- 1/2″ drill and 3/8″ drill bit
- jigsaw
- screwdriver
- wire stripper
- tubing cutter
Materials
- lamp kit (should include 12 feet of electrical wire, socket, harp, lampshade attachment and connector)
- (2) threaded lamp pipes (or one that is the length you want the lamp to be)
- threaded pipe connector (you may have to use two)
- piece of copper pipe or another type of sleeve to cover the threaded rod
- (20) washers (depends on the tin) for the bottom of the base, to lift it off the floor and have power wire run underneath
- (3) screws (#10 by 1″)
- 3/4″-thick pine board
- (1) nut
- lampshade
We left the tins as-is, but you can easily paint them, cover them in burlap or even bedazzle them. The stacked tins can also be made into a table lamp. You can also try this with books or other household objects.
1) Make Wood Base
Lay the bottom tin upside down on the piece of pine wood. With a pencil, trace around the tin. Use a jigsaw to cut out the shape. Cut slightly inside the traced line, so the piece of wood will fit inside the tin.
2) Prep the Bottom
Drill three holes through the wood and the tin. This will hold the wood in place and create feet under the bottom of the tin. Stack several washers onto each of the three screws, then insert the screw into each hole. You may want to put a felt tab over the screw so it won’t scratch your floor. The stack of washers will hold the lamp up off the floor so the wire can come underneath.
Drill a hole through the center of the tin and the wood — this is for the threaded pipe and wire. Make sure to keep hole vertical.
3) Drill Tins
Drill a hole through the top and bottom of all the tins. Place the threaded pipe through the bottom tin — the lamp’s base.
4) Stack Tins
Add the nut to bottom to secure, then stack the rest of the tins onto the threaded pipe.
5) Run Wire
Cover end of the threaded pipe with the copper sleeve. Leave 1/2″ of threaded pipe for lamp kit connector. The connector threads on top of the rod to compress the whole assembly together. Feed wire (you may need to wrap electrical tape around the end of the wire to get it through the pipe) from the bottom up to the top of the pipe. Place on the lamp harp. Insert the socket and connect the wiring according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Add energy-efficient light bulb and lampshade.
