We make table lamps at home. How to make a lampshade (plafond) at home Making table lamps with your own hands

Lighting devices in the apartment should provide two types of lighting: bright and subdued. Chandeliers mounted on the ceiling usually cope with bright lighting. But what to do in the case when you need to increase the access of light when working at a desk or when reading a book before going to bed? This is where a table lamp comes in handy. The advantage of such a device is that it does not illuminate the entire room, but only a certain area, without disturbing the rest of the family.

Figure 1. Scheme of the device of a table lamp.

Today, consumers are offered a wide variety of lamps, but you can make them yourself. In order to assemble the lamp with your own hands, you do not need to be a professional electrician. A great desire and minimal skills will allow you to decorate an apartment with an original and functional piece of furniture. For the manufacture of lighting fixtures, you can use the following methods.

Original table lamp made of bars

Handmade has always been valued by gourmet lovers. Now it is very popular, which means that any hand-made item will take its rightful place in the interior of an apartment, for example, an original lamp made of wooden beams (Fig. 1).

The following accessories are required for the manufacture of the device:

  • hacksaw;
  • screwdriver;
  • drill;
  • bolt with wing nut;
  • can of gilded paint;
  • 3 wooden blocks (1 long and 2 short);
  • set for electricians (cord, light bulb, cartridge, plug).

Figure 2. Sconce connection diagram.

In order to make a lamp, first of all, it is necessary to saw off 3 bars with a hacksaw. Their length can be any, but the condition must be observed: the first bar must be larger, and the other two must be shorter and of the same length.

Then a hole is drilled at the ends of the short bars at an equal distance from the edge. Two of the same holes must be made in a long bar: in the middle - for the bolt, and in the upper part - for the power cord. Removing the first hole from the edge will determine the angle of the lamp. When the holes for the bolt are prepared, the short bars are pressed parallel to the long one, and the whole structure is fastened with a bolt with a wing nut.

To give the device an attractive look, the cord and cartridge must be treated with spray paint. When the paint dries, the cord is threaded through the top hole in the long bar, and the cartridge is mounted on it. A plug is attached to the other end of the cord. The lamp is ready. Its laconic but unusual design will successfully decorate your desktop.

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Table lamps with homemade lampshades

If an old and useless table lamp is lying around in the pantry, you can give it a second life by making a fashionable lampshade. Such items combine elegant chic and a touch of glamour, and they are extremely easy to make. In addition, you can achieve the desired degree of illumination.

For example, a lamp made of dense fabric will give a soft and diffused light, due to which it can be used as a night sconce (Fig. 2). If threads are used for the lampshade, the lamp can be used to illuminate the work surface.

To make a lamp with soft light, you will need:

  • old lamp with lampshade;
  • matte paint, matching the color of the interior of the room;
  • soft dense fabric (chintz, satin, etc.);
  • paper stencil in the form of a circle with a diameter of 10 cm;
  • glue gun.

First of all, it is necessary to prepare strips of 10 cm wide from the fabric, then cut them into identical squares. To cover the lampshade, you will need at least 200 squares. After that, circles must be cut out of each square using a stencil.

In order for the lamp to match the interior design as much as possible, the old lampshade can be painted with paint. If you apply the dye with uneven strokes, the lamp will look more original. While the paint dries, parts for creating a lampshade should be made from rag circles.

Each detail should be shaped like a badminton bag or shuttlecock. To give the part this shape, the center of the circle must be smeared with glue with a glue gun, and then gather the sides of the circle in the center and squeeze them.

When the paint dries, the base of the prepared parts is smeared with glue and applied to the lampshade. You can glue rag rounds either tightly or a little looser. It depends on the intensity of lighting. In order to create an additional decoration for the lamp, the edges of the flounces can be sprinkled with gold or silver paint.

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Lamp with a lampshade made of dense threads

To make a lampshade, you will need threads, PVA glue and a balloon.

You can create an unusual table lamp or floor lamp from dense threads. For work you will need the following items and materials:

  • old lamp without lampshade;
  • balloon;
  • PVA glue;
  • saucer for glue;
  • thick cotton threads of the desired color.

The algorithm of work is extremely simple. First of all, you need to inflate the balloon and tie the hole tightly so that the balloon does not deflate. Then a small amount of glue is poured into the saucer. The threads can be cut into pieces or a single thread can be used by unwinding it from the bobbin.

The main task is to tightly wrap the ball with threads, leaving space at the bottom in order to then pull out the unnecessary ball. The threads are lowered into the glue, then gently wrapped around the ball. The coils should fit snugly against each other. You can completely cover the ball with thread or leave gaps. For strength, a ball already covered with threads can be additionally smeared with a layer of glue.

Then the product is left to dry completely: usually it takes at least 8-10 hours. When the glue is dry, blow off the balloon and pull it out of the resulting structure. A very light and elegant lampshade is put on the base of the lamp. If desired, the lampshade can be decorated with paper butterflies, beads, glass beads or braid.

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Unusual lamp from old photographic films

Lapma from photographic films will perfectly fit into the interior in retro style.

