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So I have a long built-in shelf in one room... a floor-to-4-foot 'berm' that I think goes around some foundation bulges. I've topped it with a nice shelf surface.
I want to put lights on it, but not permanent ones, and it's a bit narrow (9 inches) for almost any kind of conventional lamp. So what I want to do is build two pole lamps that can be firmly anchored but easily moved. Remember the old floor-to-ceiling pole lamps with a spring-loaded end, that you could put anywhere there was a ceiling spot the spring could engage?
I am trying to think of the simplest way to build/fab such spring loaded ends, with no more than a couple of inches of travel, since it's for a fixed-height placement. I checked lamp repair parts sources; no replacement or hobbyist spring-plunger things. Thought of scouring up used pole lamps, but finding two with identical plungers is just about nil.
I can think of several ways to fab such plungers starting with basic hardware and stock, but I am hoping to find something more or less pre-made, for any use.
Ideas? Things with such spring-loaded placement plungers, no more than maybe an inch in diameter and suitable for a 2-3" placement range?
Skip the spring. Use a large nut and long bolt. Affix the nut to the interior of the pole, use the long bolt as the base or the part that goes against the ceiling. Put a furniture glide or bit of foam on the head of the bolt to prevent marks or damage, and so it can have a little "give" for flexation.
Otherwise, buy a cafe curtain rod that has the springy action and kludge it into service.
Unless you're really craving that 60s vibe, there are so many other options. Hanging lights, tall torchiere, wall mounted, track, clip-on, puck, etc...You probably could make a spring loaded pole, but why?
If you really have to have one, they're available on Ebay
All good ideas. My vague design notion is a square wooden shaft, maybe 2x2, with both an uplight and a pointable reading light. They need to go with the room decor/shelf design (gray-washed cedar) and be only about 4 feet tall, so some ideas won't work well. I don't really need a $500 vintage pole lamp.
They also need to fit this odd combination of uses — fit the shelf, be able to be repositioned along it as the furniture changes around, be secure from being knocked down and fit a 9-inch shelf depth. So standing lamps, hanging lamps, floor lamps... won't work.
I think the right shower rod would make a good start, yes.
I think the right shower rod would make a good start, yes.
Yep, all kinds of colors and finishes. You can take it apart and cut-down the two pieces with a plumber's pipe cutter (those used for copper) to a more reasonable length/height.
You could probably even run the zip-cord inside the tubing with holes drilled and chaff grommets. The fixtures themselves- I'll leave that to your imagination!
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