I have a real love affair with vintage Thermoses, so when I found this sexy blue one at a yard sale a few weeks ago I knew I wanted to do something fun with it.
Like repurposing it into a Thermos lamp!
And it was really quite easy.
Thermos Lamp Tutorial
Supplies Needed
- Thermos - vintage is good, new is just as good (did I just say that?)
- Make-A-Lamp Kit by Westinghouse
- Drill with a ⅜" drill bit
- ⅜" rubber grommet
- Safety glasses - Be safe. Keep your eyeballs.
I found this Westinghouse Make-A-Lamp Kit At Home Depot.
Warning - you will suddenly want to make every last thing in your house into a lamp after seeing how easy it is to do this. Hide the wine bottles. Hide Aunt Edith's heirloom china teapot. Hide the dog for that matter.
In case you're not sure what a grommet is, it is a rubber thingie you insert through a hole to protect your electrical cord from sharp edges.
Yes, I have a whole box of them. You never know when you are going to need a rubber grommet (like twice in the last five years).
Safety Tip On Thermoses
Before I get all Bob Vila on you and go through the steps, we have to discuss thermoses. The thermos I had found at the yard sale was broken. When you picked it up, you could hear glass rattling around. That's why I used it for this project.
Some older thermoses are lined with glass on the inside like mine was. Other thermoses are lined with stainless steel or plastic.
Since mine was lined with glass, I needed to get rid of the glass before drilling into it or I'd have a real mess (and safety hazard) when my drill hit the glass section.
So I just broke the rest of the glass with a screwdriver, put the lid back on, shook it up to break the glass bits into even smaller pieces and then poured out the glass shards. Please be very very careful when breaking the glass and removing the glass from the thermos. Very, very careful.
If you do not have a glass-lined thermos, this step is, of course, not needed. OK, so on to the real tutorial.
Instructions
Step 1 - drill a hole for the electrical cord
I marked the spot I wanted to drill with masking tape just in case the bit slipped. I didn't want to gouge Mr. Blue's gorgeous body.
A ⅜" drill bit was used for the hole.
Yes, I have ugly thumbs.
Megan Fox and I both have these abnormally short thumbs. We have soooo much in common!
Step 2 - drill hole into the top screw on cap with the same drill bit
You'll notice I sliced off the rest of the red stopper before I drilled the cap. Not necessary, but I thought it would be easier to drill if it didn't have the red part on it.
But really, it's plastic. Plastic is pretty darn easy to drill anyhow, so feel free to leave the red stopper on.
Step 3 - insert grommet into hole to protect the cord.
Step 4 - Run the cord up through the hole you made
and out the top.
At this point, the cord and the socket are not attached.
Step 5 - Tie a knot for strain relief approximately where the cord is going to be sitting at the bottom of the container.
This is just an added safety thing, so if the lamp cord gets accidentally yanked on one day, by let's say your dog, it won't come undone from the socket.
Step 6 - Add some stones to the bottom of the thermos to give it added weight.
It's not super tippy on its own, but still could use a little bit of poundage to it. I grabbed a pack of stones at the dollar store, before realizing my driveway is full of gravel that would have done the same thing.
Step 7 - Grab your Make-A-Lamp kit and read the instructions.
Really. Read them.
They do a much better job of describing how to attach the socket to the bare wires and then onto the top of the screw on thermos cap than I ever could here. It is a very simple process though. I promise.
So after you screw a couple of things on and tighten it to the cap and yada yada yada, you're ready to put a light bulb in it and plug 'er in.
Wait, no. I'm sorry, you can't plug it in.
Because I took the lamp out to the PARK to take photos of it 🙂 You'll have to wait until you get back to civilization to light it up.
I did think the picnic idea was a cute one. But after I got there and set it up, I thought "This doesn't make sense - who has a lamp at a picnic?"
And BTW, the park ranger WILL stop and look at you strangely if you bring a whole setup out to the park to take photos.
I have no idea what he thought I was doing (photographing naked squirrels???), but it was probably a whole lot more exciting than what I was actually doing.
Doreen
Love this idea! I bought a red thermos similar to your blue one. On my way to Home Depot now!
Kristi Kirk Trent
I <3 LOVE <3 this so much I want to marry it! (Actually, I love everything you post, Pam. Thank you for all of your hard work.)
Betsy Richardson
Hi Pam!
Just want to let you know I loved your lamp so much I made one of my own...blogged about it with a link to your post here so others can do the same.
THANK YOU for giving us such clear instructions!!!
~Betsy
(betsyrichardson.blogspot.com)
Anonymous
I was wondering if you used a regular size buld and lampshade??? I am having trouble finding a small enought lampshade which will go on a regualar bulb
Elaine Ezell
How fun!! Thanks for sharing!
Elaine
heartrocksinmypocket.blogspot.com
Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms
Squeal!! I love this idea. I'm very tempted to dig out the vintage flask which is festering (not literally) in a box under the spare bed and transform it. xx
Debby
I really like this idea. I have never found a nice one like that one.
rush
You must do something with the cup! You could put a string through the handle and dangle it on the side of the lamp, and maybe a little something could be put in it. Or, it could sit along side the thermos lamp where a small collection of somethings could be added. I'm sure you will think of something! Wonderful project!
Pam Kessler
I like the dangling cup thought! Great idea!
suzieQ
Oh, when I saw this, I thought, Pam has hit a home run with this one. I don't share your Thermos obsession so I will pass, but this would look cute in a man cave or camp. I bet there will be lots of copies of this idea. Thanks for sharing about grommets, never knew about them but now I do, thanks!
Anonymous
This is fab! I know what you mean about making lamps out of almost anything. I have been using what ever I can find and making some great lamps. I think my kids are afraid I'll put lampshades on their heads! : )
mary scott
U R an excellent teacher!
Sherry@Back2Vintage
This is a great repurposing idea, Pam! Your contagious sense of humor makes the tutorial one of the best I've read lately! Thanks for making me smile while learning something new!!!
Kay
Great idea, thanks for sharing. Love the bed ticking sailboat in the background. Do you have a full shot picture of it? I'd love to see what it looks like.
Pam Kessler
Thank you. I made the sailboat a few years ago and showed photos on this post - http://www.houseofhawthornes.com/2011/07/come-sail-away.html !
Shannon
This is just fantastic--I love it! Thank you for sharing the terrific tutorial. I am on the hunt for a thermos now!
ThrifterSisters
What an awesome idea! There is a certain type of paint brush that I need that only Home Depot seems to carry so I'll just grab this lamp kit while I'm at it! Oh, and a box of a million grommets. I'm sure they'll last me as many years 🙂 I can't wait to try this. I decided that after I take my 4th of July decorations down, I am going to do a vintage camping display. This will be perfect!
BTW...my sister has the same thumbs!! Wonder if you all are related?
~Erica
Pam Kessler
We're thumb sisters!
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living
Love this! I want to make one for my son's room. Thanks for sharing!!