You can create an even more unusual lamp using old photographic films. Such a lighting device will successfully fit into the design of a retro style, and into the interior of a room in modern style. For work you will need to prepare:

  • base for the lamp;
  • well-bending wire for the manufacture of the frame;
  • a sheet of thick matte paper;
  • glossy glue for decorative work;
  • old photo or film;
  • centimeter;
  • scissors;
  • glue brush.

Work must begin with the manufacture of a frame for a lampshade.

As a stencil, you can use any object in the shape of a parallelepiped, for example, a cardboard box. Then the end parts of the frame should be pasted over with thick paper.

After that, it is necessary to measure the height of the frame and cut the strips of photographic film into pieces corresponding to it. Then the frame is well coated with decoupage glue. Film strips are applied to the paper and held for some time to "seize". Film can be applied both vertically and horizontally. In the second case, it is possible to see the images. In addition, you can get creative with the design and place the films either on each side at different angles, or diagonally.

Then you need to give the product time to dry. Especially carefully you need to ensure that all corners and ends of the films are glued. After the glue dries, the frame is smeared with adhesive again (already on top of the film). When everything is completely dry, the lampshade must be put on the base. The lamp is ready, it will perfectly decorate the interior of the apartment.

In this article, we offer step-by-step master classes on how to make do-it-yourself table lamps from improvised means that are always in the house. It would seem at first glance ordinary and unnecessary things, but you can make original and designer lamps for your desktop from them.

The most popular and simple improvised materials are: glass bottles and jars, cardboard and paper, plastic vessels, water pipes and cement. How to make lamps out of this we will show and tell in this article.

With a simple and elegant copper table lamp, you can decorate any corner of your home with your own hands. It will perfectly fit modern interior from loft style to rustic. Prostate and conciseness - this is the main trump card of this table lamp.

For this you need tools:

  • Roulette, marker
  • Pipe cutter and washcloth
  • Wire stripping and stripping tool
  • Pliers and a thin flat head screwdriver
  • crosshead screwdriver

M materials:

  • Copper pipes
  • Acetone and super glue
  • Copper corners 90 °, 7 pcs.
  • electrical wire
  • Plug and Electro chuck
  • Switch and light bulb

Table lamp assembly technique

To get started, take a tape measure, a marker, a pipe cutter, a rag, copper pipes and acetone.

Marking and cutting tubes

  • Use a measuring tape and a marker to mark where you will cut the copper pipes.
  • Do this carefully, accurately measuring every millimeter, because if the details are different, then in the end result they will not be as large as they should be.

  • Point the pipe cutter and adjust the diameter of the pipe with the nut. Watch the copper tube, gradually readjust diameter with nut, so that the closure goes on until the pipe is cut.
  • After, with acetone and a rag, you can wipe the markings from the pipe.

TIP: Our parts have: 3 cuts of 15 cm, 1 cut of 20 cm, 1 cut of 45 cm, 1 cut of 25 cm. We used 12 tubes. When designing your luminaire, please note that the size of the copper cubits will be added.

While the cable is inside, we connect the parts

Insert the pieces together and glue with super glue. In order to avoid problems in the future, it is better to glue each part and put it together.

Despite the instantaneous effect of the adhesive, it is preferable to wait a few minutes before proceeding to make sure the pieces are glued perfectly.

Tip: It will be more convenient to apply glue if you use a brush. If you want the lid to be at the very top, install it first. So the first part will be ready, and the cable will go in the other direction.

Instruments:

  • Wire stripping and stripping tool
  • incisors
  • thin flat screwdriver
  • crosshead screwdriver

Materials:

  • fork
  • electro chuck
  • switch
  • Copper pipes
  • electrical wire


Install electrical system

  1. Open the faceplate of the cover and start by stripping the insulation. Connect ground (blue) and live (brown, gray or black) with the two screws you find inside.
  2. Repeat the same process in the plug and switch.
  3. In the switch you will find two pairs of small screws, a cable that you must cut to the height you want the switch to be and connect to the appropriate sockets by going inside the small screws.
  4. All you have to do is screw in the light bulb to make your copper table lamp.

Finally, put the lamp in a corner or place you like, and you will see how it will become a wonderful addition to your interior, illuminating the space!

Master class: Table lampfrom paper

When I first saw the Robert Delta table lamp, it was love at first sight! The shape is amazing, it comes in a variety of bright colors, just the way I like it. Recently I thought, since the accessories were amazingly durable, why not use them for the lamp?

Here are all the materials used:

  • old lantern or lamp kit
  • template and thick cardboard or paper, you can take polypropylene sheets
  • glue and putty
  • sanding block (medium + fine)
  • wood block (add weight to base)

Instruments:

  • artistic ribbons
  • metal ruler / xacto knife
  • drill (can optionally replace xacto knife)

Lamp manufacturing technology

  • First, print the pattern (6 of each triangle) (1 of each hexagon).
  • Cut out the shapes so that they fit snugly on the board. Then use glue to attach the pieces to the back of the mat.
  • Using a metal ruler and a Xacto knife on a cutting board, cut through each shape.
  • Put them together.

  • Next, glue the bottom (shapes 2 + 4) to the base (shape 6). The triangles fit together nicely and if you did everything right, they will just fall into place.

