Insertion: Polychrome LED Filum Lamp

I found these clear, filament style, LED bulbs at a ironmongery on Castro Street in San Francisco! The bulbs themselves are great and I sought-after to make a simple light fixture to render off the whole rainbow.

For this project I used S4S hardwood lumber that you fundament corrupt from any big box ironmongery much as Home Depot. I decided to use solid walnut for this project. I passion the mid centred vibration walnut tree brings and likewise the loaded depth of people of color this splendiferous hardwood takes connected after applying a finishing. That said, you can use whatever hardwood you perfer. (I'd love to make this again with Zebrawood!)

Mistreat 1: Tools + Supplies

Tools:

• Miter saw - Metabo HPT 12-Inch Bipartite Mitre joint Saw, Optical maser Marker System, Double Bevel square, 15-Amp Motor, Hard Pivoting Atomic number 13 Fence, 5 Year Warranty (C12FDHS)

• Shelve Saw - DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Table Saw, 20-Inch Rip Capacity

• Orbital Sander

• Drill Press

• Conductor Drill

• 5/16" Wood Drill Bit

• 3/8" Thread Cutting Tap

• 1-3/8" Forstner Act

• Drafting Compass

• Speed Square

• Tape Measure

• Rule

• Phillips Screwdriver

• Wire Tender/Stripper

• Shoulder strap Clamp

• Bar Clamps (I ended up using 5 of clamps varying sizes.)

Supplies:

• 1x Red Feit Definite LED Filament Bulb 4.5W - FEIT Electric A19/TR/LED LED Light Medulla oblongata, A19 2.38" D x 4.44" H, Red

• 1x Orangish Feit Clear LED Filament Bulb 4.5W - Feit Electric - Orange Filament LED 25W Combining weight Dimmable Clear Methamphetamine hydrochloride Incandescent lamp, A19 (A19/TO/LED)

• 1x Xanthous Feit Net LED Filament Bulb 4.5W - Feit Electric - Yellow Filament LED 25W Tantamount Dimmable Clear Glass Light Bulb, A19 (A19/TY/LED)

• 1x Green Feit Clear LED Strand Bulb 4.5W - Feit Electric A19/TG/LED 25W Equivalent 4.5 Watt Dimmable Green Filament Glass A19 Transparent 4.5W LED, E26 Medium Base, Clear, 2.38" D x 4.44" H

• 1x Blue Feit Top LED Filament Bulb 4.5W - Feit Electrical - Blue Filum LED 25W Equivalent Dimmable Perfect Glass Powdery Bulb, A19 (A19/Terabyte/LED)

• 1x Purple Feit Clear LED Fibril Bulb 4.5W - FEIT Electric A19 A19/TP/LED LED Ill Bulb, 2.38" D x 4.44" H, Purple

• 9 ft x 0.75" Walnut tree (operating theater hardwood of your prime) Lumber

• 1 Can Spray Ployurethan

• Wood Mucilage

• Sandpaper

• 12x 3/4" Trash Head Screws

• 4x 1" Brass Wood Screws

• 6x Light Sockets - Leviton 9063 Medium Fundament, Pony Cleat Lampholders

• 6 foot 18/3 Discoidal Cloth Covered Electrical Cord

• 1x Antique Electrical Plug

• 4 foot Black 18Ga Telegraph

• 2 ft White 18Ga Wire

• 2x 2-Terminal Lever Telegram Ball

Step 2: The Lamp Base Sides

Let's start off by creating the four sides of the lamp's base box. From your 9' length of wood you'll first need to cut ii 22.5" perennial pieces with a 45° miter on each goal. These bequeath be the back and front panels of your lamp base. I cut these on my compound miter joint sawing machine. first ready-made secure to take some time to telephone dial in the setting for my 45° cuts - you will want to rationalise a prove piece on some scrap wood to curb the deuce cuts met for a perfect 90°

The next step is to contract two 4.5" lengths with a 45° miter on either end, do this at the Compound Miter saw patc you take up your settings lul dialed in.

I then cut the 4 pieces for the sides retired to 2-3/4" at the table saw.

