Hello guys! Today I'll be demonstrating how to build a swatter lamp. First and foremost let's get to why I call it a Swatter lamp, the reason behind it is because the wire mesh that I used in the lamp actually comes from mosquito swatter or a racket shaped device which is used to kill mosquitos by electrocuting them. Dope ha?

Let me tell you a little about the lamp; The lamp I made doesn't require heavy skills of electronics and others. On the other hand, it's more inclined towards craftsmanship. Also, it's having a body of cardboard makes it not suitable for outdoor hanging purposes.

Also, this is my first time writing an instructable so you're expected to found some rookie mistakes. Sorry for them.

Supplies

1. Cardboard roll

2. Wire Mesh (I took it out from the mosquito swatter.)

3. Tape

4. Scissors

5. Thin wire (For decorative purposes.)

6. Standard AC wire (For light connection.)

7. Light Bulb and a bulb holder

8. AC plug

9. Wire cutter

Step 1: Step 1: Creating Body of the Lamp

Caution: Wire mesh usually have sharp edges and deadly hooks which can cause severe injuries if mishandled or not taken care of properly.

Slowly and smoothly take out the mesh from the racket. The two meshes must be connected to an internal PCB via wires. Use scissors to get rid of the wires. Once you've extracted the mesh, clean the sharp edges with the help of a wire cutter. Then with the application of gentle pressure bend it in a half-cylinder shape; both of them. Then place both the mesh together to form a whole cylinder with a diameter small enough to make it fit inside the cardboard roll.

Check if the cardboard roll could in-take the formed cylinder properly. If not, readjust the width of the cylinder by overlapping the two meshes to a greater or smaller extent. Make sure some of the mesh do comes out from the other end also, in order to bend it over the cardboard roll and tape it. Before bending the mesh, make few diametrically opposite cuts on the circumference of the mesh. This will facilitate the easy bending of the mesh over the roll.

Tape the bent mesh wire; up to 4-5 rounds of tape. This step will ensure safety from the bent mesh and now we can add decorative pieces over it.

Step 2: Step 2: Wiring the Body (For Decoration.)

So for the decoration of the lamp, I decided to make it look like a tesla coil. Tesla coils are just long solenoids. Take any wire but make sure it does have insulation on it. In my case, I was having a broken rice light. So I ripped it apart for the neutral wires; the one without any bulbs in it. Then simply tape one end of it on the upper edge of the roll and start winding it until you had reached the other end.

Step 3: Step 3: Preparing the Light Source

Caution: The AC can be fatal and shocks can lead to immediate death. Make sure you follow all the necessary precautions.

I'll be using a night lamp bulb that doesn't require any voltage converter. And the bulb holder here has three pieces: the holder itself, a butt cap and a neck nut. The other two pieces screw over the holder. The butt cap secures the connections while the neck nut prevents the butt cap from getting over screwed on the threads of the holder.

Take a cardboard piece and draw out the circumference of the cardboard roll on it. Cut it out and pare the edges. Now mark the centre of the cut-out cardboard piece and trace the circumference of the bulb holder in the centre.

Make connections of the bulb holder and then fasten the cardboard piece on it; between the butt cap and the neck nut. The polarity of connections doesn't matter here, while it does matter when using a converter in the circuit. Attach an AC plug on the other side of the wire used for making the connection. Insert the bulb and test the connections.

Step 4: Step 4: Assembly of All

In order to make the replacement of the bulb easier in the lamp, I'll be using a tying method to attach the light source with the main lamp body, because one might injure him/herself while changing the bulb from the mesh side of the lamp.

So to achieve that you need to make two holes diametrically opposite on the cardboard piece, bearing the bulb holder, and slightly in the middle of the outer circumference and the holder. Now tie a knot on the mesh just beneath the cardboard roll and stretch the wire from the knot through the hole from inside of the lamp. Then tie a knot there also sealing the lamp. This will also complete a great pattern on the lamp body.

We are done and you're lamp is ready to flood your room with the essence of heavenly light.

I hope you're satisfied with your end product. Keep up-cycling waste.