Global Warming

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Issue 48

The Refresh Issue

Make Gym Equipment
Preserve Summer Fruits
Tailor Thrift Store Finds

Global Warming

Hang a rope-light chandelier

by Trevor O'Neil

Photos by Peter Belanger

The equation printed on the sign in front of the world’s largest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas, reads, “Thrift + Patience = Success”. We humans love to wrap things into balls: yarn, tape, rubber bands, tinfoil. And now we have a plastic tube filled with hundreds of little lights to add to the list. If you’ve already mastered the rubber-band ball, try out the rope-light chandelier, provided you have thrift and about an hour’s worth of patience.

Plug the power-cord end of one of the rope lights into the extension cord. Start wrapping the rope light around the extension cord plug. This will form the chandelier’s core.
Secure the core with a few zip ties. Use pliers to pull the ties tightly, then trim off the excess plastic.
Continue wrapping and coiling the rope light around the core, connecting additional rope lights as you go. Keep wrapping until you reach the desired size.
If the extension cord can support the chandelier’s weight, install a ceiling hook (or several) and wrap the cord around it to keep the chandelier from slipping. Plug in the extension cord to light up. Optional: If your chandelier is too heavy for the extension cord alone, hang it from a chain using an S-hook and several zip ties.
Under the beaming light, contemplate your next wrapping project.

Add up your wattage. A high-quality rope light is recommended, but eight watts per foot adds up quickly, and you don’t want to end up with a 500-watt hulker. This is especially important if you plan on installing a dimmer switch, which may get dangerously hot if not properly installed.