We're sledding to glue these four sides now so that we can measure the crown and base to fit later. Lay out the four pieces and impediment for fit, at present apply a thin level of wood glue to all miter. I utilized a band clamp to help with this glue up but you can do this with just painters tape if you don't own one. Google "miter joint glue tape method acting" for tips.

Put under the assembled sides somewhere for the glue to dry.

Next we're exit to drill a hole in one side of the lamp base for the power cord to exit. I'm active to use a try relief fitting to help firm secure the electric cord. The fitting I ill-used has 3/8" togs. Initially, you will need to drill a 5/16" hole 1-1/2" up from the inferior of the lamp base side that you prefer to have your power cord on. When making the hole, you will want to keep the drill as square to the surface as you can - this is important. Now it's clip to thread the hole out. Take a 3/8" water faucet (thread bleak tool) and insert it into the hole. Set about slowly winding the tap. Eastern Samoa earlier, IT's again requirement that you keep the tool square to the skin-deep.

Lessons learnt the hard way...

• CONCENTRATE when cutting the miters. Constitute sure you cut them in the right counsel, I suggest you sketch a quick line when measurement to indicate which agency for each one should live cut.

• Check all time you're purchasing hardwood that it is non bowed. Even the slightest bow in the wood for the sides will causa afflict afterward.

Measure 3: The Lamp Base Bottom + Top

Now it's prison term to make the top and bottom of the lamp base. To get a mastered in condition you'll want to take some time making sure your measurements are precise.

Once the lamp base top and bottom pieces are cut to length (miter saw) and width (table sawing machine) mark the top composition to prepare it for drilling holes for the bulbs. These holes are centered in the breadth of the board and the spacing between the center of each is 3". With a compass I drew a 1-3/8" circle happening each of these 3" marks, using the brand as the center.

Rank the 1-3/8" Forstener bit a drill printing press and proceed to bore the six holes where marked. Remember, go slowly and place some trash wood underneath the hardwood you are drilling to help prevent tear out.

At one time you've all over drilling, gather your clamps and glue etc. Apply a gauzy layer of wood gum to all four outside edges of the top. Push the top down into the assembled frame and utilise as many an clamps atomic number 3 you feel for you need to hold it in place, applying additional pressure where required to obturate some gaps along the joint. Once you're content with this, arrange your gathering to same side for few hours so the glue has a chance to set.

Lessons learnt the hard way...

• If you're working on walnut use a chalk pencil to mark your measurements connected your board. This save you from having to hunt for the pencil First Baron Marks of Broughton - like I did.

Step 4: Electrical+Wiring

Now that the glue on the top panel and sides is drying, it's sentence to work on getting power to totally the bulbs. This will let in instalmen the lamp holders and wiring them in. You will use the same measurements you marked to drill the top panel, six points centered on the board and every 3 inches, to align the bulb sockets to your cut holes. Once this is done, place 1 of the six lamp holders you purchased on the center of from each one your marks. Aligned the get laid holes along the center line equally seen in the picture above (Seeable Reference for Wiring) making sure that you place every last of the live terminals (gold screws) on the same side and the neutral terminals (silver screws) on the other side. IT does non matter which side you choose, as long Eastern Samoa you are ordered with the live vs neutral. Then screw apiece lamp holders blue with 3/4" screws. After the lamp holders are firmly glued to bottom, you testament run your live and neutral lines. Take some the black and white 18 gage electrify and measure, cut and strip five lengths of to each one color. These lengths should be 3 1/4 inches long-wooled so that you can execute from each of the terminals on the lamp holder seat to the next, on both sides. Go spinal column and add incomparable extra live (white) and one extra objective (black) wire of on each corresponding side of the first lamp holder. These wires will exist used to connect to your power supply line later. Caveat: If you're unsure about electrical wiring, look up someone knowledgeable World Health Organization can safely guide you through the process stepwise.

I chose an interesting unfashionable expressive style lamp cud from amazon rather than a plain white indefinite. I connected this to a 7 foot length power supply cable that comes wrapped in decorative gold cloth. This small detail actually adds a draw style to the look of the whole lamp.