Then use small pieces of art tape to stick them together and wait for the glue to dry completely.

TIP: Use super glue, it dries instantly (we used Aleene). Apply glue lightly, and wipe off excess.

  1. After gluing the bottom half (forms 2 + 4 to the base, form 6 turn upside down (open end down), place the square on a flat surface and let it dry overnight, this will help preserve its area.
  2. The next day, start working on the top of the lamp. Glue the 1 + 3 shape, leaving a little hole to insert the lamp inside. The top one (form 5) was glued along with the art tape, but it is not glued to the form 1 + 3 yet.
  3. Then reinforce the seams with glue from the inside.

Then start working on the base of the lamp.

The level at the bottom of the lamp needs to be made a little larger, so cut a few 1×4 pieces to raise it a bit. Additional weight will also be added, which will give it more stability. Use screws to attach 1×4 to existing metal base. (We swapped the existing stem with one from another lamp to get it to the correct height).

Next, drill a hole for the cord and insert the plastic sleeve from the old lamp. The lamp should be disassembled, and pull the cord and wire through the threaded rod of the hole in the new base. Glue it in the center inside the lamp.

At the top (form 5), mark the center and drill a hole for the center rod. Then glue it in place.

  1. After applying the adhesive, wipe off excess and, if necessary, lightly and apply a second coat after sanding.
  2. Medium-grit putty and fine sandpaper, finish with a sanding block. At this point, you will notice its strong base.

When you've finished removing the dust, apply paint! To cover the top of the threaded rod, use the top of an old lamp - it just slides over the rod. Then return back to the nest!

Everything, a handmade table lamp is ready.

Bottle table lamp

Tin lamp

Such a lamp is perfect for a home desktop, both for a student and a schoolboy. Boys will especially appreciate it, it looks more like a transformer and a robot from the future. You can paint or decorate the jar itself with paper, thread, or make it more embossed. How right.




Table lamp made of plastic bottles

Plastic bottles can always be found on the farm, so decorating an old table lamp is not difficult. Usually, when restoring old lamps, the bases are left and plastic is used for the lampshade. The lampshade mount is usually used the old one. When working with plastic bottles, remember that cutting them is easier. paper cutter or construction knife. Glue is used for rubber or special for plastic.


Table lamp made of branches and cuts

Wood in the interior is always a classic - it is always fashionable and relevant. By decorating a table lamp with a cut of wood or an old driftwood with your own hands, you will get a designer item that simply has no price.

  1. To do this, we need to pick up any piece of wood we like, process it properly namely, dry it, apply impregnation from pests and cover it with varnish.
  2. The second stage is to mount the top from the old floor lamp into the base. If this is not the case, it does not matter, in stores everything for light usually sells bases for lampshades.

Other original ideas

The basis for a table lamp, in principle, can serve as any object that you do not need: these are children's toys, sewing machines, unnecessary socks, and so on. Experiment and create beauty!

If you are tired of boring and monotonous things in your apartment that you see every day, then it's time to diversify the design with the help of hand made. A DIY table lamp is a great option to get you started. It does not require special skills and efforts, and the result often exceeds expectations. In this article we will tell you how to make a table lamp with your own hands, how to decorate it and how to connect it correctly. We have also prepared an excellent selection of photos for your inspiration for creativity.

DIY table lamp: the main structural elements

The most popular and simple materials for creating a table lamp with your own hands are: cardboard, paper, glass bottles, cans, plastic containers, water pipes and cement. We will tell you how to make a lamp out of all this material.

The main structural elements in a table lamp of any type:

  • Electromechanical - provides stability to a homemade table lamp and a safe power supply directly to the lamp.
  • Reference - supports a reflector or illuminator.
  • Illuminator - a light bulb in a lampshade.

The wiring diagram of a table lamp is quite simple: a mains plug, a cable, a switch, a light bulb holder. Sometimes a voltage regulator is added. The cartridge for the narrow E14 minion base is also mounted on a thread or on a lamella in the form of a steel strip. For a do-it-yourself table lamp, the best option is chandelier cartridges with captive threaded flanges: between them you can clamp a steel faceplate with a lampshade frame or a clamp for mounting on a hinge.

A do-it-yourself table lamp must be electrically safe. This is especially true for lamps on hinges and consoles. You can create the safety of a table lamp using a simple scheme:

  1. The cable must be round, double insulated
  2. The conductors of the cable are flexible, made of numerous wires.
    The cross section lived from 0.35 sq. mm.
  3. Cable entry points must be protected by dense dielectrics.
  4. Before entering the cable, the cable is tied in a knot or pulled through the holes of the dielectric fixing washer so that it cannot be torn. The next step is finishing and decorating.

Original lampshade for a table lamp with your own hands

The lampshade must be made taking into account not only the aesthetic aspect, but also the practical one. It is important to fix it correctly, as well as make a convenient hole for the light bulb. Paper, plastic and thread are the materials most often used to make a homemade lampshade.

