DIY Network

Make a Lamp Out of Books From "DIY Crafts" episode DIC-120

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Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G Figure H Figure I Figure J

Artist and designer Alex Cobb makes a wonderful table lamp out of a stack of books. Look for books that have colorful lettering on the spines. Use children's books for the kids' room. Or how about those old law books sitting out in the garage? They'd make the perfect lamp for a den or study.

Materials:
Old books
Lamp kit from a lighting or hardware store
Lampshade
Gold paint
Wooden plaque for the base of the lamp
Wood glue
Round wooden legs
Spray paint
Screwdriver

1. Take the books to a bookbinder or carpentry shop and have a 1/2" hole drilled through the center of each book from the front cover through the back with a drill press for the rod of the lamp to go through. Rods for electrical cords come in a standard size, and a 1/2" hole will accommodate them (figure A).

2. If desired, paint the edges of the pages with gold paint to make them look gilded.

3. Drill a 1/2" hole in the center of a wooden plaque. Apply wood glue to small legs, and glue them to the four corners of the wood plaque to form the base of the lamp. The legs provide a space under the lamp for the cord (figure B).

4. Spray-paint the wooden plaque and legs for the lamp base.

5. Thread the lamp rod through the center of the plaque base from the bottom, and thread a nut on the end to anchor the rod on the underside of the base.

6. Arrange the books according to size or color(figure C), and slide them onto the rod.

7. Thread the electrical cord through the rod from the bottom. The cord comes with the kit and has a plug on one end (figure D).

8. Thread the lamp parts onto the electrical wire on the top part of the lamp in this order: base cap, neck, harp holder, socket cap. Screw the socket cap onto the rod. This will hold all the other parts in place. The lamp kit will include instructions (figure E).

9. To prevent the wires from bring pulled back through the rod, tie a knot in the wires as follows:
   • The two wires of the cord are joined by brown insulation. Split the wires by pulling each one and separating the insulation so there's plenty of wire to tie the knot. The wires will form a Y shape with the two wires joined together by the insulation and a right and left wire separated at the end of the cord.

   • With the right-hand wire, make a loop to the right, bringing the end around on top of the joined wires and leaving the end to the left. Anchor this wire to the double joined wires between your thumb and first finger of your right hand where the wire crosses the double joined wires (figure F).

   • With your left hand, pick up the left-hand wire and loop it to the left over the top of the end of the right-hand wire. Bring the wire around the first wire, and come back up through the loop just created (figure G).

   • Bring the same wire up through the first loop from underneath (figure H).

   • Grab the ends of each wire and pull. The resulting knot will prevent the wire from coming through the rod. Snug the knot against the lamp socket by pulling the cord from the plug end (figure I).

10. Attach the wires to the light socket, screwing each wire to each of the two screws on the socket. The connection will be tighter if you bend the wire around the screw in the same direction that the screw will be turned when tightened (clockwise).

11. Add the insulated socket cover, harp and lampshade (figure J).