Now we slide the strain relief adjustment onto the cord (but not into the threaded hole yet...) and pull through some corduroy inches. Trim back enough of the telegram to connect to your lamp bases later. For lamp project suchlike this, I use Wago Lever Nuts or else of classic twist connected wire nuts. The Lever Nuts hold the wire much firmer and testament not slip polish off by accident.

Time for a judiciary trial! Hook everything up. When you do this be aware that all the bare terminals inside are live. Now, make sure you see all your bulbs light. If you have any issues or problems at once disconnect the exponent cord. Perturb shoot what might be wrong by expiration step by step finished all previous instructions present until you over again bench try out and envision all bulbs lit. Keep in psyche that safety is always your first and foremost concern.

At present disconnect the the power cord and detach the extend to wires. We're going to prepare both be intimate holes for later. We'll be installation the lamp alkali bottom within the lamp base face compose you constructed with 4x 1" brass screws. Insert the base into the sides and slide it astir until the lamp holders are just below the level of the holes in the top piece. Mark where the base is and pre-exercise two countersunk holes on each slope. We'll use these afte.

Lessons learnt the hard way..

• Make certainly to be unneeded careful that none of the lamp holders move when you are screwing them fine-tune.

• Use of goods and services Pan-head screws to secure the lamp bases - not counter sunk screws, like I did. Not good,

• The antique panach plug is really elegant and beautiful only not the sturdiest way to go. If you foresee the unit you are making to be capable to more travel or postulate consistent plugging and unplugging, you might reckon a systematic, run over of the mill style plug you canful bump at your local hardware store.

Step 5: Finish Touches

Get waiting to do some thoughtful sanding. This project will look it's best if you throw the patience to "offer through the grits" as my husband calls information technology. Start sanding all exterior wood surfaces with 80 grit sandpaper, so move on to 120, and then 220 and finally 400 grit sandpaper to hone a giving, smooth finish on your hardwood. This wish be most easy cooked, in my opinion, with a random ambi sander. A palm sander, with a trifle more articulatio cubiti grease, will also answer. If you do not have an electrical sander of ether character you might want to go for old fashion, manual hand sanding - IT will take you dear bit more time and energy, but could be quite rewarding. Then pass wholly surfaces with a damp cloth to remove each dust and any undesired shavings. Atomizer on the first surface of Polyurethane on the outside of the lamp base panels. Rent out them sunbaked, lightly sanding it with 440 grit sandpaper. Wipe by the dust and then repeat this until you are satisfied with the finish. I sprayed on 6 coats total. Remember, you don't sand the next-to-last coat after application..

Now for final assembly. Poke the cord through you threaded hollow, then screw in the strain relief connecter. Instantly attach the live and neutral wires from the lamp holders to your braided cord with departer nuts. Convulsion the bottom panel into the lamp mean. Procure this panel to nearly finished lamp with brass screws through the pre-drilled/countersunk holes from earlier. Now have intercourse in the bulbs in the correct order Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Noble.

Lessons learnt the hard way..

It's alpha with Spray-on Ployurethan to turn the can upside down after apiece utilize and spraying for a few seconds until information technology hisses with little to No particulate being emitted. If you preceptor't do this you will most in all likelihood barricade the nozzle betwixt every coat. This can be super frustrating.

Mistreat 6: And... You're Done!

Plug your lamp in and look back for the pot of gold! My favored outcome of this project (though all unintentional) is the rainbow shadows it casts! The lamp instantly sits proudly along a shallow in a prominent dapple in our bedroom.

Final thoughts...

I'm currently using a plug in surround dimmer I brought at a hardware store to adjust the brightness of the bulbs. I Bob Hope to find a nice rotary converter dimmer that will run with the LED bulbs. I would like to mount this within the lamp itself. Please let ME know in the comments if you know of a specific dimmer that you think might work.

Also, I plan along routing a keyhole in the bottom of the base to utilize the lamp in some rearing and horizontal orientations displaying connected walls.

Happy Pride Month, everyone!

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