Select your section to transform into your centerpiece. The job is much easier if you can select a section that is uniformly sized.

Once you have chosen the section for your centerpiece you will need to check it for flatness. Notice the daylight between the table top and the bottom of the trunch. The light is an indication of the lack of contact between the centerpiece and the table.

Using a table saw set the fence to within a ¼ inch and begin working the bottom of the centerpiece through the saw. I had to feed the section through the saw from both directions due to the section having a diameter greater than the blade, move the section slowly through the saw to prevent pinching and kickback. If you aren’t comfortable with this task you can attach a thin piece of board to the bottom of the centerpiece to ensure a well balanced centerpiece.

Select a spade bite that matches the diameter of the candle you plan to place into the centerpiece. I used a 1 ½ inch spade/paddle bit for this task.

This centerpiece is 30 inches in length, I placed the candles on 5 inches centers.
If you bit is not creating uniform shaving you might need to sharpen the bit.

Light your candles and enjoy!