How to Make Lamps from "Junk" and other Upcycled Stuff

Lamps are fun upcycling projects for people of all ages, at all skill levels. One doesn't even need a lot of tools. Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking about your own upcycled lamps. Share what you made with me!
my patreon:
/ timsway
my website:
www.timsway.net
my podcast:
www.reclaimedaudiopodcast.com
my etsy:
timsway.etsy.com
instagram: timsway1
twitter: tim_sway
snapchat: timsway
be good,
tim

[@VioletDisregard23]

I love the tip on using old lamps instead of buying new lamp kits. Thanks for that!

[@warrengore478]

I bought a 1956 Chevy Tail Light for $3 at a junk store. At the local Goodwill, I found a banana hanger (not sure what it's called) for $1. The hole for the screw on the tail light fit perfectly over the hook on the banana hanger. Finally, I put a cheap night lite clip into the hole made for the original bulb. Way COOL desk lamp. Total cost: $8. I sold it for $65.

[@warrengore478]

PS: NO Drilling, Sanding, Painting, Welding, Parts, Lamp Shades, Hardware, Glueing, Drying Time, etc!

[@timsway]

nice!

[@theresagaignard1103]

That sounds awesome. ❤️

[@a_wise_young_man752]

1:18 That was a ceremonial lamp from the Yuan dynasty. The only one left in the world apparently. I just looked up the price. 153 billion pounds was the reserve auction price. Never mind - an easy mistake to make.

[@timsway]

A_Wise_Young_Man oh no, you're right! I just checked the label and it says "made in China"!!

[@tainajoseph832]

lol I was thinking the same thing. Like, what if that lamp was worth something?? I thought it was pretty so it kind of hurt to see him break it lol

[@coachpete2771]

Thanks for this video. This is exactly what I was thinking about today. Making lamps out of whatever. I am also interested in creating a shop here at home and make good use of my garage space.

[@SteveRamsey]

This is so crafty! I love these! Idea for any lamp bodies you don't break: My wife makes bird baths by stacking them together with a shallow platter for the basin. She gets all the stuff at the secondhand store really cheap! Plus, she makes a mosaic for the inside of the batch by gluing and grouting in broken pieces.

[@timsway]

+Steve Ramsey thanks steve. bird bath is a good idea. mosaics were what i was thinking about when i smashed that. maybe i'll do a video. it'll be a learning experience as i've never done that.

[@amymoore8140]

OMG I love you! lol I am very frustrated with the lack of lighting options out there and the ridiculous prices for some of them, so I thought (at 3 AM while I can't sleep) that maybe making my own was the way to go. The 1st two taught me basic wiring, but this one sold me on going for it! Thank you!

[@timsway]

cheers Amy! It's a lot of fun and the wiring is simple. Just inspect it carefully and take your time! (and also know I am not a licensed electrician and not responsible if your curtains catch fire! :)

[@amymoore8140]

Curtains shmurtains! Lol I will need my handyman to help lift/install whatever I make (it's for my kitchen ceiling) so I'll leave the shocks to him!

[@stevencanales2668]

you could take the left over pieces of ceramic, clay or glass , smash them up into smaller pieces and glue those pieces to the outside of lamps that you create.

[@garrettno2906]

This week I wanted to try turning old motorcycle helmets into lamps. The unfortunate thing about motorcycle helmets (even very expensive ones) is their impact foam degrades. Most industry standards recommend replacing a helmet after about 5 years of use. My uncle gave me his Shoei Neotec when I started riding, a helmet which I love, but has unfortunately reached the 5 year cut-off so I want to turn it into a unique gift that he can still enjoy.

[@paulaneary7877]

This is AWESOME! I just decided today to make a lamp for a young friend of mine and was looking for ideas. Heading to the thrift store right now! Thanks, will be checking out your channel for more ideas!

[@Danman1972]

I made one from a old copper fire extinguisher I picked up at a junk store that was pretty cool and it was cheap. The "lamp kit" came from my neighborhood bulk trash pick up. Free from the curb. I score all kinds of stuff for projects like that.

[@nynurse2]

Great video!! You are very clever and creative!! I have made some lamps but never thought to get parts at Thrift Stores.. Great ideas! Thank you for this!👍

[@charlesdeloy8679]

Awsome I love the thermos lamp great job on all those lamps

[@francesluck6597]

What a great range of ideas, I love it. My shop is full of useless bits I can never throw away but your video has given me inspiration to do something with them. Thank you!

