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You are here: Home / Repurposing and Upcycling / How to Make a Tripod Lamp

How to Make a Tripod Lamp

October 5, 2013 By Karen Cooper 15 Comments

Ever since I saw a lamp made from an old tripod in some magazine (I honestly don’t remember which one) ages ago, I have wanted one. It mixes the industrial look with modern lines and involves upcycling. Ooooh, I was in love. I needed to make one. So, I did.

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

It was actually pretty easy to make. Here’s how:

Supplies:

(This list contains affiliate links, which just means if you click the link and buy something, I get a small percentage of the sale. It helps keep the lights on here, so thank you! Also, I try to create one-stop shopping for project supplies. For my full disclosure policy, please click here.)

– A tripod. The hardest part of this project is finding the tripod. I found mine at our local thrift store. It was a whopping $6.99.

– Spray paint – I used Rust-Oleum Universal All-Surface Spray Paint in Oil Rubbed Bronze.

– A drill bit that can drill into metal. You only need this if the hole in the tripod where the lamp kit will go is too small. I learned this the hard way and ended up making an extra trip to the hardware store!

– A lamp kit – I used one similar to this Lamp Kit. Tip: Find a lamp kit that has the color cord you want. They come with white, black, or brown cords, usually. I used one with a white cord first, and that looked terrible (see below), so I ended up having to rewire the lamp.

– A lamp shade. I used one I already had from Target.

– A light bulb. Of course.

How to Build the Tripod Lamp:

1. Clean the Tripod, then Paint It.

When I got it, the tripod was a bit rusty:

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

So the first thing I did was clean it, then spray paint it with a paint+primer combo. I used Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic spray paint in oil-rubbed bronze.

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

It took two light coats and the rust was gone.

2. Install the Lamp Kit.

To install the lamp kit, I removed the top part of the tripod – where the camera would have been attached. Then I was ready to install the kit.

For the lamp kit, the “nipple” (the piece the cord goes through and to which the socket attaches) was bigger than the hole in the top of the tripod. So, back to the hardware store I went for a drill bit. I drilled the hole a bit larger so the nipple would fit:

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

To drill the hole, make sure that the tripod is on a flat surface and is stable. I did this on the floor of my garage. DO NOT do this on a wooden surface; the force of the drill will likely cause the tripod legs to gauge it.

Use a clamp or a friend if needed to hold it in place. Wear safety goggles and set the drill to a pretty high setting to get through the metal. Hold your breath, know you can do it, and drill. It was easy once I got the drill to the right setting.

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

Now comes the second hardest part: figuring out the instructions to the lamp kit. They aren’t clear, by any stretch of the imagination. Also, you need to know how to tie an “underwriter’s knot,” which I googled to understand how to do it. There are videos, like this one.

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

What in the world did we do before Google?

Anyway, follow the instructions on the lamp kit…

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

 …and add the bulb and shade of your choice.

Except…I didn’t like the cord hanging down and being white – it just stood out too much.

So, I got a brown cord – roughly the same color as the oil-rubbed bronze tripod – and rewired the lamp socket with the new cord. You can buy just the cord at the hardware store, FYI.  Once I rewired it, I then tucked the cord in the groove in the tripod legs. You can avoid this step entirely by just buying a lamp kit with the color cord you want.

Look at the difference:

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

how to make a tripod lamp - thediybungalow.com

And that’s how you turn a tripod into a lamp!

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    DIY Tripod Floor Lamp
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    Celebrating Earth Day with Repurposing Projects
  • Top Five Tips for Shopping at Thrift Stores
    Top Five Tips for Shopping at Thrift Stores

Filed Under: DIY, Readers' Favorite Posts, Repurposing and Upcycling 15 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

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Comments

  1. Shanna Gilbert says

    October 5, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    I love that it is modern yet retro at the same time! I absolutely love it Karen! Great job!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 6, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks, Shanna!

      Reply
  2. Cheryl Brindle says

    October 5, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    You make it look so easy! Nice trendy piece.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 6, 2013 at 12:27 pm

      Thanks, Cheryl! Other than figuring out the knot, it actually was pretty easy. If I can do it, anyone can!

      Reply
  3. Tami @ Curb Alert! says

    October 6, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    Lookin’ good Karen! Hope you are doing well! Have a great week.
    Tami Michel

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 9, 2013 at 7:14 am

      Thanks, Tami! You, too!

      Reply
  4. Toby says

    October 9, 2013 at 12:19 am

    So simple yet so amazing! It looks like something you would pay an arm and a leg for at some fancy store!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 9, 2013 at 7:14 am

      Thanks, Toby!

      Reply
  5. Kiri says

    October 19, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    Looks awesome! I’m also impressed you found the tripod for under 10 bucks. Since tripod lamps have become so popular in recent years, sellers have really jacked up the price on ebay etc. Great job of coordinating the cord color with your lamp. It really does make a big difference.

    Reply
  6. Kiri Masters says

    November 5, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    Kiri here again … went ahead and featured this project in my Table Lamp Oct 2013 Roundup! Check it out here http://wp.me/p3aFhG-eJ

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      November 5, 2013 at 6:44 pm

      Thank you, Kiri!!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    April 26, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    Thank you for the detailed instructions. I think I can!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      April 26, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      You can! If I can do it, you can, too! Go for it!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Table Lamp Roundup October 2013 | I like that lamp says:
    November 5, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    […] finally behold this tripod lamp (complete with camouflaged cord) from Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza that would be perfect to illuminate a late night study session. Some tripod lamps can get away with […]

    Reply
  2. 30 Farmhouse Lighting Ideas via Knick of Time says:
    June 27, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    […] Depending on the shade you use, you could get so many different looks with this DIY Tripod Lamp via Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza […]

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




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About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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