I have always liked industrial architectural style and have wanted to make a pipe lamp out of black iron pipe for sometime. I made this pipe lamp to go on a bedside table or dresser with a dimmer and USB port to charge devices.
It’s pretty easy to build a pipe lamp, you only need a few basic tools and a pipe wrench.
Parts used for pipe lamp:
- (4) 1/2″ 90 degree FPT to FPT Elbow
- (3) 1/2″ FPT Threaded Tee
- Preferred Industries 662034 2-Gang Weatherproof Aluminum Box with Three 1/2-Inch Outlets
- Lutron S-600-BL Black Slide Dimmer
- Cooper Wiring Devices TR7740BK-BOX Combination USB Charger with Tamper Resistant Receptacle, 2-Pole, 3-Wire Grounding, Black
- Leviton 84409-40 2-Gang Decora Wallplate, Device Mount, Stainless Steel
- Leviton 10051 Medium Base, One-Piece, Keyless, Incandescent, Glazed Porcelain Lampholder, White
- 14 gauge stranded THHN wire to run inside pipe to feed power to lamp socket
- 16/3 SJOOW wire for outlet
- Lamp shade I used is a Restoration Hardware shade. Bottom of cone flare size: 11″, top of cone flare size: 4-3/4″, Tall: 8-1/2″
Total cost of parts: $85~$95
Some items are premium and expensive like the porcelain lampholder so it adds up quick.
When I ran the wire into the electrical box I tied a knot in the wire for strain relief so it would not pull the wires loose out of the electrical socket. I used stranded THHN electrical wire for the electrical inside the box and to the lamp socket. I chose to use a three wire outlet because I felt more comfortable with the whole fixture grounded. I wrapped a rag around the pipe when I was tightening the fittings to help prevent marking up the pipe.
What I would change next time:
1) I now live in coastal environment which rusts unprotected surfaces much quicker so I would either clear cloat the pipe which would require a thorough degreasing of the assembly grease on the pipe fittings or use galvanized pipe but that may not have as nice aesthetics as the black iron pipe.
2) I like the cloth covered electrical cords you can buy and would probably use that for power.
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Hey, I’m working on something similar but having trouble connecting the conduit type gangbox to galvanized pipe. What kind of a fitting are you using for that?
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