The simplest and most convenient material is paper. To create such a lampshade, in addition to paper, you will need: threads, PVA glue, a sewing needle and scissors. There are many ways to make a lampshade for a table lamp with your own hands out of paper. The simplest method is to collect a ball of paper strips on the ceiling, while gluing them together and at the poles. The shape in the form of a sphere will additionally strengthen the fragile lampshade made of paper.

It is also elementary to make a lampshade from disposable plastic cups, which are fastened with a stapler. This lampshade has quite good lighting characteristics, but at the same time the view is quite utilitarian. Such a lampshade is well suited for rooms in which high-quality lighting is necessary, but an aesthetic appearance is not necessary.

When making a lampshade from threads, you will need at least 100 m. It makes no sense to use balloons as mandrels, because after 10-20 turns the ball will begin to bulge in different directions and ruin the shape. It is best to use a tightly inflated, durable ball for the mandrel. The mandrel must be lubricated with Vaseline. Next, pre-lubricated with glue, wind the thread around the ball. When winding, do not forget to leave a hole for the cable and cartridge. After a day, you need to blow off the mandrel, which, thanks to the Vaseline, will not stick to the threads. Also, the threads can be replaced with jute, sisal or propylene twine.

These lampshades form an even soft light and therefore are perfect for any room.

How to update a lampshade for a table lamp with your own hands

Old, tired, worn and burnt out lampshades can be easily updated with the help of improvised means or even create a new one. We will tell you how to do it correctly and beautifully. As materials, you can take any textiles. Using fabrics and threads, you can sew or knit a lampshade in the form of a dress. It is easy to decorate a table lamp shade with your own hands using: buttons, stickers, butterflies, beads, flowers and various braids.

If you want to create an original lampshade from improvised means, then there are a lot of ways. To create such a lampshade, you can use: lids from tins, disposable tableware, your favorite pictures from a photo album, paper with drawings, or just a lampshade decorated with your own hands.

It is enough to turn on your imagination and you will get an original lamp in the interior of your house or apartment. In the photo below, see a selection of lampshade options for a table lamp with your own hands.

A DIY table lamp is one of the most affordable ways to decorate an interior and give it a personality. As soon as the designers of pros and amateurs do not scoff at them! The reason is simple: in relation to the functionality and possibilities of creative self-expression to the required costs of materials, labor and skill, the table lamp is firmly in the top of the leaders among household items. In this article, we will see what you can do with it without straining either your hands or your wallet. Just an invention.

What to do?

Rack table lamps (pos. 1 in the next figure) illuminate the work area that does not require the quick movement of the light spot on the table surface: a dressing table, a desk. The possibilities of decorative design in this case are the greatest. Technically, the design of a table lamp on a stand is the simplest. Opportunities for operational adjustment of the size of the illuminated area are practically absent. Adjusting the illumination of the working area is possible if there is a thyristor voltage regulator in the lamp, but the spectrum of the emitted light changes significantly.

The great advantage of rack-mounted table lamps is the possibility of obtaining the so-called. cosecant-square radiation pattern (RP) of the illuminator, see also at the end. The cosecant-square DN provides, within a certain angle φ, an almost uniform illumination of the working area (see the figure on the right), which drastically reduces fatigue from intense intellectual work.

Lamps on a breakable swivel arm (pos. 2) are more suitable for technical creativity. Lamps on a pantograph bracket at home are impractical and technologically complex, and making a lamp on a flexible bracket at home will cost more than buying a ready-made one.

The design of a table lamp on a breaking arm is limited to laconic and utilitarian forms. The design is more complicated than that of a lamp on a stand, primarily due to the requirement to ensure electrical safety, see below. Opportunities for operational adjustment of light in the working area are wide both in terms of the size of the illuminated area and in terms of its illumination with a constant spectrum.

Console table lamps (pos. 3) are less common in everyday life, because. for stability, they require a heavy base and, most often, a counterweight, which complicates and increases the cost of the structure. Cantilever lamps have fewer opportunities for quick adjustment of light in the working area than lamps on brackets, however, it is possible to obtain a cosecant-square DN.

Table lamps without an elevation of the light source above the supporting surface are no longer table lamps, but nightlights (pos. 4). The fundamental difference between the two is that the night light does not have a working area with certain requirements for light. Accordingly, the light from the night lamp can be anything, as long as it does not harm health.

Design

In a table lamp of any type, a trace can be distinguished. design elements:

  • Electromechanical - ensures the stability of the lamp and a safe supply of power to the lamp holder.
  • Reference - supports the illuminator or reflector and, possibly, allows you to change its position.
  • Illuminator - an electric light bulb in a lampshade or reflector.

Electromechanics in the design of a table lamp plays a role only insofar as it can be hidden in the support of the illuminator. Design delights fall on the support and the illuminator. In rack lamps, as a rule, the lampshade carries the main aesthetic load, and the rack complements it; in articulated - on the contrary. But there are plenty of exceptions to this rule.

