Steampunk Lamp Globe
Intro: Steampunk Lamp Globe
A few months ago, I found this really cool steampunk themed lamp in the heavily discounted clearance section of my local Bed, Bath & Beyond. For US$10, I couldn't resist! One great feature about this retro style illuminating device is the dual lamp feature: a standard bulb socket on top, and a separate fixture underneath for a miniature bulb.
The design of this lamp was reminiscent of something that could have been on Jules Verne's Nautilus, but without a shade, this lamp certainly looked incomplete.
A few days later, I found a discarded floor lamp on the street, with a frosted plastic semi-globe that was the right design to fit my new steampunk lamp. But as-is, it certainly lacked the requisite flare!
So here's how I turned a plain plastic half-globe lamp shade into a stylish and attractive steampunk accompaniment.
Tools:
• Pliers
• Metal snips
• Screw driver
• Rotary tool
• Power drill
Materials:
• Lamp shade/ plastic half-globe
• Brackets
• Brass machine screws and nuts
STEP 1: Select Lamp and Shade
But the simple technique I used for this Instructable can be used on pretty much any type of lamp shade, and for any lamp, which is why I decided to share this project with the Instructables community.
STEP 2: Prepare Brackets
I chose to use a strip of gold painted brackets, (the type you would mount inside a cabinet to hang shelves, also reclaimed from the trash;-)
These brackets are extremely maleable, and were very easy to bend to the proper contour of the globe, by gently pressing against my knee.
With the proper contour bent into shape, trim the bracket with a metal cutter. Before cutting, make sure you line up the holes for the screws where you want to screw the bracket to the shade.
STEP 3: Prepare Shade
I pre-drilled holes at the base, but ended-up not using these holes, as the brackets didn't quite line-up. Easy enough to drill new holes!
STEP 4: Attach Brackets
With the base screw in place, bend the bracket to the contour of the shade. With your power drill, drill a second hole through the shade, and insert a machine screw at the top edge of the shade, and then bend the end off the bracket over the top edge, and squeeze tight with a pliers.
Repeat this process for all four brackets.
STEP 5: Trim Edges Around Base
Use a rotary tool with a blade to trim the excess metal, so the shade will fit onto the lamp.
Note: Be careful when working with sharp metal! And wear goggles when cutting it!
STEP 6: Select a Bulb
Even though it cost almost as much as the lamp, I chose a retro Edison-style bulb with a Squirrel cage filament, for that classic vintage look!
STEP 7: Finished!
Here are a few photos of the finished lamp, with some of my other steampunk creations.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Your price is the same, but I get a small commission to help me build more cool stuff!;-)
16 Comments
MarinaM25 8 years ago
So cool! I like this project a lot! It is very beautiful. I wish I can do something similar. In my every day life I use these lamps hardware.be/bega, it has very good quality and looks really great!
Winged Fist 8 years ago
Thanks for your comment! This lamp shade project was very simple and really changed the whole look of the lamp! If you do make one like it, please post a photo here!
wolfgang64 11 years ago
wolfgang64 11 years ago
Winged Fist 11 years ago
longwinters 11 years ago
Very nice project, glad you posted it, I hit the junk stores from time to time, and though it seems like it would be easy to come up with a pleasing lamp project when it comes to actually putting something togeather it's far more difficult than first imagined.
This is a wonderful project I would love to have in my home.
I have at least two lamps just sitting in the crawl space just waiting for this level of inspiration.
Bill
Winged Fist 11 years ago
BrefelanDesigns 11 years ago
I thought I'd let you know that your project made the Steampunk Facebook group!
(https://www.facebook.com/SteampunkSteampunk)
They even linked back to here for you!
(Though I got it as a notification via Instructables earlier)
Anyways, here is the link to the direct posting!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151291910252300&set=a.119666292299.96584.19157172299&type=1&theater
~Best of Wishes and Clockwork Dreams,
Brefelan Silverpaw/ (DJ) Electfire
Winged Fist 11 years ago
Best,
Winged Fist
oldmicah 11 years ago
Winged Fist 11 years ago
oldmicah 11 years ago
Winged Fist 11 years ago
oldmicah 11 years ago
thanks again for posting: it's good stuff!
Aeon Junophor 11 years ago
A very steamy creation, I love it
Yours Aeon Junophor
Winged Fist 11 years ago