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Stylish and Practical Lamp

Stylish and Practical Lamp
Here's how to make a stylish and practical room light!

Problem:  The overhead light in my dorm room is too dim and useless.

Solution:  Replace it with something more functional, and of my own design!

 
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Step 1Make the lamp

Make the lamp
To make the lamp, I scavenged a 120V computer cord, a socket from a broken lamp someone else was throwing away, and a tupperware pitcher.  And I bought a fullspectrum 60W CFL for the bulb.

After slicing both ends off the 120V cord, I trimmed ground (green) so it's hidden by the insulating sheath, and used wire nuts to connect the hot and return lines (white and black) to the Edison socket.

Then, I bandsawed the handle and spout off the pitcher, and drilled holes in the bottom -- one central hole for the cord, and five in a pattern around it, for heat dissipation.

Next, I threaded the cable through the central hole, and used silicone sealant to glue it in place.
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10 comments
Nov 15, 2009. 11:45 AM=SMART= says:
Cool, i like how you attach the light to the ceiling, very clever :)
Also awesome hammock !
Mind me asking what you are studying atm ?
Nov 21, 2009. 3:59 AM=SMART= says:
Haha yea saw your workbench, that's what made me wonder :D
Nov 14, 2009. 5:05 PMrandofo says:
Awww... you should have left the handle on.

Perhaps you should cover up the exposed wiring with something. The pitcher's lid? A serving tray? That frisbee in that picture?
Nov 16, 2009. 3:07 PMGoodhart says:
Hmm,  a slight repositioning of the hole for the cord would have redistributed the weight.   Still this gives me a lot of ideas (we have such goofy light fixtures in the old apt. where I live).  Thanks.
Nov 15, 2009. 12:54 PMfrollard says:
Love the simpleness of it - I REALLY like reflected light, but that wouldn't work so well with a blue ceiling.  'up-aiming' lights are so much less harsh.
Nov 15, 2009. 1:18 AMmasterochicken says:
Very nice. 5 stars.
Nov 14, 2009. 5:28 PMIts Giggles says:
Thats quite an amazing idea!

Really simple instuctable which makes this much
idiot proof. Unfortunately, i cannot do this instructable
because there is  no ceiling light fixture  in my room,
only a bunch of desk lamps surrounding me at this
desk which is much too crowded already. :P

-m




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Author:stasterisk
Hi! I'm Star Simpson! I'm a real me! See more at [http://stars.mit.edu stars.mit.edu]. photo by [http://bea.st/ Jeff Lieberman] (http://bea.st) stasterisk - my name is Star, and when I wa...
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