DIY Luxo Jr. Lamp (Pixar Inspired)
by mikeandlauren in Workshop > Woodworking
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DIY Luxo Jr. Lamp (Pixar Inspired)
![lamp_21.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5Q/ABUS/IHI3QNBL/F5QABUSIHI3QNBL.jpg&filename=lamp_21.jpg)
![Mike Makes a Luxo Style Desk Lamp (FINISHED)](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1O/5MS5/IHI3QNVG/F1O5MS5IHI3QNVG.jpg&filename=Mike Makes a Luxo Style Desk Lamp (FINISHED))
I wanted to make a Pixar style lamp out of wood. It took me three attempts, but I'm happy with the result!
CNC Fail
![lamp_1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FWQ/58VY/IHI3QN6G/FWQ58VYIHI3QN6G.jpg&filename=lamp_1.jpg)
![lamp_2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5M/ZOXW/IHI3QN6I/F5MZOXWIHI3QN6I.jpg&filename=lamp_2.jpg)
![lamp_4.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FS2/CIC0/IHI3QN6O/FS2CIC0IHI3QN6O.jpg&filename=lamp_4.jpg)
I chose this project because I wanted to learn Google Sketchup. It took me about 3 days but I finally got the hang of it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the X-Carve to cut properly, so I gave up.
The Old Fashioned Way
![lamp_5.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBA/XN24/IHI3QN6P/FBAXN24IHI3QN6P.jpg&filename=lamp_5.jpg)
![lamp_6.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMK/QWRF/IHI3QN6V/FMKQWRFIHI3QN6V.jpg&filename=lamp_6.jpg)
![lamp_7.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3Z/7LT0/IHI3QN71/F3Z7LT0IHI3QN71.jpg&filename=lamp_7.jpg)
I got my second wind after all the frustration and decided to cut my parts out by hand. This worked great and only took me about 30 minutes.
Assembling the Head
![lamp_8.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRE/TFS6/IHI3QN74/FRETFS6IHI3QN74.jpg&filename=lamp_8.jpg)
![lamp_9.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FK7/VTMF/IHI3QN76/FK7VTMFIHI3QN76.jpg&filename=lamp_9.jpg)
![lamp_10.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBS/SKVV/IHI3QN7B/FBSSKVVIHI3QN7B.jpg&filename=lamp_10.jpg)
![lamp_11.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKN/Z4ZT/IHI3QN7W/FKNZ4ZTIHI3QN7W.jpg&filename=lamp_11.jpg)
I bought this brass lamp shade from my local salvage supply for $3 dollars. But it needed a back so I brazed another piece of brass so I had something to attach my lamp socket to.
Electrical
![lamp_12.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVP/EKLP/IHI3QN7Z/FVPEKLPIHI3QN7Z.jpg&filename=lamp_12.jpg)
![lamp_13.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLJ/N5O5/IHI3QN8Q/FLJN5O5IHI3QN8Q.jpg&filename=lamp_13.jpg)
![lamp_14.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRM/BAHY/IHI3QN9B/FRMBAHYIHI3QN9B.jpg&filename=lamp_14.jpg)
I used liquid electrical tape and a rubber gasket to insulate my wiring from the brass.
Stain and Final Assembly
![lamp_15.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYT/93KZ/IHI3QN9F/FYT93KZIHI3QN9F.jpg&filename=lamp_15.jpg)
![lamp_16.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F84/H8Y8/IHI3QNA9/F84H8Y8IHI3QNA9.jpg&filename=lamp_16.jpg)
![lamp_17.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDT/LUGS/IHI3QNAU/FDTLUGSIHI3QNAU.jpg&filename=lamp_17.jpg)
![lamp_18.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FG2/PX57/IHI3QNAX/FG2PX57IHI3QNAX.jpg&filename=lamp_18.jpg)
I used brass rod to connect everything. Initially I was going to use springs to make it a true balanced arm lamp, but the friction of the joints is working great. If that ever changes I'll add springs like in the design.
Finished!
![lamp_19.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FX5/41T8/IHI3QNAY/FX541T8IHI3QNAY.jpg&filename=lamp_19.jpg)
![lamp_20.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRL/XQLL/IHI3QNB0/FRLXQLLIHI3QNB0.jpg&filename=lamp_20.jpg)
![timelapse_finished_2.gif](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNK/LQ4Z/IHI3QNFW/FNKLQ4ZIHI3QNFW.gif&filename=timelapse_finished_2.gif)
![lamp_22 copy.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYD/JMI5/IHI3QNBM/FYDJMI5IHI3QNBM.jpg&filename=lamp_22 copy.jpg)
Here's the sketchup and SVG files if anyone is interested in making their own.
http://www.mikeandlauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/lamp_files.zip