This is a $10, ten minute shade. You will need a modern destroyed lamp shade to cut the spider off, but that's why you needed to make a lamp shade anyway. I cut a 10" and 14" steel ring from Hobby Lobby ($1.99 each) but you could do it with coat hanger wire. Then I cut 10" of fabric, light filtering shade off this 36"x72" shade. (Under $6 at Lowe's) Drilled holes an inch in from each.end and slipped it onto the rings. It only takes one piece of 72" window shade to provide a pleasant pleat on a 14" diameter lamp shade and the ends can be stuck together with the attached glue strip. The spider was cut off this motel monstrosity and is bent up about 1/2" at the ends to prevent it poking through the material. It creates a nice light, but it's a tad big for the little 139 kerosene lamp. My plan is to use this shade on my 1000 candle power HC/CQ called The Deer Camp Lamp. The shade is perfect because it can be quickly disassembled and packed flat for transport. (Something that's not possible with my mica shade) Best part of all, the Redi Shade is ...
It can handle the heat of my biggest, baddest kerosene burner without even getting as hot as a Carolina summer day.
Since this is a shade for a deer camp lamp I had to make it survive travel and not take up a lot of space. The addition of a couple S hooks keeps the shade material packed up nicely. The hooks are sure to be welcome in camp. The spider, with either three or four arms is bent in at the top of each arm so when installed it locks onto the top ring. This makes the shade easier to handle, and prevents it slipping off the spider if a gust of wind tries to move it. Like a better mouse trap, I had to imagine a shade that would survive a trip to a deer camp. Next we need to do something about the color of the shade. White just isn't practical in camp.
I could make the lamp spiders from old brass drifts and rod, but for $2 I can get all I need ready for use. Here's my pile of donors. I found hundreds of old hotel lamp shades for $2 each.
Those are really beautiful and very creative @hot diggity. being largely unsupervised gives you great creativity!
Just wondering,, my dad used to use old coat hangers for a braizing rod ,, is that still possible ?? You could make your frames from the old coat hangers and braize it together.
I've intentionally left the ring ends unfastened so I can disassemble the shade. With this 4mm diameter ring there's enough stiffness that fastening the ends is unnecessary. With coat hanger rings you could braze or weld the ends before you slide the shade material around.
