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Concrete Lamp Posts, Part 2 Finish up your swanky new concrete lamp post. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-135

You're almost ready to switch on your swanky new concrete lamp post. In Part 1 of this project, Michele Beschen showed how to build forms and shape a concrete lamp post. Now, she finishes up the project by unmolding the concrete, assembling the lamp post and installing the light fixture. Scroll down for the rest of the how-to.

Turn your concrete components...

Into a fabulous new lamp post.

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Concrete Lamp Post, Part 2

Materials:

molded concrete pieces from Part 1
standard light kit with 4" diameter light
drill with masonry bit
masonry screws
concrete sealer
concrete stain, primer and/or paint, as desired

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• When the concrete has cured according to the package instructions, unmold the base and remove the conduit (figure A).

• Remove the straps from the octagon form and remove the melamine strips from the concrete (figure B). Do not remove the conduit from the octagon.

• Move the lamp post components and light kit to the location where you will install the post. It will be difficult to move once everything it put together.

• Run the electrical cord for the light kit up through the bottom of the base (the wider side is the bottom) and up through the conduit in the octagon from bottom to top. Tape the wires to the top of the octagon to hold them in place.

• Fit the conduit protruding from the bottom of the octagon into the hole in the base (figure C).

• Use the bottom of the light fixture to mark the locations for holes in the top of the octagon. Drill the holes using a 1/4" masonry bit. Hold the drill straight up and down as you drill, then screw the holder in place.

• Connect the light fixture to the wires according to the package instructions (figure D). You can use a lighter to heat a shrink tube over the twisted wires, or simply wrap securely with electrical tape.

• Finish installing the light fixture according to package instructions.

• Finish off the lamp post with paint or stain designed for use on concrete. If you use an acid stain, be sure to follow the product instructions.

• Seal your lamp post's beauty with concrete sealer.

Next: Make Your Own Lamp.