Electromechanics

The wiring diagram of a table lamp is simple: a mains plug, a cable, a switch, a light bulb holder. Sometimes a voltage regulator is added. The pendant lamp socket E27 (under the lamp base of a regular width, item 1 in the figure) can only be mounted on a threaded shank M10 or M12. The cartridge for the narrow E14 minion base is also mounted on a thread or on a lamella in the form of a steel strip; the nest under it is shown by a green arrow in pos. 2. For a table lamp, chandelier cartridges (pos. 3) with captive threaded flanges are best suited: between them you can clamp a steel faceplate with a lampshade frame or a clamp for hinge mounting. Drawings of the E27 chandelier electric cartridge of various modifications are given in pos. 4.

It is necessary to make a table lamp in such a way as to ensure its electrical safety. This is especially true for lamps on hinges and consoles. Achieving the safety of a table lamp is quite simple:

  1. The cable must be taken round in double insulation.
  2. The conductors of the cable are flexible, made of many wires. The cross section lived from 0.35 sq. mm.
  3. The places where the cable is led through conductive or damp parts of the structure must be protected by sufficiently strong flexible dielectric bushings, cuffs or knees.
  4. The cable inside the lamp structure must not be taut.

The diagram of the mechanical part of the support with a load of a homemade rack table lamp is shown in the figure:


The cable from the inside before entering (highlighted in color) is tied in a knot or pulled through the holes of the dielectric fixing washer so that by pulling it from the outside, the cable cannot be torn inside. A decorative finish made of polymer clay (plastic, cold porcelain) on a dummy from a cut plastic bottle is the best option at home, but, of course, only one of many. If you want, for example, to carve a decorative shell of a wooden rack - please, if only the mechanics of the village fit properly. However, polymer clay as a material for a table lamp stand allows you to implement the most original ideas for its decor and fully meets the safety requirements: dried polymer clay is a mechanically strong non-wetting non-combustible dielectric.

original supports

It is not necessary to fence the support of a rack-mounted table lamp, which is quite complex and requires turning, if its lampshade is light, for example. from threads (see below) or thin hard plastic, and it is not supposed to place a light regulator and other electronics in the support. In this case, a fairly stable lamp support is obtained from a “pot-bellied” glass bottle with a wide bottom, pos. 1 in fig. A narrow bottle can be made heavier by throwing pebbles (pos. 2), steel balls, etc. into it. The lampshade holder is fixed to the neck with a standard screw plug or a piece of solid EPS foam, ground into the throat thread.

The hole for the cable in the bottle is drilled with a tubular thin-walled diamond drill. But glass is not at all like a tile, so you need to drill it in this way:

  • The bottle is placed on its side and securely fastened.
  • A plasticine board 2-3 cm high is molded around the future hole.
  • Water is poured into the resulting hole.
  • They drill under a layer of water at least at 2500 rpm with the gentlest and smoothest feed.

How a table lamp is made from a Jack Daniels whiskey bottle, see the video below:

Video: DIY bottle table lamp

Such a lamp will organically fit into, steampunk and other technogenic-utilitarian. Just don't make the mistake of trying to make her lampshade out of a flower pot or any other utensil. Technogenic-utilitarian styles are not a senseless heap of rubbish, their concepts are clearly thought out. Interior elements for them should be related to industrial, not agricultural or food production. A lampshade, for example, is needed from a tin reflector from an old production hanging lamp on a pantograph, a car headlight, a small spotlight, etc.

On fig. on the right is shown a very original version of the support of a “real large” table lamp made of ... rope! It is done in this way:

  1. The rope is taken from a natural organic layer 6 + 1, i.e. 1 strand along the axis and 6 along the circumference;
  2. A piece of rope is stretched by hand and loosened, turning at the same time in different directions against the direction of the twist of the strands;
  3. The axial strand is carefully pulled out and a thin-walled copper tube with a fishing line threaded into it to tighten the cable is inserted instead;
  4. The rope with the tube inside is pulled together by turning the hands in the direction of the twist of the strands;
  5. The ends of the rope are firmly fixed on the tube with a winding cord;
  6. Pull the cable into the tube;
  7. The workpiece is bent and knitted in a knot. You need to bend a little, carefully so that the tube does not break;
  8. The rope is tightened again, picking up the upturned strands, and impregnated with acrylic varnish.

Note: the tube must be taken for air conditioning systems, from oxygen-free copper. The red-copper gas or electrical tube in the assembly will most likely break.

Hinge Features

The mechanical part of a table lamp on a hinged arm is more complicated. The lamp shown on the left in the figure does not meet the requirements of electrical and fire safety: the cable is caught in combustible parts and can be pulled when manipulating the illuminator. Its loop hanging down can be hooked in the semi-darkness with a hand or a sharp object.

The cable to the light bulb holder in a table lamp on a hinged bracket should be run along dielectric fireproof knees either between the sides of its links, or, if the hinge link is solid, along its top, in the center and on the right in Fig. In this case, the cable on the hinge link must be fixed. If the hinge links are tubular, the cable is laid inside them. In any case, Ω-shaped cable loops with a diameter of 60 mm or more, but not less than 12 cable diameters, are made above the kinks of the hinge links. At the transition of the cable from the bracket to the illuminator, an Ω-loop is made from 90 mm, but not less than 20 cable diameters.

The balance of a table lamp on a hinge varies over a wide range and it is quite difficult to ensure its stability with a load. Because of this, manufacturers sometimes invent such systems that it is easier to shine with a flashlight than to adjust the light from such a miracle, see fig. left. Therefore, table lamps on hinges are often provided with screw terminals.

