Welded Chain Floor Lamp
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:50 am
Well I decided to weld up a chain floor lamp as I have been interested in doing so for some time now. I purchased a 10 foot length of 3/8 " chain from McMaster-Carr and purchased a Mica lamp shade, switch, and bulb base from Antique Lamp & Supply on their internet site. I of course had to clean the chain of oil before starting the build to make welding a lot easier. I chose to tig weld this project as I find I get better burn in control by using this method as opposed to using my mig gun. Just personal preference for me as I am sure a lot of folks would prefer their mig gun much more.
Mine is a freestanding lamp with a hexagonal steel base built out of 3/4" square tubing to create the hex shape and skinned with a 1/8" steel top which is welded around the sides of the base and the ground down to create a solid outer piece, hollow underneath for switch and wiring to be in. I started welding at the top of the light by creating a return loop using the arc of a 5 gallon plastic bucket which I transferred the arc to a piece of plywood to put onto my welding table. The chain was then arched around the plywood block and held in place with clamps while I tack welded the loop. I then could use a piece 2" aluminum angle as a straight edge to keep the vertical run of chain straight to the top loop and proceeded to tack that section in multiple stages as I could only weld so far before running out of table length (Tab and Slot 3 X 2 Fablock).
When the chain had been completely welded I marked a centerline on the base and then held the chain vertically plumb in all direction with the help of a piece of aluminum strut that ran horizontal to the chain or 90 degrees across so as to clamp the chain in a perfect vertical position. I then welded the bottom link on the vertical run onto the base and looped the remains chain on top of the base, kind of coiled in multiple loops of sorts and welded those down as well in a few spots, not every link.
Chain base received a couple of coats of Rust-Oleum Metallic color "Oil Rubbed Bronze". This turned out to be a real cool color as well. I then drilled through the 3/4" square tubing on the base and popped in two plastic snap bushing to run a grounded lamp cord through, very important to ground the chassis for safety. I then drilled two holes on the top of the base, one for a On/Off switch and one to run lamp wire up to the bulb base. I drilled and tapped a 10-32 hole to receive a ground pig tail on inside of the base, wired up the light and we were all good to go! Ready for next light project now.
BradK
Mine is a freestanding lamp with a hexagonal steel base built out of 3/4" square tubing to create the hex shape and skinned with a 1/8" steel top which is welded around the sides of the base and the ground down to create a solid outer piece, hollow underneath for switch and wiring to be in. I started welding at the top of the light by creating a return loop using the arc of a 5 gallon plastic bucket which I transferred the arc to a piece of plywood to put onto my welding table. The chain was then arched around the plywood block and held in place with clamps while I tack welded the loop. I then could use a piece 2" aluminum angle as a straight edge to keep the vertical run of chain straight to the top loop and proceeded to tack that section in multiple stages as I could only weld so far before running out of table length (Tab and Slot 3 X 2 Fablock).
When the chain had been completely welded I marked a centerline on the base and then held the chain vertically plumb in all direction with the help of a piece of aluminum strut that ran horizontal to the chain or 90 degrees across so as to clamp the chain in a perfect vertical position. I then welded the bottom link on the vertical run onto the base and looped the remains chain on top of the base, kind of coiled in multiple loops of sorts and welded those down as well in a few spots, not every link.
Chain base received a couple of coats of Rust-Oleum Metallic color "Oil Rubbed Bronze". This turned out to be a real cool color as well. I then drilled through the 3/4" square tubing on the base and popped in two plastic snap bushing to run a grounded lamp cord through, very important to ground the chassis for safety. I then drilled two holes on the top of the base, one for a On/Off switch and one to run lamp wire up to the bulb base. I drilled and tapped a 10-32 hole to receive a ground pig tail on inside of the base, wired up the light and we were all good to go! Ready for next light project now.
BradK
