My favorite type of home decor is something that is beautiful, functional and serves a dual purpose. What makes it even better is when it’s something you created yourself that will impress your friends. If you are looking for such a project then look no further. This DIY lamp is not only beautiful and practical, but it’s fun too! You can change the design into a thousand different patterns, constantly changing the look without having to purchase new pieces for your home. I am sure, after seeing how easily it can be made, you will want to run out right away to buy everything you need to make an awesome lamp of your own!
Materials & Equipment Needed:
Paper & Pencil
Scissors
Spray Adhesive
Wood Glue
1/2″ Wood Board (qty depends on your project)
Jigsaw or Bandsaw
120, 150 & 220 Grit Sandpaper
Synthetic Scouring Pad
Plastic Tube with 2″ Diameter and 1/16″ to 1/8″ wall thickness (length depends on your project)
Sharpie
Extension Cord
Rocker Switch
Light Socket
Screw Driver
Wire Strippers
Epoxy
Linseed Oil
30 Watt Light Bulb (make sure it fits inside tube)
Step 1: Design the shape of your lamp.
Step 2: Using the pencil, trace each layer of your design on paper which will be used as a template for cutting the wood. Cut out the template with scissors.
Step 3: Using the spray adhesive, glue the templates onto the wood.
Step 4: Cut the wood with the jigsaw or bandsaw by tracing the pencil template that is glued to each piece of wood. You can label the wood pieces as shown if needed, but the templates will be removed, so I recommend just keeping the wood organized as you cut it if you want it to be in a specific pattern.
Step 5: Remove the template from the wood cutouts.
Step 6: Sand each piece of wood with 120 grit sandpaper, then to get a smoother finish, sand with the 220 grit sandpaper.
Step 7: Take your 2″ diameter tube and fit it inside the bottom piece of your lamp, then stack the rest of the wood in your desired pattern to get a feel of how you want your lamp to look. Make sure that the tubing is snug in the bottom piece.
Step 8: Using the Sharpie, mark the tube so that it is flush with the top piece of wood, then cut at the mark with the saw.
Step 9: Using 150 grit sandpaper or finer, rough up the tube to diffuse the light. After it is sanded, then switch to the scouring pad to get a smooth finish.
Step 10: Open the Rocker Switch with your screw driver.
Step 11 (This is optional if you want the rocker switch for convenience): Using the wire strippers, cut off the female adapter of the extension cord. Then about 8 inches from the severed end of the extension cord, clip one of the wires in the cord, while leaving the other side in tact. Strip the cord from around the wires about 1/2″ on either end and attach to the flip switch as shown above.
Step 12: Place the tube over the light socket and trace around the tube.
Step 13: Using the bandsaw, cut the fringe from the light socket away so as to create a low profile for your lamp.
Step 14: Strip the end of the extension cord (where you cut off the female adapter) about 1/4″ and separate the cords so they can be connected to the bottom of the light socket as shown.
This is what the extension cord should look like after connecting it to the light socket and attaching the rocker switch.
Step 15: Insert the light socket to the last slice of wood, at the base of the lamp. In order for it to sit nicely, carve a groove in the wood for the cord to sit in. Secure with epoxy.
Step 16: After the epoxy has dried, using wood glue, secure the second slice of the lamp to the base of the lamp to ensure that the tube will be secure once installed.
Step 17: Connect the light bulb to the light socket (make sure it is 30 watt so it doesn’t melt the plastic tube) then insert tube over the light bulb and socket.
Step 18: Stack the rest of the slices in any design you so choose! To keep the natural wood look and enhance the wood grain, it is recommended to coat the wood with boiled linseed oil, however you can just leave them as is.
Step 19: Plug in, switch on, and enjoy your unique and beautiful new lamp!
The fun thing about this lamp is that you can make it any shape and design you can come up with. And even after you come up with a design that is all your own, you can really change it up by re-stacking the layers in a different pattern. Plus, you don’t have to leave it raw wood either, you can paint the pieces to match the colors in your home. If you really want to go crazy, you can paint each piece a different color! There are endless possibilities, all you need is a little imagination and the willingness to try!