[@timsway]

thanks! m shop is full of cr@p, too. I need the time to do another roundup like this :)

[@kevinrico1194]

Great video! Thanks for the ideas. I like the directional from the vw 👍🏼

[@gailjohnson8516]

Wow! When you look around your house and see all the money you have spent on expensive things. When you could have made it out of a junk. Thanks for all the inspiration!

[@Bettinasisrg]

First, awesome video! And sometimes those ceramic looking lamp 'bottoms'(?) are actually just painted glass and make cool hanging lampshades themselves! I took a light blue one that looks a lot like your white one (about a minute in) painted it black over the blue and then sanded scratched and wire brush dabbed off spots then wired the light into it and it shines out looking like a cool night skyish thingy! Anyway again, thanks for this great spot!

[@timsway]

great idea!

[@lorrih5472]

Omg how fun! Cheaper than my quilting hobby 😂 I found this because I have a crystal lamp base from my grandmothers estate, And it needs to be turned into a lamp and I don’t even know how to put a basic lamp kit from Home Depot together so I’m pretty sure at this point I don’t need to hire someone else to do it don’t blame me if I watch all of your videos to try to find the very first basic one of “stick this here; don’t stick this there” LOL... good job! Will you be my neighbor 😸😎💡

[@khaley37781]

This was such fun to watch! Thank you!

[@dianegerlach2454]

Great ideas!! A true maker. Your shop reminds me of my dad.

[@Urobam]

This is a second video that I found. I did not realize it was the same artist that I saw building a table, which it was beautiful. I he a hard time throwing pieces of wood as well, and as well bamboo pieces, I saved an exterior light fixture just like the one in the video, I am taking your idea and building one, I thought what a great creative idea. I have copper bolts that I am going to use for the dining table, I do not have steel or metal to attach like you did. I save every little thing that I can, it becomes part of a piece of art. I am subscribing; off to find other videos of yours!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@timsway]

Nadia Mubarak cheers and welcome! I have a lot of videos (and a lot of stuff I can't throw away:)

[@GregsGarage]

I LOVE the drum lamp you showed... Also, I gotta agree... Vintage VW bits and pieces are cool as the other side of the pillow. I'm also digging the satellite lamp.

[@timsway]

+Greg's Garage thanks. i made that for my wife. just replaced a shade on a thrift store lamp with it. simple metal frame welded to hold the drum up.

[@davebauerart]

This is inspiring! I have to clean out all the stuff in my garage from previous owners, and its full of electrical parts, fence pieces and random bits of stuff. I might be having a lamp sale this summer. Thanks!

[@timsway]

+davesoldbarn just about anything can be a lamp ;-)

[@robdean54]

I love lamp! always great watching someone else make a lamp other than a bottle lamp!

[@michaelpaul721]

Do you really love the lamp, or are you just saying it because you saw it?

[@kevinbritting4554]

ok! 6:52 mark and I'm hooked! Love the creative and manageable time/tool/cost to put them together. Quick Q- "I'm a property investor and starting to put together AirBnB cottages with unique things but I don't want it to look like unmatched trash.... Are there consistent items or themes that you are always searching for at garage/estate sales that look like great finished for matching wall lighting?" I'm in Michigan so any type of country rustic/wood grain/old industrial farm-auto usually peaks the interest of people.

[@timsway]

I look for stuff that looks cool, but doesn't look like "trash." Cool shapes, colors, recognizable and iconic things. Cheers.

[@dogwoodtales]

VERY KEWL! lots of inspiration here. I especially like the globe lamps.

[@timsway]

+Dogwood Tales (Ray) thanks. i wish i had a better globe on hand for them. i would've put a little more finesse in to them if i did.

[@ZHFabrications]

This is great Tim!... Can't believe I never thought of the scrap wood lamp. We must be on the same cycle or something--I just posted my lamp video a few hours before yours.

[@timsway]

cheers! I'll check it out

[@pennytine3657]

@@timsway I j

[@spencerbovenizer5393]

Planning on making a stand-up lamp out of an old keg. This was very helpful😊

[@claytidwell]

The remnants would make GREAT target practice at the range. I love smoking pots at the range. Watching them turn to nothing more than smoke after my 30-06 hits them at a 100 yards. YES!!!

