Ideas on a night light

• Dec 12, 2015

• #1

SarahFair

Senior Member

I have a glass insulator, the same as the ones in the picture, that Id like to sit on a base and become a night light to give my dad for xmas.


My original idea was to use a candelabra socket mounted on a circular wooden base where the insulator can just be lifted off to change the bulb.

My only issue is there would need to be some kind of "nesting " base for the insulator to sit in to keep from sliding around.
I have no kind of wood working skills or tools, aside from a scroll saw, so I don't think i can achieve that.

Do yall have any ideas for a base?

Another issue I'm worried about is the light heating the glass in such a small area with no sort of "escape".
Do yall forsee this being a problem (aside from glass getting hot to touch)?

 

• Dec 12, 2015

• #2

NE GA Pappy

Mr. Pappy

blowing the bulb would be a concern of mine. The heat wont be its friend. You might try led light, since they don't give off near the heat.

You need to find someone with a wood lathe to cut a recess for the base, or cut a 1/4 piece of plywood in a circle that would fit inside the insulator, and glue it to the base.

 

• Dec 12, 2015

• #3

Jeff C.

Chief Grass Master

I have no solution at this time, but I like your idea, Sarah!

 

• Dec 12, 2015

• #4

SarahFair

Senior Member

Jeff C. said:

I have no solution at this time, but I like your idea, Sarah!

Click to expand...

Thanks!

NE GA Pappy said:

blowing the bulb would be a concern of mine. The heat wont be its friend. You might try led light, since they don't give off near the heat.

You need to find someone with a wood lathe to cut a recess for the base, or cut a 1/4 piece of plywood in a circle that would fit inside the insulator, and glue it to the base.

Click to expand...

Duh Sarah, LED..

Thanks for the ideas

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #5

Anvil Head

Senior Member

I second the LED. Hard to beat. Can even have fun with it by using a battery to run it.....no cord to plug in. They can also be found in the alternating color configuration and solar powered. Just recycle one of those butterfly things you can stick in the yard.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #6

Bkeepr

Senior Member

Those are pretty!

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #7

longbowdave1

Senior Member

Anvil Head said:

I second the LED. Hard to beat. Can even have fun with it by using a battery to run it.....no cord to plug in. They can also be found in the alternating color configuration and solar powered. Just recycle one of those butterfly things you can stick in the yard.

Click to expand...

What anvil said!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...Brushed-Nickel-Puck-Light-BA1200SXL/205703261

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #8

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

Back in the day I climbed past a lot of those little insulators and never paid em any mind. I reckon I should have collected the things.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #9

NE GA Pappy

Mr. Pappy

those things bring a pretty penny now days Nic. You could have retired on them if you had collected them over the years. I understand the clear ones bring a bit more than the blue one.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #10

SarahFair

Senior Member

I cant move the clear ones at the price I get for the blue ones.
Find unique colors like carnival, purple, etc and they go for a pretty penny.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #11

SarahFair

Senior Member

I just saw one where they used 3 "tacks" that would pretty much hold it in place from the inside.

I think Im going to go that route since its so close to xmas (less hassle and cheaper)

I just need to find a base.
Where would they sell wooden round bases?
I feel like Ive seen something similar somewhere

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #12

Jeff C.

Chief Grass Master

I knew I was slightly colorblind..... but y'all call them blue and I call them green. I guess it's worse than I thought.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #13

JustUs4All

Slow Mod

Staff member

Craft shop for base - might could use a wooden wheel.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #14

SarahFair

Senior Member

So before I go ordering things I dont need this is my list

Wooden base, the 5" / 6"
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=13&scid=453

Candelabra socket, Option A
1 5/8" in height
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=27&scid=25


Cord, Option A
SPT-1 #18/105° Wire
Stripped ends are 5/8"L
and Tinned at the Tip
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=1&scid=3

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #15

SarahFair

Senior Member

Jeff C. said:

I knew I was slightly colorblind..... but y'all call them blue and I call them green. I guess it's worse than I thought.

Click to expand...

They are aqua, slightly blue, slightly green

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #16

Jeff C.

Chief Grass Master

SarahFair said:

So before I go ordering things I dont need this is my list

Wooden base, the 5" / 6"
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=13&scid=453

Candelabra socket, Option A
1 5/8" in height
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=27&scid=25


Cord, Option A
SPT-1 #18/105° Wire
Stripped ends are 5/8"L
and Tinned at the Tip
http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=1&cid=1&scid=3

Click to expand...

Are you still going LED? I've got 6 of those insulator's, may make one myself.

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #17

SarahFair

Senior Member

Yeah, I guess Ill get the LED at home depot

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #18

280bst

Senior Member

I know you said you don't have any wood working skills--but if you know some one with a Router you can place the insulator on the base pencil around the outside of the glass take the router with the right bit and follow the circle set @ quarter inch deep when done the insulator would set in it Good Luck and Merry Christmas

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #19

Jeff C.

Chief Grass Master

SarahFair said:

Yeah, I guess Ill get the LED at home depot

Click to expand...

Lookin forward to seeing the end result!

 

• Dec 13, 2015

• #20

Old Winchesters

Senior Member

do a youtube search for insulator DIY light kit....