How to make a swag lamp?

Question

I am interested in making a swag lamp. What are the steps in making it. I have seen the materials for sale at a local hardware store, but ideas would be awesome before I undertake the task.

Oh, and if you don't know how, please don't answer with a "You can't." I'd rather one not say anything if one can't give advice pertaining to the question.

Answer 1

It's not hard and can be fun.  The tough part is the shade or globe.

If you plan to use a clip on shade for your first go then get yerself some parts:

Swag chain.

18/2 zipcord (18 gauge /  2 conductor lamp cord) in the color of your choice as long as it's Clear, Gold, Brown, Black or White. :)  The cord needs to reach up the chain, across the ceiling and down to an outlet so you'll need a bunch.

A ceiling hook rated for the weight of the lamp.

A threaded lamp socket rated for BASE UP operation. It will have a heat proof ceramic insulator instead of plastic or cardboard.

A piece of threaded lamp rod and a threaded 'eye'.

An in-line lamp switch if you don't have a switched outlet.

A polarized cord end (plug).

Thread one end of your wire through the chain.  I would go through every other link with the wire as it's faster and the chain won't bunch up on the wire while hanging as opposed to every link.  Take the socket apart.   s***w one end of the lamp rod into the 'eye' and the other into the socket base.

Snug down any set screws to keep them from twisting apart.  

On the end of the wire that just went through the chain (short end) thread the wire through the 'eye', rod and base.  Split 2 conductor lamp cord down the middle a few inches and tie the ends in a 1/2 granny knot so it doesn't come back out through the base and rod.  Start with about 2 inches of wire sticking out of the knot and trim the ends of insulation about 1/2 inch.  Twist the wire fibers tightly and connect the wires to the socket.  If the wires have silver and copper, the silver to the silver s***w and the copper goes on the brass s***w.  If the wires are the same color, the one with the ridges running along the insulation goes to the silver s***w.

Put the lamp socket and base back together.  Open the end link of the swag chain and loop it through the 'eye' on the socket and close the link.

There are plug and switches that just snap onto the lamp cord.    Just follow the directions closely.  It's basically sticking the cord into the back or side of the plug with the ridges on the correct side and snapping or closing a lever.   The switch will come apart into two halves.  You will make a cut in the non ridged side then lay the cord into one half then s***w the other half on which pierces the insulation and makes the required electrical connections. Piece of cake.

The rest is up to you. Have fun!