[@WoodByWright]

Love LOve! LOVE!!! Lots of great inspiration there! thanks!

[@timsway]

hey thanks man!!

[@coloredcaboosecreations]

Thank you for this video you are so creative loved all of them!

[@StamosTee]

All lamps are awesome, but I loved the twins made from the LNB. So many cool ideas.

[@timsway]

+Stamatis T thank you very much

[@gilbertrobles1374]

You're very creative and original. I really enjoyed your video.inspiring too. Thanks

[@HABU]

Very cool ideas! Love the drum stick lamp!!

[@timsway]

thanks man. it needs a drum lamp shade.

[@HABU]

+tim sway ya welcome! Sure! You need a bunch of sticks for that... :)

[@blackswanprepping8827]

Great job Tim! Really like the one with the drumsticks!

[@timsway]

+Dutchhorse thanks bro. i wish i had a drum to put on top of it.

[@mo_bra3340]

OMG! I wish you were my roommate or something... I would love to watch you brainstorm some of these badass ideas... and I feel like whenever I have a creative idea, you could help me figure out how to put it into motion (*I lack basic engineering and construction skills, haha)! Thanks for this video. SO cool, creative and entertaining!!! PS- I love how you are all about trying to reuse old stuff! ;-) You're my kind of person!

[@janaboss325]

I use pottery shards in the bottom of containers for my patio plants, good drainage!

[@eddiemilton3819]

Amazing. Great job man.

[@diytherapy2644]

Very good ideas. Going try some for sure. Thks

[@shirtasylum]

love working with reclaimed materials, great job on the variety of lamps.

[@timsway]

thanks man. I work basically exclusively in reclaimed. I find the limitation fuel creative solutions.

[@shirtasylum]

At this point I'm doing a lot of mixed work and reclaimed is usually for fun. Actually I just started my own channel called Artfully Rogue and I posted a reclaimed wood stove video today that I ended up making the other day. Once I have a few more videos I figured I'd try and boost more. I did some reclaimed ceiling lights out of some old wood beams I found which turned out pretty cool. Keep the videos coming, its cool to see someone with the same mind set.

[@timsway]

Cool. I'll check it out. You may dig our podcast, too. "Reclaimed Audio"

[@ESCAGEDOWOODWORKING]

Tim, this was a great watch! Very informative, I got a lot of cool tips from it, thank you!!

[@timsway]

awesome. glad to be helpful, too.

[@shine7854]

hey tim sway.. i really this your so brilliant crafty videos.... how i wish i have a lot of tools and equipment. creating some used stuff. here in my family house.. this video has a lot of great ideas, and also frugal things..that we dont need to buy some brand new stuff. kudos to you sir tim. from philippines :)

[@timsway]

hanna thanks!! You don't need a lot of fancy tools, they just make it faster and easier and maybe a slightly better end result. A hand saw and hand drill and you can make almost anything!

[@SerenitynPeace]

Great! Love ur ideas! Unique & original!

[@mattildahubbardo]

Great ideas, designs and inspiration

[@matt_williams1015]

Some really bright ideas there:) I like the thermos pouring out the light, very creative and the turn signals look cool!

[@timsway]

+Matt Williams thank you matt. projects like this are fun to push your creativity because they don't have to really "do" much or withstand any physical demands, like a table or chair...

[@BradleyMakesThings]

Really dug this one Tim! Was actually thinking about making a lamp soon and saw the kits for $13. Glad I didn't buy one yet! Thanks for that!

[@timsway]

+Carter Wilson Workshop glad to help. sometimes you need to buy two or three lamps to get the right collection of parts you need, but that's still less than the kit.

[@Cactusworkshopchannel]

Nice work man! the lamps look great. For me the coolest is the globe one. I made one with a friend a while ago but it was a plastic one that could be lit from the inside. I didn't know they are usually made of cardboard! Globes are very cool by themselves :)

[@timsway]

+Cactus! workshop all the ones i've had at were cardboard, but they were all older. maybe the newer ones are more plastic? thanks man.

[@manny4445]

Broken potter and ceramics make great mosaics!

[@joflipsit]

Wish I had a neighbor like you. I could just pop over for occasional mentoring. Love the used lamp hack.

[@Dayolddoughnuts]

you could make a junk lamp with the broken lamp pieces, be pretty abstract but cool

[@enatp6448]

Awesome inspiration!

[@BCdesign1]

Nice work Tim, I like the globe lamps!!!

