DIY Pendant Lights

What can you do with an old globe, a metal trash can and a lamp cord?

This:


And this:


To make a plug-in pendant light, you'll need a lamp cord with a light socket and a toggle switch. You can pick up a lamp kit at the hardware store for around $7. This will also come with instructions on how to install the toggle switch.

I used a lamp cord from an old paper lantern light that I had saved. I took apart the socket in order to fit the wire through the hole in the globe and the wastebasket. (In order make the wastebasket light, I had to cut a small hole in the wire mesh to fit the cord through.)

After I took apart the socket, I threaded the wire through the hole and re-assembled the socket. Here's how you wire the socket back to the electrical cord:

Tie the cord ends into a loose knot
















Wrap each end of wire around the nuts on each side of the socket



















Make sure to wrap the wires in alternating directions. If you wrap the right wire around the right screw clockwise, then wrap the left wire around the left screw counter-clockwise.

Tighten the screws and then slip the socket back into its' sleeve.















Put the socket back together and try out your new light!

The possibilities are endless.

Wouldn't these be cute as mini-lights?



















All you'd have to do is drill a hole in the bottom each one and put in a lamp cord.

You can check out this post to see how I took an old light fixture, re-wired it and gave it new life.

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