thoner7
08-08-2013, 08:46 PM
I am still a few years away from buying land and starting my cabin, but that hasn't stopped me from starting to build!
I want to have a number of unique pieces in my cabin, like tree-trunk end tables, log tables, log chandeliers, log mantels, etc. The great thing about these pieces is you can build them now, and save them until you are ready to install them.
The girlfriend and I just did our first project, some quick and simple table lamps, which I have seen sell for $100+ at craft shows. You will need a log, a lamp light kit (11 bucks) one of those brass threaded rods, and an acorn style nut or a decorative cap. Then obviously a light bulb.... and electricity!
1 - Find a log; my neighbor had a nice walnut tree cut down so I helped myself to some nice "stove length" pieces. I also took some other much larger pieces for other projects..... and plan to go back for more!
1909
2- Get a long, 5/16ths drill bit (the one I bought at Home Depot was 18"), and bore a hole down the center of the log.
1910
3-Then using a wider brill bit, like 1" or so, drill out your hole on bottom of the log, about 1" deep. Then again with your 5/16ths, drill a hole from the inside of your wider hole, to the side of the log you select to be the back of your light. This should be about a 1/2" from the bottom of the log light. This will allow you to feed your wire to the back of the light.
1911
EDIT: 3b - run your bits through the holes again and make sure they are clear!!!
4- Take the threaded hollow rod and screw the cap/nut onto one end. This cap will let you softly hammer the rod into your bored hole, once its in there, take a pliers or a 1/2", 12 tooth socket and screw that rod down in there! 5/16ths I found was the perfect size for those rods.
1912
5- feed the wire through your holes, from the side, to the bottom center, then up to the top. A coat hanger and some tape will help you get through if you are hitting any snags.
1913
6- With your wires through the threaded rod, just follow the directions on the back of your kit to assemble the lights; it is very straight forward. This is mine with the lampshade support and base screwed on.
1914
7- Three minutes later they are assembled!
1915
8- And here is one with a bulb and lamp shade borrowed from one of my floor lamps lol
1916
DONE!!! Almost.... we still need lamp shades. They sell some at the big box stores or I suppose you could make your own. I'm thinking I'll buy some tin buckets and plink some .22 holes in them, just to see how they turn out, or hammer some designs in them like I did in 7th grade tech class lol
***We didnt bother to sand or stain or poly these but we could always go back and do that if we decide to.
More complicated and extravagant fixtures to come!
I want to have a number of unique pieces in my cabin, like tree-trunk end tables, log tables, log chandeliers, log mantels, etc. The great thing about these pieces is you can build them now, and save them until you are ready to install them.
The girlfriend and I just did our first project, some quick and simple table lamps, which I have seen sell for $100+ at craft shows. You will need a log, a lamp light kit (11 bucks) one of those brass threaded rods, and an acorn style nut or a decorative cap. Then obviously a light bulb.... and electricity!
1 - Find a log; my neighbor had a nice walnut tree cut down so I helped myself to some nice "stove length" pieces. I also took some other much larger pieces for other projects..... and plan to go back for more!
1909
2- Get a long, 5/16ths drill bit (the one I bought at Home Depot was 18"), and bore a hole down the center of the log.
1910
3-Then using a wider brill bit, like 1" or so, drill out your hole on bottom of the log, about 1" deep. Then again with your 5/16ths, drill a hole from the inside of your wider hole, to the side of the log you select to be the back of your light. This should be about a 1/2" from the bottom of the log light. This will allow you to feed your wire to the back of the light.
1911
EDIT: 3b - run your bits through the holes again and make sure they are clear!!!
4- Take the threaded hollow rod and screw the cap/nut onto one end. This cap will let you softly hammer the rod into your bored hole, once its in there, take a pliers or a 1/2", 12 tooth socket and screw that rod down in there! 5/16ths I found was the perfect size for those rods.
1912
5- feed the wire through your holes, from the side, to the bottom center, then up to the top. A coat hanger and some tape will help you get through if you are hitting any snags.
1913
6- With your wires through the threaded rod, just follow the directions on the back of your kit to assemble the lights; it is very straight forward. This is mine with the lampshade support and base screwed on.
1914
7- Three minutes later they are assembled!
1915
8- And here is one with a bulb and lamp shade borrowed from one of my floor lamps lol
1916
DONE!!! Almost.... we still need lamp shades. They sell some at the big box stores or I suppose you could make your own. I'm thinking I'll buy some tin buckets and plink some .22 holes in them, just to see how they turn out, or hammer some designs in them like I did in 7th grade tech class lol
***We didnt bother to sand or stain or poly these but we could always go back and do that if we decide to.
More complicated and extravagant fixtures to come!