[@timsway]

+BCdesign thanks bro!

[@TheMarcball]

awesome, loving the globe and twin sat thinggie ! Keep on trucking ! (from France)

[@timsway]

+MakeFix merci mon ami de Francais!

[@gilbertrobles1374]

Make flower pots with the old lamps. Thanks for sharing

[@MattDiresta]

I LOVE LAMP!! this was just simply GREAT!

[@timsway]

hahaha! I had that in my head the whole time I was making these.

[@repurposekings1042]

Cool stuff! We are just getting started in the KZbin world, hope we can become as good as you!

[@cpickslay]

I love the turn signal sconces. I hope Dish Network paid you for that sweet product placement.

[@timsway]

did you see the satellite dish chair? I was trying to get Netflix to sponsor this one :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIvKk5iMbN-LmpY

[@suzannajohnson2516]

tim sway o

[@natendpearson]

Tim really snapped when he broke that lamp.... Sheeeeeeet

[@MagDaMoose]

Have you ever made any pendant lighting? I think a pendant light using a trumpet would be very interesting

[@claterpult]

Very enlightening! thanks for the thrift store tip, I've made one lamp out of some scraps but I paid the 12.99. Oh and with the lamp left overs you could make some lamps

[@timsway]

+Claterpult Woodshop good idea! i should make some lamps with those lamps. (i've paid the store price, too).

[@theVonThompsons]

wildly clever and super inspiring!

[@woodturningjohn]

Great stuff, it is kind of funny that this lamp video came out now. Last weekend was the city wide yard sales around here and I can not even count how many old lamps were in free piles. I looked at a few but controlled myself because I have too much stuff for my up coming move, lol.

[@timsway]

+woodturningjohn ha! hoarding is fine. until you have to find something or move ;-p

[@woodturningjohn]

That's the truth :)

[@mihumus]

I'm loving your videos, mate. Cool lamp!

[@timsway]

+Humus Workshop thank you very much. spread the word! ;-)

[@tess2626]

I love this video!!

[@nothingworksworks3511]

lamp remnants- paint them w a mixture of baking soda & brown paint & they look like ancient urns. Throw some literal dirt onto the wet mixture for dramatic excavation style

[@JoshMakesStuff]

I was cleaning out the shop recently and couldn't figure out why I had kept little squarish offcuts, I know now. Thanks Tim.

[@timsway]

glad to help! ;-)

[@AaronVozzolo]

So awesome! Inspired to make lamps now!

[@timsway]

+Indiana Wood Time Jones do it ;-)

[@thereplace3424]

Tim...great stuff! Very motivational. I feel like The REplace is on the right track. I've been shopping at resale shops for lamp parts for some time...and I've broken my share of lamps just to get the guts! :)

[@timsway]

admit it, it's a little fun smashing them, too :)

[@PaulBertling]

...very fun!

[@RedSmith]

Great idea, awesomz design. Love it.

[@timsway]

thanks man. a cpl of them are kinda cool.

[@collettecaraway2759]

Tim U R the man!

[@nataliacorres1971]

Use the ceramic shards in mosaics (like stepping stones for your yard).

[@andreality11]

You are brilliant!

[@bocchieri]

nice dude! I had that same idea with the wood scraps, I have buckets of them!

[@timsway]

+Michael Bocchieri do it!

[@woodworks3585]

Nice work Tim They all look Awesome . Great job on them I think most strange lamp I ever made was from a set of Motorcycle forks lol I wish I still had the pictures. It was for one of my Brothers . Thank you for sharing this great video....Shared,,,

[@timsway]

+WoodCrafts 67 sounds awesome! i love lamps made from car and bike parts. well, i love anything made from car and bike parts...

[@woodworks3585]

tim sway That's Really cool mate.. I do love using other people's throw aways for projects as It's amazing what can be made from them.. I have started to strip down the Scooter I was telling you about. The parts are in quite good condition to..

[@glennebo]

Cool stuff! I always pass by those junk lamps, wondering why they even bother to display them...not any more. Thanks for tip!

[@timsway]

Once I got over the idea that used things have to stay the way they are, it really opens up possibilities. I have no problem cutting up a dated, dining room table to make 5 smaller things worth more from it, y'know?

[@j.d.ransom6721]

Very cool Tim.

[@timsway]

+J.D. Ransom thank you J.D.

