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Step 5Light
You probably live somewhere with a hardware store with a decent assortment of light fixtures and bulbs and can probably just buy something that will work and you won't have to mess around with as much as i did. But figuring out stuff like this really is part of the fun of making something.
I bought a few switched light sockets and plugs. I used a push button with a stainless button from an old stereo i took apart. And for my lights i wanted the lamp to be energy efficient so i used these LED lights used for emergency exit lights. (A search for "emergency exit LED retrofit" should give some results. Shop around - prices vary greatly!) I calculate that running this light will cost me just a few cents a day if i left it on for 24 hours. Because i knew my lamp would be taller than just one (and because i blew the fluorescent bulb that i tried first) i broke them apart (also necessary to fit inside the 45s) and soldered two in series. I used part of a pen to glue the two lights together.
I removed the switch on the cord. I don't really like those and thought the stainless button on oak would look nice. I soldered one end of the socket wiring to the switch and one from the outlet to the other side of the switch. I covered the terminals with some hot glue to prevent a short or me from hurting myself.
If you notice a change in the wires it is because i somehow killed one of the lights. I think i held the soldering iron on too long and burned a component. I was stumped for a while.
You should calculate the center of the base and drill a hole large enough for your light fixture now.
For some high resolution images showing the detail of the base check out these photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901200/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901316/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775095503/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901536/sizes/o/
I bought a few switched light sockets and plugs. I used a push button with a stainless button from an old stereo i took apart. And for my lights i wanted the lamp to be energy efficient so i used these LED lights used for emergency exit lights. (A search for "emergency exit LED retrofit" should give some results. Shop around - prices vary greatly!) I calculate that running this light will cost me just a few cents a day if i left it on for 24 hours. Because i knew my lamp would be taller than just one (and because i blew the fluorescent bulb that i tried first) i broke them apart (also necessary to fit inside the 45s) and soldered two in series. I used part of a pen to glue the two lights together.
I removed the switch on the cord. I don't really like those and thought the stainless button on oak would look nice. I soldered one end of the socket wiring to the switch and one from the outlet to the other side of the switch. I covered the terminals with some hot glue to prevent a short or me from hurting myself.
If you notice a change in the wires it is because i somehow killed one of the lights. I think i held the soldering iron on too long and burned a component. I was stumped for a while.
You should calculate the center of the base and drill a hole large enough for your light fixture now.
For some high resolution images showing the detail of the base check out these photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901200/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901316/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775095503/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/3775901536/sizes/o/
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