I MADE THIS!
Good to the Last Drop
A caffeine jolt for all of your ligh;ng needs.
“I always enjoy my cup of joe in the morning, but when it comes
to recycling the co;ee cans, I had to ;gure out something new to
do with them. They have such a great look and are built so well, I
was determined to ;nd them another purpose.”
MAKE IT
1. 5-2 HRS
$24*
INGREDIENTS
3 LARGE METAL COFFEE CANS
(THE 34- OR 39-OZ SIZE)
6 ;;₃₂ ½-INCH-LONG BOLTS
6 ;;₃₂ NU TS
12 WASHERS THAT FI T THE
;;₃₂ BOLTS
3 ; ½-INCH-LONG THREADED
NIPPLES
3 KEYLESS MEDIUM-BASE
LIGHTBULB SOCKETS
3 ; LOCK (TOOTHED) WASHERS
3 ; X ;∕ 16 HEX NUTS
3 SILVER ;;;₂ GAUGE CORD SETS
TOOLS
MARKER
RULER
DRILL
⅜-INCH DRILL BIT
;∕16-INCH DRILL BI T
PLIERS
SCREWDRIVER
*excluding co;ee cans
1. Turn the cans bottom side up,
numbering each can with a marker
and also marking the center.
2. Huddle the cans together in a
triangular con;guration, keeping
in the numbered sequence with
the seams facing the center. From
center to center, make a mark on the
outside edge of the cans where they
touch each other.
3. Separate the cans. Using the
marks on the edges, draw vertical
lines down the length of each can.
Drill two ;/;;-inch holes on each line
WHO Jamie Reynolds WHERE Cincinnati DAY JOB(S) Lighting designer/ restoration/lamp maker SI TE lightsbyjames.com
(four holes total). Make sure the
holes are on the ;at ribs of the can
and the measurements are the
same so the holes will line up.
4. With the cans bottom side up,
use the ;/;-inch drill bit to drill
through the center of each can
(that you marked in step 1).
5. Use the six ;/;; bolts, the
six ;/;; nuts, and the twelve
washers to attach the cans
to each other, using the
screwdriver and the pliers.
6. Thread the ⅛-inch nipples
into the bottom of the socket
shells. Put the shell into the
can, sticking the le;over nipple
out of the center hole. Use the
lock washer and ;/;; nut on
the outside bottom of the can.
Tighten all parts together.
7. Feed the silver cord set
through the center of the nipple
from the outside bottom of the
can to the inside. Pull plenty of
wire through so you can easily
knot the end of the wire and attach
the socket.
8. Pull the excess wire back out
and snap the socket together using
the other part of the shell. With
the sockets completed, test the
electrical components and make
sure that each lights up. There will
be three separate cords, which can
all be wired together or fed into a
junction box if the ;xture is to be
installed in the ceiling.
Tip: I le; the cans “natural”
because I like the metal ;nish,
but they could be painted any
color to add a little excitement. If
you choose to do this, I suggest
marking and drilling all the holes
before spraying the cans with a
rust-preventing primer. Next, paint
cans however you want and, when
dry, assemble as instructed above.