[@lmbrtshrry]

I have a pair of old boots I would love to make lamps out of.

[@ianelley]

I love the lamps !! I've been wanting to do this for years but never really had the nerve! Here in the UK you can't buy second hand electrical goods from charity shops anymore due to relatively new regulations. To make and sell lamps I think I have to get a qualification or get someone to assess them and give them some sort of pass certificate. A real chore, and of course it would make the price increase! No matter, you have inspired me, I'm gonna try and work out a way, I really enjoy your video's, keep up the good work !

[@timsway]

+ian elley i'm not certain if i'm breaking the law by selling these, but i know a lot of people do it here and it doesn't seem to be enforced. just be careful and have fun!

[@ShaunMeighan]

Awesome! I'd love to see a mosaic table out of those remnants :D

[@timsway]

+Shaun Meighan Woodworking i was thinking that, too. never done mosaic so it'll be a fun experience!

[@WatchMeDIYIt]

All are cool lamps!

[@timsway]

+DIY giveaways & tutorials thank you.

[@MarcSchaefermeyer]

Awesome lamps dude. love the satellite one!

[@timsway]

+Marc Schaefermeyer thanks. i call him wall-e ;-)

[@MarcSchaefermeyer]

+tim sway haha! great name

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

"Or I can do that." Sometimes a bigger hammer IS the answer. Nice video. You had a lot of cool ideas. I especially like the globe desk lamp and the turn signal wall lights.

[@timsway]

"I can do that." Oh how often fellas like us say that ;)

[@Kryhavok6010]

Love the video - I think the thermos lamp would be cool with blue led strip lights flowing into the cup...Thanks Tim!

[@timsway]

that is a great idea!!

[@mandytaylor2082]

Make mosaic coasters with the remnants of the broken lamp base!

[@tooljunkie555]

that was cool tim and ur absolutely right about buyi g cheap lamps from thrift shops..especially if you are just gonna brk it..lol

[@timsway]

+Joe basementwoodworking i almost always try to buy used first. cheers!

[@maximussalfordus]

brilliant as ever Tim

[@timsway]

+BRIAN MACDIARMADA thank you brian!!

[@lisamedlin96]

So "KOOL" ! Very ingenuous.

[@paolotelevision7604]

lamp pieces that are extra could be used for a bong, i mean water pipe chamber extention or a second diffusing chamber. 👌

[@NateCougill]

Wow man. Nice work! The VW lamps are exceptional.

[@timsway]

+Nate Cougill thanks. the vw designers need all the credit for those. i just put them on wood.

[@NateCougill]

+tim sway and humble too. I gotta say, I'd have never seen a lamp in that satellite dish.

[@timsway]

that was one of the first things i saw as the cups that point out of the dish sort of remind me of desk lamps ;)

[@StoneandSonsWorkshop]

Very cool! I have a hard time throwing away scraps, too.

[@timsway]

especially the pretty scraps ;)

[@mariasmith9998]

Tim I love your video. What other cool things can you make? I bet your garage is filled with all kinds of gizmos. Is anything for sale? Keep up the great work.

[@timsway]

Maria Smith thank you!! I have a store at timsway.etsy.com and at timsway.net but most of my stuff is custom orders. Yes. I have quite a "collection" of crap. :)

[@artconnolly9519]

They came out great

[@timsway]

+Art Connolly thank you art

[@Uncle_Buzz]

Those Beetle sconces are epic bro! Great video.

[@timsway]

+Cactus Makeshop thanks. they are my fav, too.

[@glennojordan]

This is very interesting!😀

[@furiskykatt]

Very informative!

[@marcijunebug]

0:13 VW turn signal! nice work!

[@upcyclethat]

Yes, this is epic! 👍

[@IraSanborn]

Broken up pottery makes a good filler for the bottom of planters, it doesnt restrict drainage but will help keep dirt from spilling out the drain holes.

[@timsway]

that was one thought i had, that broken it might actually be more useful than together. thanks!

[@bluetintin8290]

Turn old lamps in to vases or garden flowers make hole little bigger on top

[@nicolaschu9599]

Make some really cool outdoor fountains or flower pots with the unused lamp parts

[@PaulMeyette]

I think a lamp re-do was my first project as a kid. Found something in the garbage and made it into a bedside lamp for my room.

[@timsway]

+Paul Meyette i think the first time i blew a fuse in my childhood home was for something similar ;-)