Fallingwater Bedside Lamp

Very Nice. I like it.

-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon

With the history and that great bulb you almost want to keep it turned around. Interesting….

Yeah, looking at the drawing and your lamp…no reflective surface…wondering if that was your choice? Since wood can develop a pyrophoric condition, I’d want to put a small, spaced, reflective surface on the inside…just a thought. Pyrophoric conditions in wood…or other similar materials…the ignition point lowers after time causing the possibility of burning…also some chemicals burning suddenly when exposed to air is called pyrophoric.

-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.

Dave -

Amazing drawings! I am thinking about building one of the horizontal desk lamps for my office desk. I drew my plans on Eazydraw (Mac software). Both the vertical and horizontal lamps are similar in construction. Thanks for your comments and sketches.

-- http://www.randallprice.com

Barry -

Some of the originals had a silver reflective paint on the inside of the shade and some did not. I haven’t decided which way to go yet; I also purchased a compact florescent bulb of the same shape and comparable wattage as the bulb I have in the lamp now but it didn’t have the same effect. Thanks for the information on pyrophoric conditions in wood. I have used the CF bulbs along with adequate spacing on my other lamps with success but I agree with this one the bulb is close to wood. I just checked the Fallingwater web site and the lamps currently being sold have the silver reflective paint so I think I will research using a silver reflective heat stable paint and go that way. Thanks for prompting me to think about this.

-- http://www.randallprice.com

I might just have to have one of these. Between you guys, you’ve about done all the thinking for me. Thanks. Great build, by the way.

-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon

another thought on the reflective surface … copper might add to the charm. perhaps a slight amber glow

beautiful piece .. excellent thought process on the miter in the middle of the cathedral

-- keeping myself entertained

Thanks Dan,

I had the same thought about copper – I’m pretty sure I am going to add the spaced heat shield/reflective surface – maybe with 1/4” spacing behind it using either small bushings or washers. I’m heading to the home center today to see what’s available – aluminum, copper, etc.

This made me think more about the horizontal desk lamp mentioned in the post by DaveR – if I do that, I’ll add the heat shielding and rout a groove parallel to and near the “peak” on the back side of the shade to allow the heat to escape.

-- http://www.randallprice.com

beautiful way to show this wood and create ambient lighting. nice project

-- making sawdust....

I went to the home center and found some aluminum flashing that I think will work for the heat shield/reflector. I also got some smal wood screws and washers to space the reflector out about 1/4” from the shade.

I cut the aluminum with a utility knife and straightedge.

I marked and taped where I wanted to make the bends. I clamped thin pieces of wood to both sides of the aluminum, placed the aluminum on the edge of the work bench and bent it.

The bend wasn’t real crisp so I took a piece of wood and “creased” the bend which did the trick.

Here’s an end view of the shield.

I made a template to mark where I wanted to put the screws.

I put a 1/4” spacer behind the shade and marked the points to drill with an awl.

Here’s a picture with the spacer sticking out the end.

I wanted to make sure I didn’t screw through the shade so I did a mock up with a piece of wood the same thickness of the shade.

Here’s the shield screwed in place. I had to remove the light socket and base to install the shield.

A Picture of the re-assembled lamp.

An end view showing the air space.

A picture with the lamp on. It reflects much more light now. Before the wood shade got pretty warm where the bulb was, now it stays cool. Thanks to everyone who suggested doing this.

-- http://www.randallprice.com

Excellent detail and thorough job.
I’ attempting to make one of these and your article is immensely helpful.
I got on to Lumberjacks by “googleing” the lamp and you guys have
all kinds of constructive help I need.

Keep up the good work!

-- Anforte NJ