Making a table lamp from a wine (or any type of) bottle seems to be a very
popular craft project. However, while the lamps I saw online were OK, I
always considered them little more than a novelty item. That's when I
decided to take a crack at designing one myself. And, after I made my
first wine bottle lamp, friends and family began asking me to make lamps
for them or to give as gifts. For that reason, I decided to create this
instructable and share my four easy steps on how to make a wine bottle
lamp that will be as distinctive and unique as the person who creates
it.
A wine bottle (or another type of bottle of your choosing)
- A bottle lamp kit (e.g. Westinghouse makes one that sells for around $6.00)
- A harp to mount the lampshade (depending on the size you choose the cost is $2.50 to $4.50)
- A lampshade (prices vary by size and style but expect to pay $10-$15 for an 8"-9" tall shade
- Wood for a decorative base (make your own custom base or buy one readymade at a craft store like Hobby Lobby)
- Wood glue (if base is made up of multiple wood layers)
- Sandpaper (if making your own base)
- A roll of black electrical tape
- A tube of construction adhesive to cement the bottle to the base
- Stain & a finish (oil, polyurethene) or paint for the base
- An engraved metal plaque to commemorate a significant event or sentiment is also highly recommended
Tools needed:
- Table saw (if making your own base)
- Clamps (when gluing base pieces) are optional
- Power drill with a 3/8" drill bit
- A glass & tile or masonry drill bit
- Pliers and utility knife
- Metal Coat Hanger (to help fish the power cord through the base and bottle)
The base for the lamp can be as elegant or simple as you like. If you
don't have access to a table saw you can still make a very nice lamp by
purchasing a readymade base from a craft supply store like Hobby Lobby
or Michaels. Your creative options will be more limited by going this
route but a store bought base can still look great if proper care is
taken when finishing the wood.
These are your decisions when designing your base:
1) What type of wood to use. Hardwoods like Oak accept
stain more easily and have interesting grain patterns. Pine is what you
will most likely find in a readymade base. It should be sealed prior to
staining to get the best results. Alternately, pine could be painted any
color you like, perhaps to match or compliment the wine bottle label or
the color scheme of the room the lamp will be in.
This link provides information on which types of wood benefit from sealing prior to staining:
2) The dimensions and shape of the base. Do you want a
lower profile (one layer) base or do you want to make the base taller by
gluing several pieces of wood together? Do you want it to be square or
rectangular? Do you want to bevel the edges on the table saw?
Alternately, if you (or a friend) has a router you can choose any edge
detail you desire. If none of these tools are at your disposal you can
round the edges of the base very nicely with just some careful and
deliberate sanding.
The photos in this Instructable are examples of two different base
designs. Each base consists of two layers of 3/4" thick oak hardwood
glued together. Dimensions given are for the bottom layer of the base
only. The upper layer can be sized according to taste.
Base # 2: Is a staggered, 5 1/4" x 4 1/2" rectangular base with beveled
edges and a 45 degree diagonal face to facilitate mounting an engraved
plaque.
No comments:
Post a Comment