As a screw clamp for fastening a homemade table lamp to a tabletop, a small carpenter's clamp is excellent, see fig. on right. Better than a lamp clip from a furniture store: cheaper, holds more securely. The grip of the clamp is wider, and the lamp can be attached to the countertop of any conceivable and unthinkable thickness. You need to ask exactly the carpentry, because. jaws of locksmith clamps without soft coating.

The clamp is turned into a lamp holder using a socket made of a steel tube with an inside diameter of 10 mm and a length of 120-150 mm. In the handset approx. at half the length, a longitudinal cut is made as wide as the thickness of the clamp clip. The nest is attached to the clamp with through bolts. A steel pin with an eyelet is inserted into the socket tightly, but not tightly, which is a fixed link in the lower hinge of the lamp bracket. Hooks for hanging chandeliers with an end bent into a ring fit well here; the thread does not prevent them from turning smoothly in the socket.

When adapting the clamp to the lamp holder, it must be remembered that its holder is made of heavily carburized steel; so it is necessary that the jaws of the clamp do not succumb under the counterpressure of the compressible parts. High-carbon steel is very hard and rather brittle, so you need to drill it with a carbide drill at 800-900 rpm with a not strong smooth feed. It is impossible to beat with hard objects and try to bend the clamp clip!

Illuminator

This table lamp assembly should give the right light to the work area and is often the main decorative element. First of all, it should be noted here that compact, lightweight and economical LED illuminators (see Fig.) Shine well only in 3D models. In reality, however, their light still does not satisfy the medical and sanitary requirements for local working lighting.

reflectors

Hinged table lamp illuminators are made reflex, the lampshade is too bulky and heavy for them. The reflector must be selected parabolic, it gives a fairly concentrated and even light. You can make a single conical reflector yourself, but the light from it is uneven, tiring your eyes, and a lot of it is “scattered” to the sides in vain. Reflectors of good hinged table lamps are made with a reflective surface of the 4th order of curvature (for example, the Hobby, which has not lost its popularity for more than 20 years), but it is unrealistic to build one on your own.

The way out, if a suitable reflector is not found, is to use a krypton incandescent lamp with an internal reflector, it is also from conscientious manufacturers of the 4th order of curvature. In this case, the manufacture of the illuminator is reduced to installing a shell of any shape around the light bulb from any sufficiently strong and lightweight material that protects the lamp from accidental impacts.

The reflector of the illuminator of a table lamp on a hinged bracket must necessarily have an opening or holes at the top for the exit of heated air. Fluorescent lamps-housekeepers and LEDs seem to heat up weakly, but from being in a heated air cushion, their resource is sharply reduced, and they are not cheap.

Shade

Illuminators of rack table lamps are made in the form of a light bulb under. Its purpose is not only to be a fertile field for decor, but also a partially translucent reflector that provides the necessary illumination of the working area of ​​a given value. The lampshade for a table lamp can be made rigid frameless and soft on the frame. The frame of the lampshade is most often made of wire in the form of a truncated straight cone, on the left in the figure, with simple (in the center) and complex (on the right) curvilinear generatrices.

The simplest way to sheathe a straight conical lampshade is with pieces of tape. It is laborious, but good in that the outer surface is smoothly curved, without breaks. The seams on the rims of the lampshade are masked by ruffles (pos. 1 in the next figure), braid, fringe, etc.

It makes no sense to cut the fabric in the form of a truncated cone for covering a conical lampshade, because. as a result of tightening the material, the lampshade will turn out not to be conical, but faceted, pyramidal. It will be easier to sew a lampshade cover from wedges, the patterns of which are built step by step without the use of geometry:

  • A sheet of thin cardboard or thick hard paper is applied to the frame section;
  • Cardboard / paper is tied to the frame with an elastic band or tape;
  • The contour of the pattern is outlined from the inside, this will give a lack of fabric necessary for tightly covering the lampshade with it;
  • The fabric is taken in satin, twill or staple weave;
  • Cut so that the warp threads of the fabric are oriented along the longitudinal axis of the pattern.

The finished lampshade is often decorated with rosettes, bows, etc. For such a case, there is an interesting design technique: the main fabric is taken thin, well-translucent, colorful, and the sockets are sewn in pale pastel colors or very light, poses. 2. In the light, the lamp stands modestly in the interior, but when it is turned on in the dark, everything becomes colored.

How to wrap a lampshade

On the lampshade frame with complex curvilinear ribs (with a "waist"), a sewn cover can simply be thrown over and pulled off with ribbons (pos. 3), thread, elastic band. But according to the rules, covering the lampshade with a cloth is done like this:


And in a different way?

There are other ways to make a table lamp shade, allowing you to embody a variety of original design ideas in the material. For example, a blank mandrel (item 1 in the figure) is glued from ordinary writing paper and impregnated twice with acrylic varnish. After the varnish has dried, lanolin is rubbed into the block several times until it ceases to be absorbed. A blank coated with lanolin is wrapped with a thread stretched through PVA glue, as in the manufacture of Christmas decorations with your own hands. The device for pulling the thread through the PVA is shown in fig. right below. The finished hard cover of the lampshade is fixed with drops of glue on the frame, which in this case can only consist of the lower rim, fastening ties and a faceplate for a chandelier cartridge.

