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Mad scientist lamp made from Aluminum .065 sheet. bottom held on with machine screws. I used a scotch- bright pad '2inch' in a drill press to give the circle pattern. I just did it random
The lamps are exit tube lamps, the sockets are sign sockets. I also have a dimmer slide and a switch so I can go between full on or dimmer mode.
The box was bent on a finger brake, some bends where hand bent.
please turn it into a instructable.
Win Guy
This instructable has all the fundamentals.
The glow makes it look that way. really nice glow on low dimmer.
Name tags are plastic.
Sockets are held on with screws see new photos, top view.
Hope this helps.
PARTS LIST FOR MAD SCIENTIST LAMP BOX AND NOTES ON MAKING.
Some parts are surplus or take offs from other things, Like I reclaimed the wiring from a old
dryer for the hook-up wiring. switches from a redo job.
QTY.
Aluminum sheet .065 +/- one - 11” x 13.50, one -5” x 19.75
6 - Hubbell intermediate base sign lamp receptacles
6- Tube lamps intermediate base 25 watt
1- Slide dimmer switch
1- DPST Switch
1- 6 feet +/- lamp wire with plug 18-2 SPT
Hook up wire, ie. AWM or MTW 18 AWG , shrink tubing
20- Pan head 6-32x1/4 inch machine screws for attaching bottom.
4- Feet, rubber or felt
1- snap-in cord grip fitting
TOOLS NEEDED OR USED
Punch for receptacle holes or hole saw .965
Punch for screw receptacle holes or drill 5/32
6-32 tap and #36 drill, for taping screws holes, this is for attaching bottom.
You will need a sheet metal finger box brake to form box.
It could be done with heavy blocks of steel and large clamps and a table to clamp to.
Also your basic hand tools, screw driver, file to clean edges, hand drill or press, a hole
deburing tool is nice.
# one before you bend is to do the Surface (what every you want). I used a 2 inch 3M
Scotch-Brite surface conditioning discs Coarse, to do the circle texture.
I did this in a drill press. see photo, I did a test.
# two Layout holes and punch holes for the receptacles and switches before bending.
If you are not knowledgeable on electrical wiring please ask someone to help. not real hard
but you need to know how to hook it up..
General knowledge on bending sheet metal will help.
I had a sign shop make custom switch tags. no/off, dimmer, there plastic, glued on
This is a learning project for me also, sorry for not having photos of the building process.
my first instructables.
or you know, just make another one and tell me how much you want for it! ;)
Another great make, that I would *love* to see as a full I'ble