Zipper Lamp

The zipper lamp is ideal for setting just the right mood in a variety of settings. You always have just as much light as you need. One can assert that it is the only lamp you will ever need, but you would probably be wrong. You probably will need more than just this zipper lamp to light your domicile, but it would be fair to say the zipper lamp is a great start. The best apart is that it can be made in under an hour if you are proficient with a sewing machine. Make yours today!

Step 1: Go get stuff

You will need:

15' of "make your own zipper" material
An Ikea light socket
1' tall Ikea lamp shade
6" x 6" sheet of white acrylic
An awesome Epilog Laser Cutter
(x4) nuts and bolts
(x4) bolt covers
Epoxy
Diagonal cutting pliers
A sewing machine
White thread
A sewing needle
Scissors
1' thick solid wire

Comments

[bbehera]

Its very nice

[red_johnnny]

Cool idea.

[chicopluma]

intersting idea, it looks perfect to read in night

[CrystalDyes]

I got this 'ible just when I needed it! Re-doing my 1200 sq ft loft style fiber arts studio. It is the zipper part I'm going to use but it will be a hanging light at the entrance just inside the door. The light switch is at the other end of the room (2 entrances) and this can be converted so that there is a line switch like the '70s hanging lights and plugged into an outlet. Got an old lampshade frame that ought to work fine. Don't need any armature beyond that since it is hanging. Added bonus: no head injuries for my 6'4" grandson!

Great idea!

[imrobot]

where did you by zipper rolls? i need a lot of zippers for a project!

[CrystalDyes]

Two possibilities: Rowley Co. in Gastonia NC sells everything needed by the home dec folks. Then there is Atlanta Thread Co. In Atlanta who sells everything related to sewing. Haven't seen either catalog recently so don't yell if they've discontinued something. Usually any place that sells upholstery supplies will carry the zippers since every cushion is a different measurement from customer to customer.

[ahsi]

how will you sew those zippers? i mean when you sew them do all those zippers come together like those in picture?

[camocam]

IDEA: Ok so what if you didnt have the frame and made a longer one couldnt you make it where you can make it bigger and smaller and you could like put LED's in it and them make it like bendable like a rainbow?
Example below:Its a little messed up but you get the point.If you want to make this could you please make an instructable anf give me partial credit?

[suganspyyce]

Is there a part skipped about the zipper pulls? Like is there a certain way to put them on, do you have to buy the separately?

[randofo]

They came on the 15' roll of zipper that I bought, one next to each other, like you see. I basically unraveled the roll of zipper and sewed it in a spiral.

[suganspyyce]

Ahh, ok, thanks!

[macrumpton]

I made a similar lamp out of a long strip of 35mm movie film, and another one out of some discarded watercolors that I cut up into strips.

[randofo]

Cool. The film strip lamp is a great idea. You should post it as a slideshow even if you don't have construction photos.

[porcupinemamma]

Ingenious :0) I wonder if a lamp without the shade, and just the wire guts of the lamp shade would work?

[bowmaster]

Dang. I would use black zippers so less light escapes when it is closed. I also would add a top.

[loveMaegan]

just linked to you ...www.lovemaegan.com

[randofo]

Thanks!

[loveMaegan]

um ....COOLEST LAMP EVER.

[threadbare]

This is fantastic!

[jessyratfink]

It's very pretty but industrial. Fancy!

[daedalus12]

That is a really clever idea, I like it!

[Lindie]

Wow! That is interesting and looks good, too!

[scoochmaroo]

Beautiful! Great work!!

[Euphy]

Love this lamp!

[Ninzerbean]

This is so great! But when I try to download the cdr for the lamp base my computer says "mounting failed", that is a very un-Mac expression, what do I need to down load the file?

[rachel]

Ha, that looks really cool!

[fwjs28]

that is crazy awesome..reminds me of the zipper purses