• Solid (aka Traditional)

These patterns are limited to the Medium and/or Large bases:

• Bells (Medium, Large)

• Candles (Medium)

• Cmas Trees (Medium)

• LEGO Masonry (Large)

• Ornaments (Medium)

• Reindeer (Medium)

• Scandinavia (Medium)

• Snowflakes (Medium)

• Snowmen (Large)

Please let me know if you would like a pattern in a different size!

Nightlight Lids

New with update 2, lids are available to help limit light output. This can be useful when the votive is used as a nightlight. Lids come in a solid and snowflake design and fit every base.

LED tea lights and votive candles

Class, repeat after me: Do not use real wax candles, tea lights, or any open flame inside this holder.

I have used three similar styles of LED votive candles when designing. All were about the same size: about 30 mm high (not counting the “flame”) and 39 to 42 mm wide. These are the brands I tested:

• SoulBay Flameless Rechargeable, 6 pieces with USB C charging cable and remote

• Yeelida Rechargeable Flameless “mini dripping wax”, 6 pieces with USB C charging and remote

• Homemory Flameless Rechargeable, 6 pieces with charging cable (not USB C) and remote

Each LED candle has an on-off switch. However, the remote controls are magical because with them you can set the candle brightness, flickering, and daily on/off cycles.

Many other manufacturers/sellers exist and will be compatible. These three (and many others) are sold in multi-packs with octopus charging cables. I highly recommend candles with USB C charging ports, especially for giving away Winter Votives in ones and twos!

I did not test with LED tea lights that generally have shorter housings. When using them, you may one to print a riser from this model to elevate the LED candle within the base. 

If you want to connect a charging cable to your Winter Votive full time, you will need to use a different cable than the one provided by the seller. More about that next.

Power Options

Drop a charged LED candle into the open top of the Winter Votive for easy operation. In this scenario, you get to skip the rest of this section!

For the more adventurous, it is possible to connect the LED candle to a power source via USB C cable with a little setup. For this, you will need:

• A base extension from this model (available in 10-, 15-, and 20-mm heights)

• An individual USB C cable and possibly a USB C extension provided by you

• An optional cable clip from this model (available with channel widths of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 mm)

The base extension provides some working space and has a cutout for a discrete cable exit in the back. The threadless connector on top allows the base above to rotate freely so you can bring your favorite part of the shade to the front.

Working with the Small and Medium Bases

Without much room underneath the LED candle, you must use a cable with a built-in 90-degree USB C connector and then pass the cable through the base extension cutout. It's important to for the connector to have a low-profile strain relief as shown in the image below.

I used a 10-mm high base extension and a Teeind USB C 90-degree angle cord. Many others are available.

Working with the Extra Large and XXL Bases

These are the easy ones because they have enough room for the USB C cable housing (strain relief) in the body of the base and simply need a 90-degree turn at the bottom before passing the cable through the base extension cutout. In this scenario, an optional clip (in this model) printed at a size matching the cable diameter can help with cable management.

Working with the Large Base

This one is trickiest and may take a bit of fiddling. The extra height below the LED candle is too much for the low-profile USB C connector but too little for making the turn with a standard USB C cable. In this scenario, I added a 25-mm high USB C extension between the cable connector and the LED candle to fit nicely within the 10 mm base extension. 

Accessories

Extensions, risers, and cable clips are optional parts that might enhance your votive depending on your setup.

• Use a base extension underneath the base to elevate the entire model. They have an exit hole for a USB cable, useful when you want to keep the LED candle connected to a power source.

• Use a riser inside the base to lift the LED candle position. This is especially helpful for shorter candles.

• Use a cable clip to help with cable management inside the base extension.

Print Settings

Winter Votive STL files are ready for your slicer. Print recommendations:

• Layer height: 0.1 mm for shades, 0.2 mm for bases, lids, and accessories

• Infill: 10% to 15%

• Seam position: Rear / back

• Supports: No

• Brims: No

• Filament: PLA

Shades take about 40 to 50 g of filament each. Bases use roughly 30 / 40 / 60 / 90 / 140 g with 15% infill based on size. The three sizes of base extensions use about 13 / 16/ 19 g. Risers take 4 / 6 g and Cable clips use less than 1 g each.

When printing bases using lighter filament colors, you might see a little light leakage at the top. Increase the number of top layers to avoid if desired. (I almost never saw this happen, so don't fret.)

It is worth repeating that shades and bases will be oriented properly when dropped into your slicer. Make sure to set the seam position to the back.

Assembly

Hopefully, assembly is self-explanatory. But pictures are nice, too.

Source Material

All graphic material is created by me, purchased by me with license to share, or is listed as being in the public domain. The Dalens Skater shade uses a portion of “Skaters on a Frozen Lake” painted by Dirck Dalens in the first half of the 18th century. The traditional Christmas Nativity is a fresco by Josef Kastner the Older as seen in Erloserkirche in Vienna. The LEGO Santa and Elves scene is a render from my design created with Stud.io software.

Feedback

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did when creating them. I would love to see your makes and hear your feedback. Configuring the power option was a bit tricky and can be improved, I am sure. And let me know if you would like another pattern/style/size/etc. Resources are limited, but I am happy to give reasonable requests a shot!

Licensing

The Winter Votive model is my own work and is licensed as “Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial — Share Alike”. Please do not repost the model or sell makes. On the other hand, give them freely and share the warmth and good will of the season!

Giving Back

Winter is often a time that we think a bit more about those in need. If you liked this model and are so inclined, please consider a small donation to a non-profit that is making a difference in your community or around the globe.