How to Build Wood Lamps

Whether you want to turn a lovely tall wooden candlestick into a table lamp, or you would like to try drilling out a piece of driftwood to make a one-of-a-kind lamp, you need to learn how to finish and assemble the final product. This project features two interesting slabs of wood fashioned into a table lamp. It will take about eight hours including drying time to make this lamp.

Instructions

1

Cut your own burl slabs from fallen trees or purchase them from a lumberyard that specializes in rough hewn planks. Look for rounds that are quarter sawn at a 90 degree angle so that more of the grain pattern is exposed. There will be less warp in the smaller slab.

2

Smooth the surface of the slabs with a plane. Use the screws on the plane to regulate the depth of wood curl. Always plane diagonally to control the bite of the edges against knots. Finish with a light sanding but be careful not to remove all of the character by scraping the surface completely clean. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth.

3

Dilute tung oil by mixing one part of oil to one part of solvent and wipe on a thin coat of oil on both sides of the slab. The oil is a sealant and gives the slab a slight hint of gold making it ideal for either redwood or maple. Dry thoroughly before adding another coat of tung oil. Use up to five coats of oil. Decide if you want the softer matt finish of the oil or a high gloss. Choose a polymer finish if you desire gloss and apply two coats, drying thoroughly between coats.

4

Use a 1/2 inch drill to drill through the side of the slab you will feature as the vertical interest in the lamp. Drill through the center of the base slab. Turn the base slab over and make a slight groove on the backside from the center to the edge to accommodate and hide the lamp cord.

5

Assemble the slabs by screwing the base to the bottom side of the vertical slab with wood screws. Add a drop of wood glue to improve the bond. Feed the lamp cord up through the bottom hole and through the pre-drilled opening in the vertical slab. Bring the lamp cord out of the top.

6

Put the lamp socket set together and insert the tube down the top hole in the vertical slab. Follow directions on the socket package to attach the wires correctly. Place a light bulb and shade on your lamp.