How to make an unusual chandelier: anti-crisis decor

You can’t forbid to live beautifully… And why should anything be forbidden, if even in crisis you can pamper yourself with unusual things, with a little effort and even less money! Why not change the kitchen, for example, and make an unusual chandelier that also serves as a creative storage system for cutlery?.

The neighbors and friends won’t have such décor, so you can safely pass off the homemade chandelier as an exclusive designer piece! By the way, you can always say that your kitchen chandelier is made in “shabby chic” style, which combines modern utilitarianism with vintage chic. And if you have already decided for sure that your kitchen will not do without this stylish thing, then carefully study the step-by-step instructions.

Step 1

Buy three aluminum strips L x W x T 1 m x 25 mm x 2 mm to make three chandelier rings. For the big ring, use the entire 1m section. For a medium ring – a section of 75 cm, and for a small ring – a section of 55 cm. Bend each piece into a separate circle. Screw the 4 metal brackets to the workbench to hold the hoop during welding. Boil down two ends of a hoop with the Dremel® Versaflame. First remove any oxidation and dust from the surface using your Dremel® 8200 and the Dremel® 530 steel wire brush. Using your Dremel® Versaflame blowtorch, heat the aluminum edging on both ends of the hoop to a melting point of 380°. Place a drop of aluminum welding rod on each surface of the ring and work the surface with an oxidizing rod to break down the oxidized layer so that the filler rod drop bonds to the aluminum. Clamp the ring, heat it again to melting point, and the two mating edges will fuse. Add more solder if necessary. There are a number of good tutorials on YouTube to help you do this.

Step 2

Measure the outer circumference of all the hoops and write down the values obtained. Take a large hoop, divide it into the appropriate number of segments one segment per cutlery hanging from the hoop . Make the markings. We used 24 cutlery on the top hoop, 12 on the middle hoop, and 12 on the bottom hoop. Divide the circumference of the hoop into four equal sections and mark the corresponding split points between the sections where the chains will be attached. These four chains are used to hang each hoop under each other. Drill a hole in each section point using the Dremel® 8200 and the 3.2mm bit from the 628 Precision Drill Bit Set. Punch holes in the drill holes with the punch to prevent the drill from sliding around on the surface of the aluminum. For the middle hoop, drill two holes below each other at the dividing points between the four equal parts in order to attach the chains.

Step 3

First fabricate the center aluminum disk for the crown, which will accept the support rods from the large hoop. Cut a 60 mm disc out of 2mm thick aluminum sheet with the Dremel® 8200, the Dremel® 3.2 mm square tungsten carbide bit 9901 and the line cutter 678. Use the 9901 to cut a 27mm round hole in the center of the disc to receive the light. Smooth the edges of the hole with a 952 aluminum oxide grinding stone.

Step 4

Weld a 230mm length of aluminum bars to the 4mm hoop. When all four bars are welded, bend them and weld them to the center disc so that there is 10 mm overlap in each case. Once the structure is created, weld two aluminum bars in each of the four parts of the circle at an equal distance from each other and bend them, giving them the shape of winding stems to which metal leaves can be attached. Mark and cut the diamond-shaped metal leaves out of very thin 1mm aluminium sheets using the Dremel® 8200, the SpeedClic holder SC402 and the SpeedClic cut-off wheel SC456 and then weld them to the aluminium rod stems using the Dremel® Versaflame.

Step 5

Cut a groove with your Dremel® 8200 fitted with the SpeedClic Metal Cut-Off Wheel SC456 at the top of each hoop, at each marked segment.

Step 6

Using the previously drilled holes for the chains, place the spiral connecting rings in them. Attach chains to connect all the hoops together.

Step 7

Buy a ceiling socket and chain for the chandelier. Unscrew the ring from the lamp holder, insert the lamp holder into the disc at the top of the chandelier and tighten the retaining ring. Run wires from the ceiling to an existing light fixture, making sure the power is turned off beforehand, or ask an electrician to do it.

Step 8

Drill holes in the handles of your cutlery with the Dremel® 8200 and the bit from the precision drill bit set. Then take a paper clip and open it so that it takes the form of an S-shaped hook. Hook the top, larger part of this hook into the hoop frame in the groove, and extend the lower part of it into the drilled hole of the cutlery. Use a standard 60W bulb for illumination.

ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES

• Aluminum strip
• Aluminum welding rod
• 2mm aluminum sheet
• Abrasive stainless steel rod
• Brush made of stainless steel wire
• Steel measuring tape
• Protective eyewear
• Paperclips