Still Light
Posted by ReadyMade
Project by Michael Whitney, Photo by Garry McLeod
Create an elegant floor lamp using vintage camera equipment.
Skill Level
Easy
Active Time
Less than an hour
Cost
$$
- Wooden tripod, 50"–60" tall
- Wood stain (optional)
- 3 rubber stoppers (for feet)
- Lamp parts:
- Socket for standard bulb, either a porcelain socket with a dimmer foot switch or a regular socket with a three-way switch
- 3/8" threaded post, 3"–5" long
- Hex nuts
- Lock washers
- 2 fender washers
- Harp with finial, 8"–10" depending on the shade height you choose
- Lamp cord, 10'–12' (consider wire/wood color relationship)
- In-line dimmer foot switch (optional, depending on your socket)
- Plug end
- 6 wood-screw eyehooks
- Chain with links that can be opened with a pair of pliers
- Lampshade (a cylinder type; the one pictured is 9" high and 15" in diameter)
Materials
- Steel wool (optional)
- Power drill with various bits
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Hacksaw or chopsaw
- Pliers
Tools
Depending on the condition of the tripod, you may want to refinish it. Hardware can be polished with steel wool.
Remove any hardware that was used for attaching the camera to the tripod, taking care to leave intact the disc that connects the legs.
Attach the rubber feet to the base. Every tripod is different, but I found that 3/4" tapered rubber stoppers worked well on mine.
Drill a 7/16" hole through the center of the top disc to install the 3/8" threaded post.
Cut threaded post to the length determined by the height of two nuts, two washers, the harp base, and the top of the disc you just drilled, then add 1/2" to go up into the lamp socket.
Use the cut post to install the socket base on the top disc of tripod. Washers and nuts and lock washers go above and below the top disc. Leave the top of the socket off until the wiring is installed.
Decide how tall you want your lamp to be, and tighten the tripod to that position.
Mark, drill, and install three eyehooks (one on each leg) where you want to have the chain triangle, which will prevent the legs from splaying out. Be sure to pre-drill all holes, and install eyehooks on the inside surface of the legs.
Choose a leg to run the wire up from the floor, and place an eyehook 2" up from the floor to prevent an unnatural lamp wire bend. Place another eyehook between the bottom eyehook and the chain eyehook. Position the last eyehook 2" down from the top of the tripod to prevent an unnatural lamp wire bend into the threaded tube and socket assembly.
Using the pliers, open chain links to fit over eyehooks, then pinch them closed. Arrange the chain length so the legs are a few inches wider on the floor than the diameter of your shade. I like to let the chain sweep down just a bit between the tripod legs.
Pull the wire through the eyehooks and into the threaded post.
Pull 12" of the wire through the socket base, and install wires to socket.
Pull wire back down until it is taut through all eyehooks.
Install the harp and attach the shade with the finial.
A picture-perfect tripod lamp!
