In those minutes or hours when the forces of nature are raging outside the window, whether it is heavy rain or heavy snowfall, you want a warm, sincere and cozy atmosphere. As an option - immerse yourself in reading your favorite book publication, arrange a tea party with a pleasant conversationalist. And you can do crafts, for example, constructing a frame for a lampshade with your own hands.
For those people who have developed creative imagination, this lesson will appeal to you, because this is a way to show all your abilities. In addition, decorating your own home will only bring benefits, giving it a bit of charm and sophistication.
A number of advantages of independent work
When you do any do-it-yourself crafts, this implies the presence of certain advantages over finished products. And with your own hand you can make any lampshade for a particular lamp.
So, these advantages should be taken into account if there is a need to choose between whether to purchase a ready-made solution or make a hanging frame for a lampshade with your own hands. And there are a lot of them:
- First of all, this is an opportunity to get an exclusive lampshade as a result.
- At the disposal of the master the assortment of decoration is much wider than store products can offer.
- In some cases, savings are not excluded, and significant.
- Involving children in the process will allow them to develop skills and creative abilities in them, which will benefit everyone.
- Having put in a piece of soul, you can make an original gift to loved ones. In particular, elderly relatives will be able to appreciate it - it will be a pleasant reminder to them about grandchildren and children.
- The psychological aspect should not be discounted - after all, this is an opportunity to put into practice what was intended and then be proud of the result.
- For work, things that have accumulated over the years, but have not found further application, are suitable.
The above arguments are quite convincing, and therefore you can already proceed to the analysis of the theoretical part of how you can make the frame of a table lamp shade with your own hands.
Homemade frame
Without a doubt, the interior of any room should be filled with a special atmosphere where you can feel the comfort and harmony of the home environment. In this regard, every detail deserves attention, even a seemingly trifle at first glance! And lighting devices are generally a separate conversation, and in some cases they occupy a central place in the overall picture of the interior.
And as we know, it is not always possible to get what you want at a reasonable price. Therefore, we are increasingly leaning toward the need to manufacture such products on our own. This is especially true in cases where there are only the bases of old chandeliers, floor lamps, table lamps. Itβs a sin not to seize the opportunity! Only a few words worth mentioning about the types of lampshades:
- frame construction;
- frameless products.
Moreover, each of them has its own characteristics. But if you imagine everything in a general way, they have a similarity.
Lampshade frame
Let's start by looking at the wireframe lampshades. They have a rigid base on which the selected material is fixed. The frame can be of very different shapes and in many respects it all depends on the personal preferences and fantasies of the manufacturer. Well, of course, the availability of the necessary material is taken into account.
In addition, this design has a significant advantage - immediately determines the distance between the lamp and the material of the lampshade. It is maintained throughout the entire period of operation of the chandelier, lamp or table lamp.
In addition, the product turns out to be quite tough (such quality is formed initially), which is already the main advantage of frame lampshades.
Frameless options
In fact, this can also be considered frame products, but with a noticeable difference. Here, the material of the lampshade decoration acts as a βsolidβ base. To give the necessary shape, a temporary frame is initially made, external decoration is attached to it. Usually using glue. And after the composition dries well, the base is removed.
When choosing to manufacture such a βframeβ lampshade for a table lamp, it becomes necessary to calculate in advance at what distance the device will be located. Its distinctive advantage is its low weight compared to the frame version. However, there is a drawback - accidental deformation of the form can lead to the fact that the material will be dangerously close to the lamp. And this is already fraught with various consequences - from melting to fire.
This is especially true for manufactured lampshades for a table lamp or lamp. They can be damaged during accidental mechanical stress.
What to choose as material
Since the topic of the article concerns the manufacture of ceiling lamps with a base, we will not consider other options. Then the question arises, how to make a frame for a lampshade with your own hands? More specifically, what materials can be used to make a good and strong design?
Here it is necessary to take into account the condition of the old lamp - if you just need to update the lampshade, and the frame itself remains intact, then you can get by with the choice of a new finishing material. But at the same time, it may be that it has already lost its functionality and has become unsuitable for further use. It is possible that the lamp is completely devoid of a frame, but there is a desire to make it.
You can visit the flea market and select some old version of the lampshade, which you can then update at home. And if this option does not suit you, then you should rummage in your own warehouse, where, most likely, suitable materials will be found.
Garbage candy
This is one of those options for making a frame for a lampshade with your own hands, when you do not need to make special efforts to form a frame - in fact, it has already been created. Why not base a metal wastebasket? It is unlikely that it costs a lot of money. In many hardware stores you can find plastic options, but for our purposes, it is precisely metal options that are needed (for obvious reasons).
If the shape and size of the basket suit, then the frame is almost ready. It remains to carefully cut a hole in the center of the bottom, and securely fasten the lamp holder. In most cases, the bottom of the basket is a solid metal sheet, which is already convenient.
Now you can begin to further design the lampshade. In some cases, it is enough to paint the mesh surface in the desired shade, and then decorate the upper and lower parts with some material.
Wire use
The most common material for making a frame is wire. The lampshade frame can be made using spot welding. However, it is necessary to have the appropriate skills and equipment, which not everyone has.
