Buying a salt lamp can be expensive. How about making one at your home? The following article will tell you how to make a salt lamp.
I always wondered how a salt lamp can have a positive effect on you, but when I learned the benefits that you gain from a salt lamp, I was amazed. So, I decided to buy one, but I was disappointed when I realized that it is expensive. I did not lose heart, and I figured out how to make a salt lamp at home.
Making a Salt Lamp
The things that you need to make a salt lamp are:
- Block of salt
- Drill
- Wooden disk
- Bulb
- Bulb holder
- Wires
- Plug
- Pencil
Apart from the block of salt (sea salt or crystal salt), you can find all the things that you need to make the lamp at a home improvement store. Here are the steps that you should follow:
Getting the Salt Block
To make a salt lamp you obviously need a salt block. Where do you buy it from? I will tell you the simplest way, use the Internet! You just have to type salt block into Google, and voila! You will have a list of sources to buy from. Do not order the first salt block that you see, research for sometime. There is a variety of salts blocks to choose from, you will surely find one that you adore.
Making the Top
Once you have the salt block, it is time for you to make the lamp. First focus on the top of the lamp. Take the salt block and wash it thoroughly. Are you happy with the shape of the block? If not, you can give it the desired shape using a carving chisel. Now, observe the base of the block (the flatter side will be the base), and mark its center. After that, drill a hole (use a stone drill bit) in the block. You should use a drill bit with a larger diameter, as the hole should be able to accommodate the bulb. Stop drilling when you feel that the hole will suffice for the bulb. Now, wash the salt block, and allow it to dry.
Making the Base
While the salt block is drying, you have lots of time in your hands, so use this time to make the base for the lamp (without the base, your lamp will not be able to stand). Take the wooden platform and drill a hole in its center. The hole should have the same diameter as the hole in the salt block. Now, clean the wooden platform.
The Electrical Set Up
Take the bulb holder and wire it, and then attach a plug to it. Take the bulb and place it in the holder. Check whether all the wiring is right. It is important that you test the bulb before you place it in the salt block, so check whether the bulb is working. If it is not working, check the wiring again, once you are sure that the bulb is working properly, you can proceed.
Finishing the Lamp
I assume that your salt block has dried completely by now. So, take the block and invert it, such that the hole in the base is visible. Glue the wooden platform on the block in such a way that the hole on the platform is aligned to the hole in the salt block. Wait for sometime (till the glue dries), and then insert the bulb in the block. Your lamp is now ready, place it wherever you want, and switch it on.
Things to Remember
- Do wear protective gear while making the salt lamp.
- If you do not know how to use a carving chisel, do not try to shape the salt block.
I did not fix the bulb holder on the platform, as detaching it would be time-consuming when I want to change the bulb.
Making a salt lamp is not so difficult, I am sure that you can make one, just see that you do not hurt yourself while making the lamp.