Restroom Sign Inspired Bedside Lamps

by fs woodworking

5.2K16124

Intro: Restroom Sign Inspired Bedside Lamps

Finally!! My friends are getting married and of course I was invited to the wedding. I wanted to buy them a present but why not make one for them?

So I did my research and found this design somewhere on the web. Started making the plans and two days later my lamps were ready to make my friends even happier.

Templates provided below.

Here is a video of the building proccess:

Enjoy!

STEP 1: Tools and Materials

These are really easy to make if you have some basic tools:

Tools:

Files (Round and straight)
Sandpaper 80 to 240 grit
Band saw (I have used my band saw but you can use a jig saw as well)
Drill Press
Drill bits (6mm, 40mm)
Router
10mm Flush Trim Bit
Hammer
Philips Screwdriver
4mm drill bit
Drill

Materials:

Wood (any kind should do, beech in my case)
4mm plywood for the templates
2 Electrical cords
2 Lamp Sockets
2 Switches
2 Light Bulbs (In my case 40W, 220V, Edison style)
25mm nails or nail gun (four of them)
25mm screws (four of them)

STEP 2: Making the Templates

I wanted clean edges on my lamps so I decided to make two templates out of 4mm plywood to use them as guides for my router. Using my router with a flush bit would give me clean and nice edges ready for sanding and finishing.

Just print out the templates I provide and stick each one of them on a piece of plywood

Then cut the shapes on the band saw or with a jig saw and clean up the edges with a file and sandpaper.

STEP 3: Cutting the Shapes on Wood

Use two 25mm nails to fasten the templates on the wood blocks. Then again on the band saw rough cut the shapes as close as possible to the templates. You must be very careful not to cut the templates.

Then use a router with a flush trim bit to clean up all the edges.

With some sandpaper, sand the wooden blocks to make them smooth.

STEP 4: Fitting the Sockets

The best way to fit the sockets is to use a 40mm forstner bit. Unfortunately I didnt have one, but I had a 40mm hole saw. I used this to make the holes, and then I used a 35mm forstner bit to remove as much material as I could. Then I cleaned up the holes with a 6mm chisel

STEP 5: Drilling the Holes for the Wires

Drill a 6mm hole from the center of the socket hole to the back of the character. We will feed the cable through this hole.

STEP 6: Wiring

Drill two 4mm holes on the bottom of the sockets and use 2 25mm screws to fasten the sockets into the socket holes on the wood. Do the rest of the wiring as shown on the video and you are good to go.

STEP 7: Finished!

Hope you liked it!

24 Comments

BoomCHICKa POP 7 years ago

How thick is the wood u used??

fs woodworking 7 years ago

Hi! I used 5cm thick wood because my lamp sockets were 4cm. It really depends on the socket you are using. If you are using a wider socket then you should use thicker wood.

BoomCHICKa POP 7 years ago

It would have been made a little better if you put an arm up and had a umbrella so it could be a table lamp or something....

Very nice project though...I may try this .......I'm only twelve, so we will see how it turns out...

Marsh 7 years ago

The only thing that could have made this better would have been a toggle switch in the middle of the male figure. (Not too late to add one) You would have had my vote had I seen it sooner!

fs woodworking 7 years ago

Ha. Thought about it. I have also thought of a button switch for the female. But they were made as a wedding gift. Thank you very much for your kind words

fs woodworking 7 years ago

Wow!!Grand prize! Want to thank everyone who voted for me.

Propulsive 7 years ago

Δεν παίζεσαι φίλε!! Σε ζηλεύω! Μπράβο!

yizahkJamesLafter 7 years ago

wow! simple yet creative. i will definitely try it out. you have my vote.

fs woodworking 7 years ago

Hey, Thank you very much. I am here if you need any help making them!

fs woodworking 7 years ago

Thank you very much!

JRV31 7 years ago

I voted for you.