This DIY floor lamp is a fun way to recycle an old camera tripod. With the right tools you can transform anything into a floor or table lamp- even a tripod! If you can drill a hole in it- you can make it into a lamp. I used a modern camera tripod for this tutorial but can you imagine how amazing a vintage or antique tripod would look? Check out the details on this DIY floor lamp tutorial.
DIY Floor Lamp from a Tripod
Hey Gnomies,
As you may know from reading this blog, I love to upcycle old objects into new ones. I think it’s really fun to get crafty and make an old drum into a clock or a bicycle wheel into a wreath.
When I was approached by I Like That Lamp to create a diy lamp using one of their lamp wiring kits, of course I had to say yes.
But what would I make my lamp out of? The possibilities are truly endless. I finally decided on making a light fixture out of my old camera tripod. The awesome thing about this DIY floor lamp is that it can be adjusted to be a floor or a table lamp.
I have seen many tripod lamps in stores and online and like most furniture and décor accents they vary in price from totally affordable “Target” prices to insane designer prices.
By making this lamp with recycled materials you can create it for almost no money.
Related: How to cut a glass bottle
Supplies for diy floor lamp
- Lamp wiring kit
- Tripod
- Lamp harp
- Lamp shade
I have this camera tripod that I actually use for photography sometimes but I lost the piece that connects my camera to the tripod, making it pretty useless until I find it. Rather than let it continue to collect dust all I had to do to turn it into a lamp was drill a hole into one piece of it.
Here is the lamp kit that I was sent from I Like That Lamp. It came with the following components:
- Socket exterior case
- Socket interior terminals
- Socket case
- Knurlwasher
- Lockwasher and rubber washer
- Washer and hexnut
- Nipple
- Cord
You might not need all the different nuts and washers that come with the kit, it just depends on what type of lamp you end up making. I didn’t end up using the plastic nuts.
Related: How to install a DIY shiplap accent wall
Directions for DIY Floor Lamp
My kit came with the cord attached to the socket exterior case but if you are making a different style of lamp. It can be detached and re-tied if needed. There are instructions for this in the kit so don’t be worried, they have your back.
Mark where you want the hole by laying the metal component on the tripod. Drill a 3/8″ hole through the plastic
First I determined how big of hole I needed to make in my tripod. I drilled it with a regular drill. It was easy and took about 2 seconds. The hole is 3/8″.
Because my tripod lamp doesn’t have a traditional lamp base. I didn’t have to worry about drilling a hole in the lamp base like I would if I was using a glass lamp base.
- I inserted the nipple into the socket base and then slid the harp saddle on. I screwed the nipple into the hole I made in the tripod.
- I screwed on the knurlwasher and tightened it so that the socket was secure.
- I fed the cord at the back of the tripod so that it can’t be seen. It can easily be secured with black zip ties or black electrical tape if needed.
- Simply place the shade on top and screw on the top nut to secure it and you’re done!
Okay, here is the cool thing about my new lamp. I can extend the legs and turn the crank up top to turn it from a desk lamp to a floor lamp.
I can also adjust the lever up to angle the light if I’m working on a project and need more light.
Super cool right?
Since all I did was drill one hole into the tripod, it’s still fully functional and I can use it as a camera tripod again if I ever find that missing piece that attached my camera to the tripod.
What do you think? Have you ever made your own lamp? Tell me about it in the comments!
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