Zig Zag Lamp

I constructed a wooden desk lamp that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. I wanted a lamp that could be used for studying at my desk but also as a night light while sleeping. It needed to be easily moved from desk to side table so I did not want a plug-in lamp.

Planning paper

Pencil

Rubber

Ruler

Square

Pine wood

Glue

Paint brush

Drill

Disc sander

45 degree angle tool

Drop saw

Table saw

Vice

Vacuum cleaner

Clamps

Thicknesser

Double sided tape

Stanley knife

Sand paper

Masking tape

Sketch on paper the lamp with measurements required including length, width and thickness. Use OnShape CAD drawing program to produce a 3D version of the concept sketch for the lamp.

Take pine wood and use thicknesser to thicken wood to 10mm thickness. Use table saw to cut pine wood into 10mm x 10mm strips. Use drop saw to cut 28 lengths of 120mm x 10mm x 10mm pine wood sticks. Use the disc sander and a 45 degree angle tool to sand each end of sticks to a 45 degree angle.

Gather 4 wooden sticks, paint brush, glue and masking tape. Take 4 wooden sticks and lay them end to end on the masking tape. Paint glue on the 45 degree angle with the paint brush and then fold tape to form a square shape with wooden sticks. Wrap masking tape across centre of square to apply pressure and keep the square shape while glue dries. Repeat 7 times. Once dry, remove masking tape from all squares.

Gather ruler, square, pencil and rubber. Measure 2mm in from one edge and mark with pencil. Take square and draw line across the edge, move the square to the inside of the wooden square and mark with pencil at the 90 degree angle to make sure you don't over sand the angle. Then use the orbital sander to sand the angle down to the right mark. Repeat this 13 times.

Once all of that is completed collect paint brush, and 3 small clamps. Grab 2 squares and the paint brush, apply glue to your brush and then apply the glue to the angle you have just made on each square shape. Use the clamps to hold wooden sticks in place so that the glue can dry out. Repeat until you have created the zigzag pattern.

Collect your pine wood and use the table saw to cut wood into 120mm x 120mm lengths with a width of 10mm. Make sure you have 12 of these squares. Once you have all your base pieces, gather the glue, clamps, paint brush and vice. Pour some glue into a small cup, use paint brush to apply the glue to each of the 12 base pieces then layer them together using the vice and clamps to hold them in the right place. Once the glue is dry, drill a 70mm diameter hole that is 30mm deep into the middle of the base for the light to be placed into.

The light that I have chosen to use is the first led puck light that is shown in this video link. This light is battery operated and does not require a cord so the lamp can be easily moved.

Once everything has dried out, use the glue and paint brush to connect the zig zag to the base of your project. Secure the light in place with double sided tape.