How to Build Your Own Custom Light Fittings

Homes use a number of different light fittings, even custom light fittings that grab attention. Athough custom creations take a little imagination in the design stage, most light fittings are made in the same basic way.

Step 1 - Prepare Your Supplies

Remove the labels from three empty 39-oz. coffee cans and clean them thoroughly. Then turn them upside down. Number each can and measure to the center of the bottom of each can. Now put the cans together so they form a triangle with the seams of the cans out of view, and keep them in the correct numerical sequence. Mark the outside of each can at the point where they touch each other.

Step 2 - Drill Holes on the Marks

Use the marks you made on each can as your guide and draw a line down the outside of each can with a marker. Now measure in 2 inches from the top of the bottom section of the can and make a mark on the line. Drill a 3/16-inch hole at each of the marks. Change bits and drill a 3/8-inch hole at the point you’ve marked in the center of the bottom of each can.

Step 3 - Bolt the Cans Together

You will now assemble the custom light fittings by bolting the three coffee cans together. Use six 8/32-inch bolts as well as six compatible nuts to fit. You will also need 12 washers to secure them. Use the screwdriver and pliers to grip the nuts and tighten them effectively.

Step 4 - Construct the Sockets

Thread a 1/8-inch nipple into the bottom of each lightbulb socket shell. Put a socket shell into each of the three cans. There will be enough of the nipple left over to protrude from the other side of the hole you’ve drilled in the center of each can. Lock the nipple in place with a washer and a 9/16-inch nut on the outside of the can and tighten it so the socket is secure. Repeat for the other two cans.

Step 5 - Feed the Cord into the Shell

Take one of the silver cord sets and feed it through the nipple from the outside and through to the socket shell. The beauty of these sets is that you don’t need to attach any wires to the lightbulb sockets with a screwdriver. Instead all you need to do is knot the wire in the socket and attach it to the part of the socket that houses the bulb.

Step 6 - Install Your Custom Light Fittings

Make sure the cords are the same length. To attach as a ceiling fixture, turn off the electricity at the breaker and attach the wires in place of your existing fixtures in the junction box at the ceiling. Use wire connectors to join the wires together and attach the junction box wires to these connectors to complete the circuit.

Put bulbs (no more than 60-watt bulbs) in the light fittings and switch on to test.