On the same blank, a rigid seamless lampshade is made of thin synthetic fabric. Cut out like a scan of a truncated cone (with an allowance), a cut is wrapped around a blockhead. The fabric is fixed along the edges with paper clips and impregnated with acrylic varnish with a wide strip in the middle. When the varnish dries, the paper clips are removed and the edges are impregnated on the outside. The paper is torn out of the dried lampshade. The lapels are cut inside, a thick fishing line is put into the bends and fixed with drops of glue.

A frame with curved ribs can be braided horizontally with strips of fabric (pos. 3) or a narrow ribbon, newspaper tubes, straws, etc. In terms of lighting technology, ordinary propylene twine is excellent, but its aesthetics are that ... not very good ... Finally, a soft textile cover for the lampshade can be sewn with a simple straight sleeve along the diameter of the lower rim, and trimmed on top, pos. 4.

Quite original

The following 3 variants of the table lamp shade are among the outwardly extravagant, but provide very good lighting performance. Which, by the way, cannot be said about many home-made textile lampshades. For example, we buy (stealing is a sin, as Captain Barbosa from Pirates of the Caribbean would say) a milky plastic cover for a street lamp. Not too expensive, perfect light transmission with light diffusion, and does not break. And below is a wide opening through which enough light will come out for local working lighting. We decorate the outer surface of the ceiling with decoupage on a transparent basis or paint it by hand. What happens as a result - see in fig. But this, of course, is an option for an amateur who is resistant to psychedelic influences.

A plywood or glued board lampshade (see the following figure) has good light transmission due to internal reflections and greatly softens the light. In a table lamp with it, you can even put an LED light bulb with a frosted bulb. Rims - hoops for embroidery of different diameters. In the same way, you can make a table lamp integrated with a lampshade (on the right in the figure). It will take up a lot of space on the table, but it looks original, “environmentally”, and the light gives a very soft, not tiring.

A table lamp integrated with a lampshade can also be made from the same wonderful material -; in a thin layer it is translucent. The jellyfish lamp (see the figure on the right) is made from it. The manufacturing procedure is as follows:

green lamp

Revisit old photos with Lenin, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, Theodore or Franklin Delano, Mahatma Gandhi. Or, if you like, with Hitler, Mussolini, General Tojiyo, Chiang Kai-shek. And check out their table lamps. True, similar to the one on the left in the figure? Which in the USSR "general population" was not sold? And which gave rise to the popular expression "green lamp"?

“Green” luxury table lamps antique and modern

"Green lamps" are still being produced and sold well. True, judging by the prices (on the right in the figure), they have not become more accessible to ordinary citizens. The secret of the “green lamp” is in the lampshade made of green glass dyed in the mass, covered from the inside with a translucent (more precisely, 3/4 transparent) layer. The shape of the lampshade corresponds to a well-defined mathematical law. Within the wide, approx. 3 lampshade diameters, the working area of ​​the "green lamp" DN is almost cosecant-square, and then its illumination very smoothly turns into a greenish twilight. Slightly raised his eyes from the papers - the eyes and mind are resting.

It would seem, why waste time if a wide variety of style options are presented in specialized stores: from classics and hi-tech to minimalism and Provence. However, a do-it-yourself table lamp allows you to create a unique decorative lighting fixture that matches the interior of your home.

Advantages of handmade lamps

We want to emphasize right away that this is not only financial savings. In this case, it is guaranteed to get a unique, inimitable device. Even if you apply the lampshades, which are described below, it will still become unique, like its creator.

How to make a table lamp

The main thing is to connect your imagination and see what is at home. As a material use:

  • glass jars or bottles of various sizes and shapes;
  • plumbing plastic pipes of various diameters;
  • plastic vessels. It is advisable to choose from a dense material;
  • vases and flower beds.

Laconic lamp for modern interiors

This option can be called universal and economically acceptable, since it is not difficult to make, it looks presentable and is suitable for rooms with various decorations.

To make your lamp, you need to take:

  • roulette;
  • Phillips and flat screwdrivers;
  • black marker;
  • a knife to strip the wires;
  • hacksaw or pipe cutter;
  • acetone for degreasing;

  • Super glue;
  • switch with decorative bulb;
  • copper corners - 90º;
  • copper tube;
  • electric wire.

The work is quick and easy, the main thing is to do all the work carefully so that you get reliable connections and a safe electrical connection. First of all, copper pipes are marked with a tape measure and a marker.

Using a pipe cutter or a hacksaw, you need to cut the tube into pieces of the desired size. The markings are wiped off with acetone. Sequentially glue the parts together.

To be sure, press and hold for a few minutes. In order to avoid a problem with the electric wire, it is advisable to immediately stretch it inside the structure, and then attach the lamp holder and plug.

Decorator tip. A convenient lamp for use is obtained by using elements of the following sizes: 20 cm - 1, 25 cm - 1, 15 cm - 3, 45 cm - 1 and an elbow corresponding to the size of the tube.

