Oil Lantern Lights

[elkriverfab]

I had two spots on the wall where I have been wanting to make some lantern lights.

I bought two $4.00 oil lanterns, plasma cut all the parts to make this happen and cut two cabin wall plates.

Wired it for light bulds and now I feel like I am camping all the time

[BrianMick]

Great Idea shawn, Ive got a couple of lanterns at home, I might just give it a try...
Brian

[Eagle Mtn Metal Works]

Shawn : What ga did you use to cut this out of? I have some 16ga but I think that it would be to thin for something like this. I have a back to back Kokapeli file that I think would work for something like that. I dont won't to waste metal so I have not cut it yet. I have cut some of the wind spinners and some of the smaller stuff I haveuseing all the scrap metal that I had and MAN does it go fast the metal that is oh and the machine to . Can you tell that I finaly got the PC running right I now am starting to cut the good stuff and don't need to wast metal, too costly steel prices are going through the roof. I called my supplier on Friday and for a 4 x8 sheets of 1/8 " hot rolled it was over 180 bucks and thats not even the cost of the Alum of 165 for a 4x4.

Wel that's enough for me, everything is starting to run together and bullllllllr Good night.

[elkriverfab]

Eagle Mtn D&D,

I used 14 Ga for the cabins and hanging arm.
You will want the plates and hanging arm to be fairly stout.

This way if someone bumps them or snags them with a shirt sleeve or something, they wont bend or break.
Nothing like ripping out hot wires

Glad to hear your machine and computer is up and running.

The material cost has been going up here as well.
I was talking to my father the other day on the phone and I was telling him the material cost was going up weekly.

I just paid $15.00 more for 10 lbs of welding wire than I did last month.

Same thing with raw materials. For some reason it just climbed this last month.

I had to buy some 3 inch pipe last week for a personal project I was working on and man it hurt the wallet some.
I was building some corner braces for some fencing and wanted them to be built out of something that would be worth putting in concrete and lasting a few years.

I started building them a couple of months ago and ran out of pipe.
Went down to get some more and I was surprised at the increase in cost.

I stuck that receipt in the truck console when my wife asked how much it was as we drove out of the steel yard
Don't think I fooled her though.

I have a few projects that I would like to build out of aluminum and stainless but at the cost of materials, those are going to go on the back burner for a while.

I still cant get over the cost increase in welding wire last week.
I go through so much that the small spools don't last a day.

The 10 lb spools last a little longer but come on.
I needed some flux core for a project and It was going for $70.00 a spool.

I use mig with gas on my customers projects but when you combine the gas, wire and trips to get the tanks filled every week......I may just go straight flux core and a lot of anti spatter! Throw in a flap disc and you cant tell the difference:lol:

[elkriverfab]

Great Idea shawn, Ive got a couple of lanterns at home, I might just give it a try...
Brian

Brian,

They don't take too much time to make.

My wall boxes did not have wall switches to turn them off and on, so I drilled a small hole in the bottom of each lantern so I could install a push switch.

On my lanterns I had to take out the part where the original wick comes through and put it in a vise to cut off the nipple and make it flat (hacksaw).

You will put the wick base back on the lantern, just cut enough off to mount the socket.

Once I did that, I drew a circle and cut it from 14 Ga to fit inside the lantern (where the glass sets on) tack weld it in place.
In the center of that circle you cut, cut another hole to fit the light socket in and bolt it in place. So... a circle with a smaller circle in the middle.

I ran all the wiring through the oil tank and ran it up the hollow tube that goes up through the lantern.

Drill a small hole in the back of the lantern (very top) run the wire out this hole.

Make sure you install a grommet in that hole where the wire comes out of the lantern and goes into the wall.
That hole will have some very sharp edges and could cut the electrical cord over time.

Wire it up and now you have a lantern light.

Sounds like a lot of work but it only took me about 30 minutes per lantern to make everything fit.

I bought small sockets and small light bulbs thinking at the time it may be to dim but it was perfect.

They put out a good amount of light.

I was looking to get enough out of them to read by at night.
If I turn both on at the same time, it is enough to light up the entire room but doesn't feel like you are staring at a light house

Also..... If you assemble them like this, the globe still removes like it did before the lantern was modified.
This makes it very.... very.... easy to replace a burned out light bulb.

Just pull up the spring loaded top cap, tilt out the glass and change the bulb (just like replacing the original wick).

Ended up more than happy with the results.

Hope this helps, just may save you a little time if you make a set.

[pony]

I just paid $15.00 more for 10 lbs of welding wire than I did last month.

I needed some flux core for a project and It was going for $70.00 a spool.

$70!!! WOW

I pay $45, and even with $10 shipping that only comes in at $55 and saves the gas money. They also combine shipping, so I bought a few bags of tips which shipped for free with my order. I've used this brand before through my Hobart Handler 187 (my Hobart came with many Miller parts, I'm not sure if they are somehow connected)
I'm not sure if its OK to post links? I am not in any way affiliated with this seller, I just use them for my MIG consumables because they are a good price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0365973367
Another reasonably priced online retailer I use is Weldfabulous.

[BrianMick]

Shawn, thankyou for the very detailed assembly instructions that will help....
if I get time to make some I will post some pictures...
Brian