Cheap lanterns (take 2)

Materials/Supplies:

2 cheap electrified lanterns (Christmas Tree Shops) $7.99 ea
2 fs-2 flourescent lamp starters $1.99/2
2 wirenuts
2 starter bases (~$1.50) [ add 4 more wirenuts for bases] or solder

MISC/Partial:

Hammered Brass Spray paint (HD)
Petina Green (not called that) Flat spray paint (HD)
Flat Black Spraypaing (WM or HD)
Rustolium "Frosted Glass" spray paint (HD)
Light Yellow spray paint (WM)
Hot Glue
(HD-Home Depot, WM-WalMart)


Find more videos like this on Garage of Evil!!

PROCESS:

Electric:

• cut the wires under the base leaving about 6-8 inches from the lamp base.
• (optionally cut the main wire [plug side] removing the switch)
• feed the power wire into the gromet in the base of the lamp, and tie a knot in the cord about 6 inches from the end.
• strip back the tracer wire ~3/4 inch, and the non tracer about 1/2 inch
• if using a starter socket - attach one lead from the starter socket to the lamp tracer wire and the other to the power cord tracer wire. cap with wire nuts on each side of the starter wires.
• The power cord has 2 wires, the one we refer to as the tracer has white writing (or impregnated writing, or impregnated strips) on it. The other wire is simply round and unmarked.
• if not using starter base - twist ends and tin the leads with solder
• tightly wrap the tinned tracer lead from the lamp side around one of the starter posts *
• tightly wrap the tinned tracer lead from the power cord side to the other starter post *
• * these need to be wrapped and somewhat crimped around the posts, as they are aluminum and we can't solder to them
• twist the 2 remaining wires (non tracer) from the lamp and power wires together and cap with a wirenut
• if you did not use a starter base use hot glue to insulate the exposed terminals an wires on the botton of the starter, a generous, amount to cover them, but not too much,
• Hot Glue the Socket or the starter itself inside the bottom of the lamp
• Hot Glue any wires that you may want to stay on place in the bottom

Paint Job

• Remove the glass globe
• remove the lamps
• cover the lamp base with masking tape to keep paint out of the socket
• Giver the lamp a nice even coat of the hammerd copper color all over
• Now spray over the copper color using the green , spraying down from the top, not too much just enough to give it a petina and let some of the copper color show through
• Lay the globes on their side and spray up throught the bottom of the globe with the flat balck to give the top of the globe a carbonized black coating. roll the globes a bit to get it even. this should come down towards the base about half way, with the heavier coverage towards the top, and tapering off in coverage towards the center
• using the black spray around the vent holes on the lamp (top) where the flame would vent, also give the top of the lamps vent a little black too
• With the globes standing up, give the outside of the glass a nice even coat of window frosting
• wrap a little masking tape around the screw base of the light bulbs
• coloer the bulbs with a light coat of yellow, you can add a touch of red towards the bottom of the bulbs, but it's not necessary
• Let it all dry, then reassemble the lamp (bulb, globe) Viola an aged brass lantern (that actually throws off some light)
  Variation: use a 15w candle bulb (same color treatment) but use a FS-5 starter for a brighter lantern.