Therefore, it remains to fasten the elements by the method of twisting. And since mostly rather thick material is used (due to considerable rigidity and elasticity), they are fastened together by a thin wire. As an option - aluminum, but it is too plastic and easily deformed.
In addition to the material itself, it is necessary to prepare a number of tools:
- Pliers - they will bend and straighten the wire.
- Tongs with round jaws - it is convenient to twist.
- Nippers - useful for cutting material.
- Hammer - they can also straighten individual sections.
- Sandpaper - to clean the frame elements before painting.
- Thin wire - for twisting the elements of the lampshade (connecting, a diameter of 1 mm will be enough).
- Glue "Moment" - for a more reliable connection of elements.
Sometimes in solving the problem of how to make a frame for a lampshade, an insulating tape for additional fixing of elements, a hacksaw for metal may be needed. Now the actual process of creating a wire frame, which can be represented in the form of several functional steps.
The first step is a diagram
After preparing the tools, you can get down to business. To begin with, draw a lampshade on paper, how it should look in accordance with personal tastes. It is also worthwhile to think over its shape well. In this case, the design should indicate the dimensions of the structure.
If fabric is chosen as the finishing material, then a complete frame cannot be dispensed with. He will maintain the shape of the product. However, when using paper, you can get by with the main rings.
The second step is preparation
You can choose an aluminum material with a diameter of 4 mm for a DIY lampshade wire frame. The required length is calculated by the formula: L = Ο * D, where Ο is 3.14 (the pi number is known to everyone), D is the diameter of the lampshade circle (shown earlier in the diagram). Only add another 100 mm for the connection. Now it remains to cut the necessary length with a hacksaw.
The third step is the foundation
At this stage, the bottom ring of the frame is made, and the connection should be made in overlap (5 cm). In this place another wire (connecting) is wound. The connection itself should be impregnated with glue - this will strengthen the product. In a similar way, the upper ring is made.
The fourth step is the ribs.
It is worth tackling the side ribs, for which the same wire (4 mm in diameter) will do. The height of the lampshade frame with your own hands for a floor lamp or a table lamp is selected even when creating the scheme, and now the segments of the desired length are measured, only you should still make a margin of 120 mm for the bends. The number of ribs can vary to varying degrees depending on the specific situation: 8, 12, 16 or more.
After that, you can proceed to securing the segment to the upper and lower ring. For this, each workpiece is bent with pliers, having previously measured 60 mm on each side. Then they are fastened with a thin connecting wire, as during the creation of rings. All joints should also be blotted well with glue.
Fifth step - lamp holder
For the cartridge should prepare a special suspension. To do this, you need to bend the loop from the wire so that it compresses the cartridge well, and the ends in opposite directions depart from it. With their help, the suspension will be fixed on the upper ring, as well as the side ribs.
Actually that's all - the frame for the lampshade with your own hands is made and now it remains to beautifully design it. Just keep in mind that when using fabric, do not screw in lamps with a power of more than 100 watts.
Wire clothes hangers
If for some reason there was no material for the manufacture of the frame, clothes hangers made of wire may come in handy. They must be untwisted into even segments and straightened with pliers. After that, you can proceed to the procurement of parts for the lampshade frame.
The elements are connected in the same way as in the step-by-step instructions above. You can also fix it with glue or electrical tape. At the same time, the manufacturing process itself is cast in ease - it will require significantly less effort. At the same time, you need to understand that the frame in this case will not be as rigid and durable as it should be.
Wall plaster reinforcing mesh
This material can be found in any hardware store, and the nets can be with cells of different sizes depending on the conditions of use. On the frame for the lampshade with your own hands, you should choose a surface with mesh sizes of 15x15 or 20x20 mm. To select the dimensions of the fragment, again, you should first draw up a diagram of the lampshade, where all dimensions should be indicated prudently. After that, the segment simply collapses into a pipe, and the edges are connected by wire twisting, leading to an overlap of one or two cells.
Only in this case the frame will turn out in the form of a cylinder or a truncated cone. Therefore, if such a form does not contradict the style of the room and is completely satisfied with its appearance, then this is the best option. Otherwise, you have to find something else.
Fan grill
Many of us once had a fan in use that had already become unusable. However, in such a device there is a useful element - a lattice. Usually it is present on all floor-mounted fans. So why not give her a second life?
In addition, a certain shape already exists - a kind of spherical segment. However, if desired, the frame can be deepened by securing at the bottom an additional tier of the same wire. Or as another option - to perform facing with some material. Both that, and another will be quite pertinent.
Conclusion
It is not necessary to buy an expensive chandelier to decorate a room, bedroom, kitchen, living room and any other room. And if you consider how much they cost, it immediately becomes clear that it is easier to make a frame for a lampshade with your own hands. In addition, a home-made product can fit into the interior and bring a bit of zest.
In addition, here again pure psychology - to look at a frame made by oneβs own efforts, especially with the support of friends and relatives, is much more pleasant. The room immediately feels a special atmosphere of home comfort. Of course, if you approach the matter with soul and love.