DIY Sat. #146 – How to Create a Custom Table/Floor Lamp (Video)

Entry #2379, May 4, 2013

Happy DIY Saturday! If your home is looking for a customized look to your boring table lamps – why not make your own? There are so many creative ways to brighten your home with lamps, but often times we can’t find exactly the right base and lampshade to fit together. Today’s DIY Saturday you will learn how to make your own table lamp and watch a video that gives you tips.

DIY floor lamp idea – made with a blouse for the lamp shade!

Image via: Unskinny Boppy

You Tube Video – How to Build a Lamp

Link to video –> How to Build a Lamp

How to Create a Custom Lamp

How many times have we gone to the store to pick out lamps and say things like, “I like these but they don’t have exactly what I’m looking for” or “I like it but the price is too high” or my absolute favorite, “I saw it in the catalog/online but they don’t carry it in the store”s? Well instead of having your hopes crushed or your nerves frazzled when trying to add an accent piece to your home, how about you do-it-yourself and create your own lamp.  Create a lamp that you can put whatever you want on it or with it. This D.I.Y. is for that purpose that you get exactly what you want, when you want it and it is personal because you built it. So try it out and see what you can do!

Modern Lamps

Image via: Houzz

Supplies

Lamp Kit (with socket and 6-8 ft. of cord with pre-molding plug)
Rod for base (if not inside kit package)
Electric Drill
Drill Bits (ceramic bits if using pottery)
Masking Tape
Marker or Pencil
Wire cutter/ stripper
Screwdriver
Blanket or Towel
Wire Cutter/ Stripper
Blanket or Towel
Felt
Scissors
Fabric Glue or Low-Heat Hot Glue

Get creative and make your own lamp

Image via: Wolf Eyebrows

Directions

How to Prepare the Base

1. Pick out a base for your lamp.  Just make sure that whatever you choose it has a hollow center so the lamp cord will be able to come through it.  In this case a bust was used, lay the base of your lamp on a towel or folded blanket.
2. Find the near center at the top of the bust or the top of your base because that is where the lamp works will rest above it (lamp works consists of wiring base, the harp, and the bulb).  Place an “X” with the masking tape over the intended spot for the hole if you are concerned about the ceramic breaking the surface.
3. With an electric drill and the correct bit, drill a hole at the top of the head.  Enlarge the hole for the lamp rod to fit.  Then drill a second hole near the base but in the back of the bust or whatever you intend on using.  The reason is you want the cord to run from the back and not the bottom of the lamp because the lamp will not sit flat on the table.

The Base of a Lamp

Image via: Target

How to Assemble the Cords

1. Your going to thread the lamp this time, by putting the cord into the hollow rod or pipe (if you do not have or not using a rod, attach a piece of stiff wire to help thread the cord through the base). Approximately 6ft or cord should trail out the bottom of the lamp with a pre-molded plug at the end. At the top make sure the unplugged end, sticks out enough to allow you to work and you will need several inches for that.  Secure the rod shaft by screwing (or gluing) the pipe (and the eventual socket seat) into the lamp hole.
2. To wire the socket take the new socket apart by pinching the shell and twisting it free from the base.  Pull the cord up through the socket base; for one lamp cord there are two strands of conductors with a series of copper wires with insulations around them.  Pull the cord up about six inches through the top of the lamp base. You want to split the cord and strip about a two-inch piece of insulation from each cord, and many fine wires will be displayed.  Twist the fine wires tight around the socket terminal.  (Check the back of the lamp kit it will show you how to do this process as well)
3. With the two cord pieces tie an underwriter’s knot and make a loop with each strand of the cord, circle it away from where the strands meet ( it should look like a pretzel shape at this point).  The underwriter’s knot just keeps the cord in the socket and the wires apart, if the touch then they will short out. (Again, check the back of the lamp kit this process will be displayed as well)
4. The smooth wire cord is known as the hot or positive wire, the neutral wire has ridges.  Loosen the brass yellow screw and wrap the smooth wire once around the screw; be sure that the edge of the insulation is sticking up right next to the edge of the screw and that no wire is sticking out. Then tight the screw down after the wire has been tied.  Attach the neutral wire to the silver or white and screw it the same way you did with the smooth cord. (The process is also displayed on the back of the lamp kit)

Lamp Kit Items

Image via: Walmart

How to Pull It All Together

1. Reassemble the socket by twisting the shell back onto its base. Pull the cord from the bottom of the lamp until the bulb socket is in its base, then tighten the screw and secure it.  Test your light and be careful.
2. If your lamp calls for it, trace the bottom of it on felt and cut the felt to fit the lamp base.  Glue the felt onto the base of the lamp in order to keep the lamp from scratching your table surface.
3. Attach the harp to the mounting bracket, then add the bulb and lastly place the proper-sized shade on your lamp.  Test your light and you have your newly created lamp!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.