Antique Brass Blow Torch Accent Lamp

by goaly

40K20927

Intro: Antique Brass Blow Torch Accent Lamp

In this instructable, I’m converting an antique brass blowtorch into an accent lamp. I used a flicker bulb to simulate the flame that would have come out of the head of the blow torch.

I also wanted to have the electrical wiring hidden inside the torch in order to have a better finished appearance.

The old blow torch was purchased at an estate sale for ten dollars. I have roughly ten dollars in the rest of the supplies, So the entire project was completed for around twenty dollars.

STEP 1: The Parts

The major parts are:

An old brass blow torch.

One 3 watt decorative flicker flame light bulb.

One 2 inch keyless candelabra light socket.

One lamp cord with inline on/off switch (white).

One rubber wire grommet.

Two twist on wire connectors.

Two feet of appropriate electrical wire (brown).

Electrical tape.

STEP 2: Take It Apart

I began by disassembling the blow torch. The parts had been together for some time, and it took effort to get them apart!

STEP 3: Cut the Wick Tube

The tube containing the wick was shortened to just below the threads that attach the head of the torch to the body.

STEP 4: Make a Path for the Electrical Wire

The torch head should be secured in a vice, or clamped to a workbench for this process!

The wick tube was drilled out lengthwise in order to obtain a direct path for the electrical wire to travel from the bottom to the front of the torch head.

The drill bit needed to be large enough for the electrical wire to be threaded through the hole without binding.

Care was taken not to drill through the top of the torch head.

A curved file can remove sharp edges from the hole that was just drilled from the wick tube into the torch head, preventing damage to the electrical wiring.

STEP 5: Attach the Socket

The brown electrical wire was pushed up through the wick tube then pulled out of torch head and attached to the socket connections.

The cardboard insulator was placed back over the socket and a layer of electrical tape was placed over the insulator. The flicker bulb was then screwed into the socket.

The bulb was installed before sliding the socket into the torch head in order to position the bulb for its best appearance. The flame-shaped filament is a profile, and if the socket is not positioned properly, the bulb will not look right.

While pushing the socket into the torch head, I pulled lightly on the other end of the electrical cord to remove any slack. Attention was paid to the location of the bulb in order to keep it positioned properly.

There was about eighteen inches of the brown wire below the bottom of the torch head assembly.

STEP 6: Drill a Hole for the Wire to the Plug

A hole was drilled into the back of the blow torch just below the handle.

I used a punch and hammer to form an indent and keep the drill bit from slipping on the brass body. The rubber grommet was placed over the lamp cord before that wire was threaded into this hole. The rubber grommet is used to protect the electrical wires from the sharp edges of the hole that was drilled into blowtorch body.

Knowing that this lamp would be displayed on top of an upright freezer in the garage, I used a white lamp cord. A brown cord could have been used if that would have looked better in a different setting.

STEP 7: Fishing for the Wires

I pushed the brown wires that were connected to the bulb socket into the top of the blowtorch body. The torch head was fully inserted into the brass body and screwed snug before pulling the wires out of the pump mounting hole.

Both of the electrical wires were then pulled out through the hole on the top of the blow torch body that the pressure pump screws into. I bent a bicycle spoke into a hook, and it was easy to fish both of the wires out. A wire clothes hanger would work just as well.

STEP 8: Connecting the Two Wires

I cut away some of the excess brown wire that is attached to the socket.

The two sets of wires are joined with twist-on connecters. I secured the two wires together with electrical tape just below the connection. This was done to prevent any strain on the connection.

STEP 9: Install the Pump... and It's Done!

The wires are then slid back into the body of the blow torch, and the pump is screwed back in place.

The rubber grommet was seated in the hole of the blowtorch body, and that was it!

I could have cleaned and polished the brass parts of the lamp. But this one is going to be displayed in my garage, so I decided against polishing and instead just did a light cleaning, leaving it with that worn and rustic appearance.

Thanks for looking!

18 Comments

bpress54 3 years ago

How did you attach the socket to the burner? Thanks. Nice job!

hzxasdf 9 years ago

这个铜喷灯的价值完全被毁了。 The value of this copper torch completely destroyed. -_-

bpress54 3 years ago

It's worth about $15US on an auction site. Upwards of $50-75 after the conversion.

bomber619 9 years ago

but if he had no use for it as a torch its worthless, hes created an awesome one of a kind piece for himself that will get used which is worth a lot more. well done to the maker

ScottC304 5 years ago

Where did you source your parts id like to try thia project

Choclinda 8 years ago

Wow! That is gorgeous. I am going to attempt it. Thanks for posting it.

AndrewM37 8 years ago

You have inspired me to have a go at this. I'll let you know how it goes

mortnoir 9 years ago

the only thing I would change is turning the punp in to the power switch but the rest is all good

theramensamurai 9 years ago

This was a fantastic build! I did this for a Father's Day present for my dad and he loved it! Also as for the naysayers worried that I may have ruined the value of this torch I took great lengths to keep the integrity of this wonderful piece. As you can see on the picture this particular blowtorch had it so you could unscrew the wick to replace it and it had a plug on the bottom you could also unscrew for refilling the fuel. The only mod I had to do was to bore out the pilot chamber to make room for the wiring- otherwise this piece is jus as it was the day it was made! Thanks again for the awesome build my friend!!!!!

goaly 9 years ago

Thank you for the kind words! I was flattered to see that someone actually used my instructable… But then to hear that it was a gift for your dad… You made my (Father’s) day!

doodlecraft 9 years ago

This is super cool--and congrats on being a finalist! :)

goaly 9 years ago

Thank you!

hwiebe 9 years ago

Looks so steampunk... I love it!

SantaB 9 years ago

How cool would it have been to figure out a way that the pump button could have been the on/off for this thing? Either that, or the spigot knob on the back of the torch... how about it as the on/off?

The only other thing that would add to the ambiance would have been to use a flickering candelabra bulb, but if actually used as a workshop lamp then I can see where that would be annoying to work by (I guess people previous to the 20th century just had to get used to that).


Regardless, it's a pretty cool lamp. Well done!

R.JStorey (Rodders) 9 years ago

I'd have been tempted to earth the brass body using a 3pin plug for safety's sake, but a cool looking project nonetheless :)