How to Make a Jug Lamp

Making lamps from jugs or bottles is very common. There are kits to help with the process so you don't have to add many things to your parts list. We'll take you through our 5 steps to making a lamp from any jug or bottle.

Jug or Bottle Lamp Adapter Kit with Harp & Finial

One thing you can't pick up from the lamp parts store is the jug or bottle. Good candidates for lamps are heavy weighted bottles with a large diameter base. These are the most stable for table lamps. This jug was brought to our shop the other day and the customer wanted a table lamp.

With the jug or bottle, we are now going to collect the parts needed.

1. Lamp Socket with side outlet in the socket cap

Push-Thru Medium Base Lamp Socket with Antique Brass finish and SIDE CORD OUTLET Cap

2. Lamp Harp with a Harp Saddle

Antiqued Brass Lamp Harps

3. 1 1/2 Inch 1/8 IP Threaded Rod

22364 - 1/8 IP Steel All Thread Nipples

4. 1 Inch Bottle or Candle Stick Rubber Adapter

Rubber Candlestick and Bottle Adapter, 3 Sizes Available, slips 1/8IP (3/8" diameter)

5. Other hardware includes: seating ring, rubber washer, lock washer, and brass nut.

Now we will start the 5 step process to assembling the lamp parts and putting the lamp together. 

Step 1: Assemble the washer, threaded rod, and nut with the rubber adapter. 

The rubber adapter is a crucial part of this lamp. With the harp and lamp shade, there will be a lot of weight supported by this adapter. It should fit really snug in the bottle/jug. For this threaded rod, the parts will make a pattern: nut, lock washer, washer, adapter, washer...

Step 2: Fit the bottle adapter to the bottle top.

Our 1 inch diameter rubber adapter was a bit too snug, so we shaved a little off the sides to make sure we had a good fit. 

Step 3: Attach the seating ring, rubber washer, harp saddle and socket cap.

The seating ring serves 2 purposes: first, to cover the top of the bottle and look good, second, it acts as a top plate to squeeze the rubber adapter for an even tighter fit. The lock washer goes between the seating ring and the harp saddle. 

Note: For this lamp, we orientate the harp saddle from left to right and the side outlet in the socket cap is in the back of the lamp. 

Step 4: Wire the socket. 

Push the ends of the lamp cord through the side outlet on the socket cap. Tie a UL Knot in the lamp cord. Attach the cord to the socket interior. The smooth wire connects to the brass screw and the ribbed wire connects to the nickle screw. Pull any slack out of the lamp cord back out the socket cap and press the socket shell over the socket interior and lock in the tabs on the socket cap. Make sure there is a tight fit between the socket cap and shell. 

Note: The socket turn knob is orientated in the middle of the harp saddle and in the front of the lamp. 

Step 5: Add a bulb, plug in the cord and test the lamp.

Give the whole lamp one last look and make sure the socket is locked from cap and shell. Wiggle the socket and make sure the rubber adapter is setting firm in the bottle/jug. 

Now you are ready for the harp and shade. Total time < 30 minutes. Total Cost < $30.

How to Make a Lamp

Constructing a lamp is easier than you might consider. Specialty lamp parts stores like Antique Lamp Supply offer a variety of lamp making kits. Not only do these kits come in different finishes like brass, antique brass, and nickel, but there are different types of kits depending on the application you need. If you need a dimmer, 3-way, push thru or swag kit, they are all available.

To create a lamp you only need a few items: lamp base, lamp shade, and a Make-a-Lamp kit. The kit contains the socket, harp, harp saddle, threaded rods, finial, washers and nut. A few required hand tools include: flat head screwdriver and pliers.

As the included instructions show, the lamp cord is pushed up the lamp body and attached to the socket interior with a UL Knot.

In just a few minutes, the lamp is complete and ready to enjoy.

Hanging Lamp from Antique Carriage Singletree

Customers often bring in sentimental (and non-sentimental) items to make into lamps. The other day a customer brought in this antique carriage part that we later identified as a singletree.

It was in good shape. They said they wanted to turn it into a 3 light hanging lamp with simple lines and design. We brainstormed for a few moments and came up with a list of needed lamp parts to make this possible. Part of our goal is to not modify the singletree in any way.

3 - Antique Brass Sockets

3 - Antique Brass Loops

1 -  Antique brass hook for center socket

3- 1/2" threaded rods

1/8IP Hex Nut

1/8IP Locking Washer

6 foot of chain

12 inches of double jack black chain

12 foot of SPT-1 brown cord

2 Zinc Plated Pin-up Bracket (we'll explain)

Modern Style Screw Collar Canopy

First, we wire all three sockets and attach the loops on the threaded rods. The two side sockets use 4 1/2 feet of cord and the middle socket uses the other 3 feet of cord (12 foot total). Remember the smooth wire connects to the brass screw terminal and to tie a UL knot in the cord below the socket interior.

The tow ends of the singletree have hooks for our socket loops. We will need to install a loop in the middle of the singletree for our middle socket. Using the zinc pin-up brackets, we make a bracket to hold our hook and fasten it to the already made holes in the singletree.

Next, we hang the sockets on the hooks add the chain and route the cord up the chain to the canopy.

The smaller double jack chain is used to hold the large decorative chain to the outer brackets and to hold all three chains together in the middle of the fixture.

The canopy is connected to the center chain and the cords are pushed up the screw collar loop hole.

The customer wanted to use the bare Edison bulb look for the lights. For testing we added 3 over-sized Edison bulbs for a large dramatic effect.

Perfect. This fixture is ready for a rustic dining room or over a bar. We were able to keep the singletree completely intact with no new holes or other modifications.

Total time < 2.5 hours Total Cost < $60.00 (price can vary depending on the style of chain and canopy used).