Eco-direction lamp

The material for the mast of the lamp is a wooden beam measuring 20 x 25 mm, 1 m long. It is sawn into 4 parts of different lengths: 500, 250, 150, 100 mm. Rounding is made at the ends, special cuts are made - recesses, and holes are drilled.

In this case, cuts are made on elements of 500 mm and 100 mm on one side, and on the other - from two. Holes are made in the middle of each bar according to the diameter of the electrical cable used. The foundation is being prepared. To do this, take a board of any arbitrary size so that the structure is stable.

A rectangle is drilled in the center according to the size of the planks used. The planks are connected to each other by means of a washer and a screw. Then they are attached to the base with a long wood screw.

This will ensure the reliability of the design. An interesting option could be old books connected to each other, installed on a base. A hole is made in the center through which the rod is passed. After that, the ceiling with a cartridge is attached.

A single-core wire is connected to it (section 0.75 mm² of each core). It is desirable that it be in isolation, on which there is no factory marking. So that it does not hang, it is passed through the holes in the slats. The switch can be of two options: mounted directly on the wire or fixed on the base. A fork is installed at the free end.

Children's lamp: soft toy

The fabric should not be too dense and let light through. Therefore, linen can be used. When choosing a pattern, it is important to take into account the wishes of the child. Cut out the fabric and connect all the parts except the bottom. Fill with sealant.

The fabric is impregnated with any composition that makes it dense (starch, gelatin). The improvised ceiling should dry well. A small hole is made at the bottom for the output of the cord. The seal is removed. A prepared LED cord is laid inside the structure. You can use a Christmas garland. The bottom is sewn up: the lamp is ready.

Ceramic vases, flower pots

This is the easiest option. The selected vessel becomes the ceiling. There will be no problems with flower pots: they have a hole in the bottom. A hole can be made in a vase with a drill, but all work must be carried out very carefully.

The surface is wetted, and the drill is set to minimum speed. Then a lampholder is installed inside the vessel, a wire is brought in, fastened with a washer to the bottom. The lamp turns on. To create a night light, it is advisable to choose the option of low power.

Various lampshades

The above-described base of lamps can be decorated with various lampshades. Thanks to this, they become an addition to a certain interior. The various directions that are taken as a basis are described below. Think about your preferences, hobbies, favorite activities and create something unique.

Plastic spoons

In the style of plastic spoons, everyday utilitarian items give an interesting opportunity to create an exclusive ceiling. To do this, take a plastic vessel of the required size, a large number of plastic spoons. It is impossible to specify the exact number, it all depends on the size of the ceiling.

Handles are cut off from spoons. After that, they are sequentially connected to each other with the help of a gun for creating decorative objects and special glue.

In order for the design to have the correct shape, plastic containers for water or drinks are the basis. After the whole structure has taken the necessary shape, the glue dries, a cartridge with wires is attached to the top.

mysterious forest

For the ceiling, choose small twigs of a bizarre shape. The bark is removed, impregnated with bactericidal and fire-fighting preparations, combined in any form.

Important advice. The only precaution: the branches should not touch the lamp, so that a fire does not occur.

Use wooden trempels

An acceptable option for eco-styles. Thus, it is easy to make a table lamp with your own hands from improvised materials.

To do this, the hangers are disassembled into separate elements, which are securely interconnected and attached to the electric cartridge. This option does not need additional decoration: the tree well emphasizes the eco-style.

Gummy Bears

This is a rather time-consuming option, but the result is a fun and most importantly safe lamp for a child's room. Any old table lamp with a large soft shade can be used as a base. To do this, remove the decorative material.

Turn the metal base upside down. Purchase a large number of small multi-colored teddy bears, string them on strong threads of various lengths and tie them to the upper, wide part of the base. The result is a "live" fun design.

musical lamp

For music lovers, an interesting option may be the use of small drums as shades. They create a luminous flux in two directions: up and down, so they do not irritate the eyes. But more importantly, the uniqueness of the lamp is guaranteed.

Sports theme

With this material you will have to work hard, but if you wish, everything is possible. Bicycle parts are connected together to form a chandelier that scatters fantastic patterns on the walls and ceiling.

fashion accessory

Hats are also used for these purposes, they may well replace old lampshades and give the room an exquisite charm. Depending on the wishes, it is easy to make male and female options.

Needlework to help

In the past, interiors were decorated with knitted napkins. Using this method, you can create a lamp. The only difference is the need to impregnate the material with PVA glue, which is diluted in a 1: 1 ratio.

In order to give the product a shape, a ball of the desired size is inflated or a plastic bottle of 5 liters is taken. The finished product is impregnated with the composition and placed on the matrix. In the process of drying, the knitted element acquires the selected shape. It remains only to replace them with a boring lampshade.

Decorator tip. You can create several options for shades and change from time to time depending on the season, holidays, changes in decorative details, textiles or the style direction of interior decoration.

With effort and attention to detail, homemade table lamps become unique decorative lighting fixtures that reflect the inner essence of the owners and make the home more inviting and cozy.

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