Maine Driftwood Lamp DIY

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

I haven’t made a DIY lamp since October of last year when I shared with you my Oyster Shell Lamp and I was starting to get a little antsy about starting my next lamp.  When you start seeing lamps in every piece of wood and household item, it may be time.

Lamps may be a bit intimidating buy they really are easy to make.  If you can drill a hole and tighten a couple screws you really can make a lamp.  All you need is a DIY Lamp Kit and some object that is kind of tall and slender that you think would make a good lamp post.  

In this case I’m using this cool piece of driftwood I picked up when I was vacationing in Maine last month.  It’s tall enough for two matching lamps.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Besides the DIY lamp kit, you’ll also need to pick up a package of these Zinc-Plated Nipples.  This is what goes down into the lamp to hold the fixture steady.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Cut your lamp base to your desired size and square off the ends.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

To make my driftwood a little steadier I’m adding a couple pieces of pallet wood to the top and bottom.  

Well, the bottom piece is to make it sturdier and the top piece just balances out the bottom piece.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Using a 3/8″ Spade Bits, 16-Inch Length , drill a hole thru the entire length of your base making it as straight as possible.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Sand off the pallet wood pieces you cut for the top and bottom.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

In the top piece of pallet wood, I’m just drilling another 3/8″ hole.  The bottom piece of pallet wood gets an escape hatch for the wire so the lamp will sit level.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Attach the pallet wood with glue and finishing nails making sure your holes line up.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Instead of going thru the entire wiring process, I’m going to refer you to my past post on How to Wire a Lamp.  It has tons of pictures to walk you thru every step.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Isn’t that beautiful driftwood?  

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

 

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

The rectangular shades are from Target.

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

 

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

Driftwood Lamp DIY, Lamp tutorial

I couldn’t resist picking up some more driftwood while in Maine, so hopefully look for a few more driftwood projects in the coming months.

Stay inspired.

 

You know, I may have a few more lamps to spark your creativity, including a different kind of driftwood lamp…

A couple of these had no wiring necessary.  Can you tell which ones?

Shared at Salvaged Junk Projects,  Talk of the Town,

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