Introduction: DIY "Floating" Night Lamp

About: For anyone wondering I fully transitioned to producing 3D printing content only on YouTube. Old videos are no longer available but all full detailed Instructables are still here if you want to make any of my p…

In my first DIY build Instructable, I am going to show how you can build simple design floating night lamp, which is easy to build and doesn’t require any advanced tools.


EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED:

  • Jigsaw
  • Clamp
  • Drill
  • Hot glue gun
  • Wood glue
  • Square ruler
  • Ruler
  • Paint brush
  • 80-120 and 220 grit sandpapers
  • Scissors

MATERIALS YOU'LL NEED:

  • 1.5 x 1.5 cm wood board ~210 cm length
  • 3 x 3 cm wood board ~60 cm length
  • LED Filament bulb 7W Warm White color ~700 Lumen
  • Bulb socket
  • Power cord with On / Off switch
  • Paint
  • Double side tape
  • A4 paper / color paper / binders

Like what I do? Consider becoming a PATRON! This is a great way to support my work and get extra benefits! https://www.patreon.com/DIYPerspective

Step 1: Parts You Need to Cut From Wood Boards

Wood parts:

  • 8 pieces 1.5 x 1.5 cm x 13 cm
  • 3 pieces 1.5 x 1.5 cm x 25 cm
  • 1 pieces 1.5 x 1.5 cm x 23 cm
  • 4 pieces 3 x 3 cm x 12 cm

Step 2: Gluing First Part

Glue two 25 cm length pieces with two 13 cm length pieces. Hold pieces for 3-5 minutes while using hair dryer to speed up glue drying process.

Step 3: Gluing Second Part

Glue 23 cm and 25 cm pieces with two 13 cm pieces. Hold pieces for 3-5 minutes while using hair dryer to speed up glue drying process.

Step 4: Gluing Base for the Lamp

Glue four 12 cm pieces and clamp them. Wait 20-24 hours until wood glue on all parts completely dry up.

Step 5: Connecting Glued Lamp Parts

Glue lamp's frame parts with last four 13 cm pieces.

Step 6: Pressing and Waiting

Add something heavier to press all four corners of the lamp. Wait 20-24 hours until glue completely dry up.

Step 7: Drilling

Drill a hole for the power cable at the back of a lamp (near 23 cm piece).

Step 8: Sanding

First sand rough spots and corners with 80 grit sandpaper and then sand everything with finer 220 grit sandpaper.

Step 9: Marking Gluing Spot

Mark gluing spot for the lamp's frame. Lamp's frame should be 3 cm from the lamp's base edges.

Step 10: Connecting Frame to Base

Add glue on the marked spot, place lamp's frame on the base and press it down with something heavier. You should wait 20-24 hours until glue completely dry up.

Step 11: Painting

I am using white water based paint to paint the lamp. They has almost no bad smell so you can paint inside at your home.

Step 12: Routing Cable

Route the power cable through the hole and assemble bulb socket. Test it, before next step. I am using E27 T210 bulb socket type which connects to AC (120-250v) power from the wall.

Step 13: Hot Gluing Cable

Hot glue around the cable, that you couldn't pull it out by an accident.

Step 14: Hot Gluing Bulb Socket

Put hot glue on the bottom of the bulb socket and quickly press it down on the lamp's base.

Step 15: Adding More Hot Glue

Add more hot glue around the bulb socket for firm bond.

Step 16: Cutting Paper Pieces

Cut two 12.5 cm x 24 cm double side orange paper pieces. Put some double side tape on the paper ends.

Step 17: Placing Paper

Place the paper pieces that those would be the same distance from lamp's left and right edges.

Step 18: A4 Paper

Add some double side tape on the A4 paper.

Step 19: Gluing A4 Paper

Glue A4 paper to the backside of the lamp.

Step 20: Cutting Legs for the Lamp

Place some double side tape on any rubber you have and cut four legs for the lamp's base.

Step 21: Gluing Legs

Glue all four legs to the lamp's base. Try to glue as close as possible to the lamp's base edges for the best stability.

Step 22: Choosing Right Bulb

First I was using standard 14W led bulb, but it was too bright, so I changed it to 7W led filament bulb warm white color. It gave way more beautiful colors at night.

Step 23: Other Materials You Could Use

If you don't like using paper and want more robust material, you could use back side of the binders. They are cheap, has nice texture and come in variety of colors.

Step 24: BUILD Complete

Final look and some different look with other material (binders for paper).

Step 25: END

Paper Contest 2018

Runner Up in the
Paper Contest 2018