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How to make a vintage book lamp

How novel is this? A charming reading lamp made from a pile of vintage books and an off-the-shelf lampshade.
Better Homes and Gardens

All you need to do is drill a hole through each book (make sure you’ve read them first!), then stack them onto the shaft of a lamp base. Add a painted wire shade, and this light will look right at home in your favourite night-time reading nook.

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Gather your supplies
* Hardback books (6)
* Table lamp base
* Wire lampshade

You’ll also need
Ruler; pencil; clamps (2); timber offcuts, about 200 x 100 x 14mm (2); Dulux Spraypak Quick Dry Metal Primer; Dulux Spraypak Quick Dry in Flat Black; hole saw; contact adhesive; rubber washer (we used a cistern washer); scissors; screwdriver; light bulb

Here’s how

Step 1
On underside of 1 book, use ruler and pencil to mark a line from corner to corner in each direction to find centre point. Repeat for each book.

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Step 2
To make a drilling template, drill hole through 1 timber offcut.

Step 3
Place other timber offcut on workbench. Put 1 book on top, with centre mark face up. Then put drilling template on top, with hole lined up with centre mark on book. Clamp assembly using clamps, 1 on each side of hole.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens )

Step 4
Cut hole in 1 book using hole saw. Repeat for each book. Remove any paper caught in hole saw with screwdriver.

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(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens )

Step 5
Stack books over lamp shaft in desired arrangement. You can alternate cover colours or turn books at different angles.

(Credit: Better Homes and Gardens )

Step 6
To cover hole in top book, cut from edge of rubber washer to centre hole, then glue in place.

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Step 7
Clean and dry wire shade. Apply 1 coat of metal primer and allow to dry. Apply 2 coats of black paint, allowing to dry between each coat.


Step 8
Fit shade to base, add a bulb and your lamp is complete.

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