Introduction: Victorian/Steampunk Mad Scientist Light
Here is my version of the "Steampunk/Victorian/Mad Scientist Light. I do give inspirational credit to "tim-1138".
The materials used were:
14 guage bare solid copper wire
14 guage insulated copper wire
rotary dimmer switch
marrets
4 aluminum spacers from discarded hard disc drives
cord from an old dvd player
brass parts from a victorian replica phone
dollar store pine box
large brass plumbing accorn nut
old telescopic automotive antenna
two "intermediate base" tube bulbs
clear lexan tube from discarded "under car" neon lights
old tarnished brass cabnet corners i had layin around
and JB KWIK WELD
I started with building my own bulb sockets for the bulbs because i was home b4 i realized the bulbs i purchaced
were "intermediate" base bulbs (smaller than a standard bulb, but bigger than a nightlight bulb base). So i cut
the lexan tubing about 1inch long x2. Then took 2 lengths of the 14 guage solid copper wire and coiled it tightly
around the threads of the bulb`s base, creating the threaded socket inserts. I then dremal`d holes and slots in
the lexan tubes to secure the coiled inserts. Took two more pieces of the solid copper wire about 2 inches long
and bent them in half to fabricate the center contact of the socket. After testing the "threads of my copper coils
I JB Kwik Welded them secure. Then kwik welded an aluminum ring on each socked about a quarter inch from the top
for the inner flange. Moving on to the box modification once i was pleased with my homemade bulb sockets. drilling
holes for the two sockets, the dimmer switch, and mounting holes for the decorative brass dome covering the dimmer.
The brass dome from the old phone needed hidden mounts, so I kwik welded small threaded "L" brackets i had kickin
around on the inside of the dome so it could be mounted from underneath keeping things clean. The shaft of the
dimmer switch then needed to be extended to make the rotary knob reach the top of the dome, this is where the
antenna comes in. Picked the correct diameter section of antenna and cut to the length i need, kwik welded it to
a largish brass accorn nut, thus creating the rotary dimmer knob and extention. I then carefully flattened one
side of the antenna tube to duplicate the "D" shape of the dimmer switch shaft.Found it worked perfectly just
pushing it on for a nice tight "friction" fit. Wiring was easy, but if its not your forte, recruit some experienced
help. REMEMBER ALL ELECTRONICE HAVE SMOKE INSIDE....its our job to make sure the SMOKE stays inside! LOL. The brass
corners were old tarnished ones i had found in one of my many junk drawers, and the brass "spikes" on each corner
were from an old non-functional "anniversary" clock. After assembly wiringing and testing, the entire assembly was
mounted to the antique looking brass base frm the phone previously listed. Hope this helps anyone wanting to build
their own, thnx 4 looking. Any questions feel free to ask.
The materials used were:
14 guage bare solid copper wire
14 guage insulated copper wire
rotary dimmer switch
marrets
4 aluminum spacers from discarded hard disc drives
cord from an old dvd player
brass parts from a victorian replica phone
dollar store pine box
large brass plumbing accorn nut
old telescopic automotive antenna
two "intermediate base" tube bulbs
clear lexan tube from discarded "under car" neon lights
old tarnished brass cabnet corners i had layin around
and JB KWIK WELD
I started with building my own bulb sockets for the bulbs because i was home b4 i realized the bulbs i purchaced
were "intermediate" base bulbs (smaller than a standard bulb, but bigger than a nightlight bulb base). So i cut
the lexan tubing about 1inch long x2. Then took 2 lengths of the 14 guage solid copper wire and coiled it tightly
around the threads of the bulb`s base, creating the threaded socket inserts. I then dremal`d holes and slots in
the lexan tubes to secure the coiled inserts. Took two more pieces of the solid copper wire about 2 inches long
and bent them in half to fabricate the center contact of the socket. After testing the "threads of my copper coils
I JB Kwik Welded them secure. Then kwik welded an aluminum ring on each socked about a quarter inch from the top
for the inner flange. Moving on to the box modification once i was pleased with my homemade bulb sockets. drilling
holes for the two sockets, the dimmer switch, and mounting holes for the decorative brass dome covering the dimmer.
The brass dome from the old phone needed hidden mounts, so I kwik welded small threaded "L" brackets i had kickin
around on the inside of the dome so it could be mounted from underneath keeping things clean. The shaft of the
dimmer switch then needed to be extended to make the rotary knob reach the top of the dome, this is where the
antenna comes in. Picked the correct diameter section of antenna and cut to the length i need, kwik welded it to
a largish brass accorn nut, thus creating the rotary dimmer knob and extention. I then carefully flattened one
side of the antenna tube to duplicate the "D" shape of the dimmer switch shaft.Found it worked perfectly just
pushing it on for a nice tight "friction" fit. Wiring was easy, but if its not your forte, recruit some experienced
help. REMEMBER ALL ELECTRONICE HAVE SMOKE INSIDE....its our job to make sure the SMOKE stays inside! LOL. The brass
corners were old tarnished ones i had found in one of my many junk drawers, and the brass "spikes" on each corner
were from an old non-functional "anniversary" clock. After assembly wiringing and testing, the entire assembly was
mounted to the antique looking brass base frm the phone previously listed. Hope this helps anyone wanting to build
their own, thnx 4 looking. Any questions feel free to ask.