Homemade Light Shade

Well for my living room, when I started to use compact fluorescent bulbs and found there were no standard lampshades that fitted the extra length of the bulb, I made my own...

All I did was stick the bulb next to the wall, because of the low heat output temperature wasn't a problem, I stuck some reflective foil to the wall and used some graphics plastic drawing opaque sheet as the diffuser and lampshade...

It worked so well that its still in use after 12+ years!!!

John.

Hi Del,

While you're at it, surprise Ms. Cat by decorating one of these (and here's the mfr's home page). Coolness Factor: Effing friggin' WOW!!!

Nice guys...

My daughter has just turned up, she says she's got one of those BIG exercise balls...that'd make a cool mold to string over than cut through the string to make two matching shades.

I'll have to experiment a bit first.

I'll be using those CFL s too. so not so much worry about flamability.

Del

Del,

Along the same idea, (quite a few) years ago, I used various sizes of inflatable rubber balloons as the forms to wrap (white glue dipped) mason' s twine, thereby making "cages" around the balloons. Once the glue dried, the balloons werre popped, the rubber scraps removed...

And Voila, funky light shades (with a decidedly "70's" look to them!!!)

I've also used sheets of plotter vellum as a substitute for rice paper in asian style lamps made of split bamboo.

Great sounds like it'll work then .

I've seen papier maché done over ballons, my brother made pigs...bits of egg boxes for feet and snout...cut a slot in the back as a piggy bank.That's more Cardboard Aided Design.

I shall get to work.

Cheers

Del

You can call the experiment string theory.

Have you considered using the forum thread? Did they use the same technique for that olympic stadium in Beijing?

"Would the PVA idea stiffen the string enough?" Yes, in my opinion.

Soak the string in a small container with enough pva to cover, squeeze out excess, and dry thoroughly on form of choice. Brush on an over-coating of pva and dry thoroughly.

You could also use the carpenters version which has a yellowish to amber color. It has better film strength and is essential waterproof unless left submerged in water.

Cheers...

Sounds to me someone is a bit jealous of a long running home improvement thread involving a bathtub. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, (notice all the little "m's", aren't they thought provoking? hmmmmmmmmm.)

Oooooooooooh, I'll scratch your eyes out !

Del

Ha ! I remember making a shade with string and glue (as detailed higher up) back in the 70's. I don't remember what type of glue, or what eventually happened to the shade but it was nice. A bit of mangled coat hanger was used to fit it to the light fitting. Doh, I didn't log in either ! One of these days I'll forget m...........

Kris & 'tub'.

I came back to confirm that it was me and 'tub' who posted. (and to smirk again at your Blue Peter style decorations !). 'tubs' remains still lie in the Garden. Oops, I'm going OT. I like your new thread Del !

Coat hangers have lots of potential for making funky geometric shape frames. Maybe you could makes some sort of Dodecahedron style shade ? It's getting near to Christmas, so this thread could help save me loads of money on gifts. I also made a pig shaped piggy-bank one year. Based on a balloon, paper, glue, and assorted tubes.

Hey Del, you could check see if Brandie has any good tips. I just had another idea - you could get some of those long balloons that people bend into funny animals and stuff. You could create an entire menagerie of animal shaped lamp shades ! This is more within my capability than a battery, so I shall investigate further.

I think your lamp shade project sounds great. Please allow me to contribute a years worth of threads from my CR4 collection. Some are rather long and hard to visualize. But all are enlightening.

Speaking of coating balloons, I once coated a balloon with aerosol foam to build a "martian" helmet. After dry we just cut the bottom out of the balloon. If the foam was kept thin, you could use this as a lampshade. It can be sanded and painted.