Introduction: Fierce Anglepoise Rgb + Strobe Desk Lamp Shiny Silver Future Retro Punk Party

By my flickr stuff
About: the a b c approach is not for me .all feedback welcome. thanks for looking. if you would like some assistance or are interested in purchasing something don't be a stranger .

MeGa BRiGht low energy multicolour worklight, with strobe functions and future retro punk design. Electricity and spectacles are expensive , rgb leds are not, the lamp base was a beautiful art deco/utilitarian relic from my uni days, Its head was cut off and used as a paint hopper for an special art project in 1999, significantly reducing its ebay value today. the video below demonstrates its ferocity, the camera struggles to keep up.

Step 1: Tools & Materials

Materials

  • anglepoise lamp
  • general purpose glue, uhu or evostick
  • felt or baize
  • abrasive paper . p60,p180,p320.p2000
  • wire wool medium and fine
  • cream metal polish, autosole or t-cut
  • wadding metal polish, duraglit or similar
  • polishing cloth
  • cellulose thinners
  • spare nut and bolt with washers m10
  • electrical flex 3m
  • bungee cord x2
  • heat shrink various sizes. 2 ,5 &10 mm
  • mains plug , i got a see through one.
  • m8 studding
  • m8 nylock nuts
  • m8 split spring washers
  • epoxy resin glue 2 part. araldite.
  • rgb exterior security lamp. £12 ebay!

Tools

  • spanner
  • pliers
  • drill
  • scissors
  • prying screwdriver
  • brass wire brush
  • regular screwdrivers
  • soldering iron
  • wire cutters strippers
  • tweezers needle point
  • nut bolt and penny washers(large washers)
  • electrical screwdriver
  • heat source for heat-shrink a lighter would work

Step 2: Basic Dissasembely

my lamp had a unattractive patina of rust dirt and various layers of paint, to clean it well it needed disassembling .if a washer or other little bit drops on the floor,find it before you continue. only have the parts you need apart when you need them apart. your less likely to loose parts or forget how they go together, if you round off a nut or something fix it as you go.

Step 3: Replace Baize

the new baize simply glues on once the old rotten cloth and glue is scraped off the internal base part.

Step 4: Remove Paint From Arm

medium then fine steel wool and cellulose thinners soften and removes paint from aluminium without causing too much damage to the metal. letting the thinners soak into the paint over time makes removal easier. cellulose thinners are extremely flammable ,they also evaporate at low temperature,is not good for your lungs or skin.. also wire wool is hazardous through splinters and dust. also it creates an ignition source with electricity.

health and safety sheet for cellulose thinners

..

Step 5: Look at the Shiney Arm

Step 6: Remove Paint From the Base

using a medium paper i found out how thick the paint was, i used some coarse paper to carefully make it thinner, scratches in the metal would make much more work. when i could start to see metal patches i stuck to 180 paper.

Step 7: Start a Shine on the Base

buff out scratches ,using increasingly finer papers, after the 2000 paper . i repeated 2000 with water.

Step 8: Polish the Base

apply cream metal polish with wet and dry paper ,then buff.

Step 9: Spin the Base

if only id done this earlier, it would have saved some time.and the fine scratches would all be in the same direction and less conspicuous.

Step 10: Polish and Buff the Base

repeated spinning with metal polish gets a near mirror finish.

Step 11: Apply Clear Coat

the base is steel ,therefore it will rust, the arm is aluminium it will oxidise and go dull grey, quickly. as soon as possible remove any grubby fingerprints get a clear coat on it to keep it all shiny.

Step 12: Get a Braid

braided fabric old style wire is easy to buy in many styles, i did this to see it it could be done,

remove the hooks and elastic from a bungee cord. force and enthusiasm helps. i found that small stray bits of elastic would get left in the middle of the braid, they can be hooked out through the side of the braid with tweezers. loose bits of rubber inside make threading the wire almost impossible.

Step 13: Thread the Wire

i cut the wire to a point and wrapped in sellotape to make it smooth.

Step 14: Tidy Ends

heat shrink makes the fluffy ends tidy. trim off big fluffy parts with scissors, push the braid under the shrink , if using flame to heat the shrink ,protect the braid with something, i used sandpaper.

Step 15: Threading the Frame

my braid would not fit through the frame, so the section between the frame and plug are braided, and the section between the frame and lamphead.

i only had one of the original rubber grommets and it was difficult to force back in,i think the original wire must have been thinner.

Step 16: See the Light

look inside video .


getting the led driver box out took enthusiasm, its metal case came off in the process, im surprised i didnt break it.

Step 17: Diet

the lamp head needs to weigh very much less than the led light as supplied, different lamp base designs are more forgiving than anglepoise.

what i kept. 323.3g

  • 161.2
  • 95.2
  • 76.9

what i removed 482.7g

  • 48.3
  • 434.4

Step 18: Balencing Act

after seeing how light i cam make the head, next its time to work out how far the head can extend from the elbow, the lighter it is the further it can go.

i would have done some mechanical moment calculations calculations,

((old elbow distance x old head mass)=(new elbow distance x new head mass))

however i dont have the original head, so trial and error with gaffa tape holding it together, to fine a happy balence.

m8 threaded bar (studding) fit nicely inside the remaining portion of the frame,once i was happy with the length i used epoxy resin to set it in. nylock nuts with a spring washer hold the lamp head at the other end while still allowing it to rotate.

Step 19: Put the Led Somewhere Safe

before removing the wires, i put coloured spots where the wires went. when removed the led goes to a safe place far far away from the warzone of my desk.

Step 20: Remove Paint

A shiny aluminium lamp stand deserves a shiny aluminium lamp head, not a grey one.

after much slowness, i found that a brass wire brush and thinners was the most efficient way of getting most of the paint off. (see safety notices of earlier paint removal step.)

polishing was similar to the base omitting the spinning bit.

Step 21: Clear Coat

aluminium takes little time to tarnish grey, so clearcoat keeps it fresh and reflective.

Step 22: Reinstall Led

fresh thermal grease, and some tidy english soldering , note that i shortened the wires for appearances and weight.

Step 23: Remote Sensor Placement

i think in retrospect i could have put the remote sensor somewhere better, like mounting it sideways in the heat sync or something.

pay attention to the colour coding, drill a hole shorten the wires, reattach and insulate.

Step 24: Exposed Wireing Better Be Tidy

after another bungee cord battle for the top section of braiding, reconnect the led driver, i put its tin cover back on, i like its utility look despite the dents.

Step 25: Temperature Concerns

i thought it would be wise to see how hot it gets, after being on for several hours , it got a little warm, but not what id describe as hot..