Steampunk Hanging Pendant Lamps

[rp2813]

These are cool, and priced right.  Perfect for a rustic laundry room scene.  I wish I had a place for them.

 

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/app/5634475376.html

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Very cool. Should be easy to recreate.

 

[rp2813]

Should be easy to recreate

I was thinking the same thing, Louie.  I'm just not sure about the bulb socket.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I suspect something like this Ralph:

 

 

[rp2813]

Of course!

I can see how that could be rigged fairly easily.  I have a lot of used fittings in my pipe box, and at least one valve.  Maybe enough to produce a variation without having to go to the store at all.   I could find a place for it in the garage or basement.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Cool, take pictures. I wanna' see how you handle pipe.

 

[rp2813]

Edited with updated info and a picture

LOL -- it's requiring a lot more handling than I thought it would!

 

What I found was that the valve was causing the pendant to tilt; the suspected cause being the added weight of the stem, handle and stopper assembly on one side.   I added a tee fitting with a plug as a counterweight.  It makes the whole assembly longer than I would like, but it fixed the problem

 

I couldn't find anything like the hexagonal fittings on the "inspiration" pendant -- in my parts box or at the store -- so am trying this out first with the parts shown.   The socket is a snap-in type with spring metal clips.  Ultimately, I'll get a more interesting bulb for it.

 

I still need to drill a hole in the cap and run the cord, and when I do the final assembly, I'll make sure the arrow on the valve is pointing in the right/light direction.

 

 

[this post was last edited: 6/21/2016-20:38]

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Great work Ralph! The originals seem to tilt as well if you look closely. So good idea for a counter weight.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Louie.

 

I think I'm going to try a tee that's 3/4" at both ends and 1/2" off the middle.  It'll be less bulky and will probably still provide enough counter balance.  I'll have to go buy one of those.

 

I'm going to string this thing up over the table or bar on the back patio once it's finished.  Maybe I'll give it a little extra quirk with a socket type add-on dimmer.  I think ACE carries the type I have in mind.

 

[gansky1]

Looking closely at the original picture, those fixtures look like they're hanging a bit off the centerline.  I agree, that would drive me nuts.   Are you going to paint the pipe fixture you made?  I kind of like the natural, just out of the parts box look.

 

[rp2813]

Greg, I think paint would ruin it too.  I bought the black pipe tee for the nice finish it has.  The galvanized reducer/socket holder is a little too bright and clean, but I couldn't find it in black pipe form.

 

This is just my first attempt and I already have some improvements in mind should I make another one. 

 

I'll post pictures when it's hung up and working.  It's wired and ready, but I need to get a retro bulb for it.

 

[rp2813]

Working

This one is as done as it's going to get.  For now it's strung above the patio table.  I went to three places for a socket mount dimmer and ended up having to order one at the ACE customer service counter.  Lowe's had the retro shaped smoked bulbs on sale for less than the regular shape.   It's a 60W, so it's going to need the dimmer.

 

I couldn't get the round black cord to work.  Tied in a knot, it was difficult to fit inside 3/4" pipe, and it didn't exit the top straight, so the fixture tilted badly.  I found a harvested cord from something that had a substantial restrainer molded onto one end, and it fit perfectly through the hole I drilled in the cap.  It's flat and looks modern, but this is really just a mock-up anyway.

 

I already have a number of improvements in mind after seeing fittings at ACE today, but I would build another one rather than disassemble this one.  I'd rig a larger reducer at the bottom so the socket could be completely hidden, I'd use a gate type valve for easier running of the wire, and the whole thing would run on 1" pipe & fittings instead of 3/4" to accommodate a thick and sturdy cord.

 

I took some pictures:

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

OK, now THAT"s cool! Excellent work Ralph!

 

[circlew]

Ralph, I like yours better than the one for sale.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Tom.

 

I found many iterations of this type of fixture all over the web, but they all seem to be using new materials.

 

I may have to hunt down residential gut jobs in order to get my hands on used pipe and fittings so if I make more, no two will be exactly alike.

 

[d-jones]

Nicely done, Ralph. Adding the T fitting to balance things out was a great idea. But look closely at the photo at the top of the thread. The original had one additional fitting at the bottom that if installed would likely hide the socket they way you'd like. By the way. Did you notice the asking price for the original before the add expired? I love to now how much you were able to save by building the fixture yourself.

 

[rp2813]

David, I don't remember the exact asking price, but I think it was in the neighborhood of half the $75 (or so) they go for on line.

 

I did notice the bushing at the bottom.  Adding one would require a larger (1-1/2") reducer.  If I make another one, I plan to add the bushing, along with finding hex nipples for between the fittings.

 

Here's a link to a site that has the OP fixtures on sale.  The lighting is better and it's easier to distinguish the components.

 

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Retr...32603461011.html?spm=2114.40010708.4.2.Zmdtg2

 

[rp2813]

David, the ad is back up.  This is a great deal, but you have to buy all four. 

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/app/5654166385.html

 

[jeff_adelphi]

Why do you need a dimmer?

Just close the valve a little.

 

[rp2813]

Jeff, don't think I haven't wished there was a way to integrate the valve into a dimmer/on/off device!

 

Common sense has prevailed, and this is what I've ended up with:

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thought of you Ralph...Notice the switch on the side.

 

 

[rp2813]

Ah, that's a clever use for the tee fitting! 

 

I've seen many different iterations of these fixtures on line and am thinking about making a wall mount one to use by the door to my workshop.  Fairly simple.

 

Black pipe seems to be preferred over galvanized, but I've yet to find the reducer for the socket in black.  I've decided I won't be using the hex nipples.  If you can even find them on line in the right size and material, they run around $7 each.   Yeah, that's not going to happen.