Ikea Lamps make old lamp bases new again!

I found two used-to-be-pretty lamps stuck in the mud at my friend's farm. I hosed 'em off and brought 'em home, and finally figured out how to make them useful again.

I happened upon two Ikea lamp bases at the thrift store for a dollar each (similar to the JANUARIline, but older and apparently no longer available on their website). I found two Ikea RIPEshades in the as-is section at the Seattle area Ikea store.

Voila! Some basic disassembly, some basic wiring, and reassembly, and I've got two reformed-trashy lamps. You could totally do the same thing with has-been lamps, some Ikea goodies, and a little bit of patience.

Step 1: Disassemble the trashed lamps.

I used some wire cutters and pliers to remove the innards and rotten wood upright from the old lamp.

Step 2: Disassemble the Ikea lamp

Loosen the collars of the Ikea lamp (the brown plastic rings at the top). Set them aside in the order that you took them off.

Pull up on the metal part that holds the light bulb. Snip off the wires, and set it aside for now.

Step 3: Remove the top of the Ikea lamp

It's likely you'll need a tiny little allen wrench to remove a set screw. Once the screw is removed, unscrew the top of the lamp and set it aside. You should see the end of the cord poking through the top.

Step 4: Combine the Ikea lamp with the found base

Slide the base over the lamp, making sure it's centered on top of the Ikea lamp base.

The upright part of the Ikea lamp should poke out of the top hole of the base, with the cord extending out of the top.

Step 5: Reassemble the top of the Ikea lamp

Screw on the barrel-shaped plastic collar, and then strip the ends of the cord. Reattach it to the metal housing that the bulb will screw into. It does not matter which half of the cord gets attached to which screw on the housing.

Step 6: Put on the shade

Screw on the bottom collar, insert the lamp shade base on top of it, and screw on the top collar firmly, so the shade will not swing loosely.

Step 7: Get a light bulb!

How many Ikea Hackers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

One, because we're all self-sufficient like that!

Put the light bulb in, plug in your new lamp, and enjoy!

Comments

[karenchristine13]

why did you snip the wires? why not just loosen the screws attaching them to the part the lightbulb screws into. it seems like more work in the long run to strip the wires afterward and use electrical tape, etc.

[pueblita]

Love the eclectic look...marrying the old with the modern! BRILLIANT instructable!!!

[robj98168]

@Clint114- You know you can always find lamps at the AS-IN section of Ikea, thus helping to reduce the landfill problem.
These lamps turn out so cool!

[clint114]

Failing finding or buying an Ikea lamp to dismantle, thus adding to the landfill problem, you can also buy nice little lamp wiring kits at Michaels or Ben Franklin or Lowe's.

[CrystalDyes]

In some cases it may matter which wire goes with what screw. If a colored/black wire and a white wire are present, the colored/black wire goes with the brass colored screw and white goes with the silver. Best way to know is to examine the plug to see if it is polarized; i.e. can only plug in one way. If the plug is not polarized  then you're right, it doesn't matter.

Great job tho, I have been re-doing & making lamps since I was a teen. I even made some out of a pair of old time counter-top sink pumps. You know the kind where it takes muscle power to make it work?

[canida]

Those look great!