Making an impressive lamp shade is surely a unique task. Patience as well as a keen eye for details is definitely in the job description requirements for an ideal candidate. If you think you’re up to the challenge, we will assist you through the entire process. Read the full tutorial accompanied with photos so you are sure you are on the right track. Before you actually start the DIY work for a beautiful pop top lamp shade, you will need the following brief list of materials:
- soda can tabs;
- bottom lamp shade hoop;
- top lamp shade hoop;
- light bulb;
First, remove the tabs from your recycled cans. You might want to do this overtime, so you won’t spend an entire afternoon just taking them off the cans. Also, be aware that in order to make a colorful shaded lamp like the one featured in the pictures, you will need cans that have factory-anodized color pull tabs, because the final result doesn’t include a paint job.
In order to proceed further, bending the tabs is required. Do exactly like shown in the photo; twenty degrees downward is enough. Then, it’s off to installing the top hoop clip. Beginning with a bent but uncut tab, set it on the wire hoop and press on the bend turning the 20 degrees into 90. Because you want each tab wrapped tightly around the wire, you’ll need to apply some leverage with the help of a screwdriver inserted through both openings of the bent over tab. Repeat until the wire hoop is completely covered. Bear in mind that you shouldn’t avoid the spokes, but include tabs over them.
Once you’re done with the top, put one row of bent tabs aside and cut the rest of them as shown in the picture. Use side-cutter for this operation. The step is a prerequisite for making the links. Using your fingers, open the cut loop to 1/16 inches and pass it through the bottom loops of a pair of adjacent hoop clips, but also through the gap inside the bent tab; check the photo for better guideline. Repeat the process for as many links required to finish the entire lamp. When you reach the bottom row, stop for a bit.
If the lamp looks good, proceed. If the links are too wide apart, replace them. You want it to look great in the end, don’t you? For the last row each tab needs not one but two cuts. Make cuts on each end, from 1/8 inches up from the end. Install like the previous links, but check the photo to see if you’ve achieved the same result.
The bottom hoop should be made like the top one. Bending each tab over the hoop will give you the required row. There’s a catch though. Take them out of the hoop, open and bend them to 45 degrees and using the side cutters, snip each one so you can link them to the mail, like you did with the others. If necessary, secure the troublesome clips with pliers. In these last of steps, you should insert the hoop and connect it with the clip tabs with patience. To finish the project, install the light bulb. You’re done!
Once you’re done with the top, put one row of bent tabs aside and cut the rest of them as shown in the picture. Use side-cutter for this operation. The step is a prerequisite for making the links. Using your fingers, open the cut loop to 1/16 inches and pass it through the bottom loops of a pair of adjacent hoop clips, but also through the gap inside the bent tab; check the photo for better guideline. Repeat the process for as many links required to finish the entire lamp. When you reach the bottom row, stop for a bit.
If the lamp looks good, proceed. If the links are too wide apart, replace them. You want it to look great in the end, don’t you? For the last row each tab needs not one but two cuts. Make cuts on each end, from 1/8 inches up from the end. Install like the previous links, but check the photo to see if you’ve achieved the same result.
The bottom hoop should be made like the top one. Bending each tab over the hoop will give you the required row. There’s a catch though. Take them out of the hoop, open and bend them to 45 degrees and using the side cutters, snip each one so you can link them to the mail, like you did with the others. If necessary, secure the troublesome clips with pliers. In these last of steps, you should insert the hoop and connect it with the clip tabs with patience. To finish the project, install the light bulb. You’re done!
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