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This chunky wooden lamp is ideal for showing off decorative light bulbs.
The project
There are so many awesome decorative light bulbs available now, but lampshades spoil the effects. I made this block lamp to show them off.
I started by gluing scraps of wood together to make a chunky block. Once the glue was dry I cut the wood to the size I wanted using a table saw.
When I was happy with the size I used the saw to cut some grooves into the block for a more decorative look.
I wanted just the light bulb to stick out of the block, with all fittings being hidden inside the block. If I had the correct size spade bit it would have been easy just to drill out the centre hole for the fittings, but I only had the correct size in a hole saw.
I cut down as far as I needed with the hole saw first. Then I used the biggest spade bit I had to remove as much of the middle as I could, and then used a hammer and chisel to remove the rest.
I drilled a hole big enough for the electrical cord to fit in and chiselled out a groove for the cord so it would sit flush on a table. I used a round file to clean up the groove.
I routered the hole and corners for a softer look and sanded the block smooth.
I stained the wood using a cedar stain and added two coats of clear gloss varnish.
It looks great with all the new decorative light bulbs.
More lighting inspiration for your home
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