Re-purposed Ashtray Base (Or Lamp) Into a Lamp

Do you know what’s really nice about those old stand up ashtray bases? They seem to be the perfect specimens for re-purposing into quirky, beautiful, and unique table lamps. I’ve seen old ones of all shapes, sizes, and materials, especially at auctions and I wonder if people have similar ideas because they always tend to sell for much higher than I would ever pay for one. Either that or they smoke.

Re-purposed Ashtray Base (Or Lamp) Into a Lamp

Now, I should say at this point, is it an ashtray or is it a lamp?  In the end we either turned an ashtray into a lamp or a lamp into a lamp. Meh.

This one, I’d received from my dad because he knows we’ll use just about anything to make something else.  We’re pretty sure it’s cast aluminum and it has a decent weight to it. It didn’t have the top part and he’d already sandblasted it.

Sandblasting is just what it sounds like…he blasted it with sand. For this in particular, it was to clean up the surface using sand and an air compressor. Needless to say, it’s the best thing you could ever wish for. It removes every.single.thing. I need to learn how to do this. Although it’s funny, especially since the original was indeed black because we ended up painting it black again.

Sandblasted vintage ashtray base turned into a lamp by AmbientWares.com

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We’ve made quite a few lamps here, including this mid century beauty and this steampunk-esque cutey so we were totally prepared to manipulate the base in some way in order for the lamp parts to fit however, the existing threaded hole fit the future lamp’s threaded pipe (1/8IPS) perfectly.

Threaded pipe opening on vintage pot bellied ashtray base by AmbientWares.com

We have a ton of lamp parts. You name it, we most likely have it. We’ve even stolen from our own lamps because it had just the right thing as youll see later. First, we gathered everything we’d need to paint.

  • The base
  • Lamp Harp ~ stolen from a broken floor lamp we had.
  • Hollow tube (not always needed) to cover the threaded post the lamp cords would go through.
Lamp harp used on the old ashtray base turned lamp by AmbientWares.com
Stolen Lamp harp

The hollow tube was from this planter base. See, we don’t just steal from our lamps, we steal from our garden too! We’ve also seen the cage like tops of these used to make lamp shades. Ideas continually churning.

Parts from a caged planter used in the ashtray base turned lamp by AmbientWares.com

We first had to cut the hollow metal pipe to height using a pipe cutter similar to this. You turn the knob slightly to grip the pipe, spin it around a few times, tighten again and repeat until it comes apart. The rough edges can then be carefully sanded smooth.

Pipe cutter used to cut new pipe for the lamp by AmbientWares.com

Everything used to make the lamp:

  1. Base
  2. Lamp cord
  3. Hollow tube (not always necessary)
  4. Hollow threaded pipe (what the cord will feed through)
  5. Lamp Socket
  6. Wire cutters
  7. Lamp harp
  8. Washers
  9. Black ring to go at the base of the hollow tube. This was not needed but, made it look cleaner
  10. 2 Nuts (not pictured)
  11. Loctite Thread Lock (not pictured)
  12. Lamp Shade (not pictured)
  13. Bulb (not pictured)

All the parts used to make the lamp by AmbientWares.com

Here’s a basic lamp assembly guide. It will vary based on what you’re trying to achieve and just how creative you get with the types of materials you use.

Assembly

The black ring and one washer were set on top of the existing threaded opening.

Setting the washer in the base of the lamp by AmbientWares.comThe threads on the pipe were coated with Loctite Thread Lock.Using Loctite on the threaded lamp pipe by AmbientWares.com

The pipe was immediately connected to the base and the nut tightened.

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SaveVintage Standing Ashtray Base Refurbished Into A Lamp ~ ambientwares.comConnecting the threaded pipe to the base by AmbientWares.com

The hollow tube was placed over the pipe.

Placing hollow tube over threaded pipe of DIY lamp by AmbientWares.comNext, came the lamp harp plus another washer then the 2nd nut.

Installing lamp harp onto the new lamp by AmbientWares.comThe bottom half of the socket was screwed onto the very top of the threaded pipe. Installing lamp socket for the new lamp by AmbientWares.com

The lamp cord was fed up through the pipe from the base.Threading the lamp cord into the lamp base by AmbientWares.com

The cord was snipped and then split down the middle a couple of inches.Snipping cord before attaching to the socket by AmbientWares.com

Splitting the lamp cord wire by AmbientWares.com

The very top portions of the wire insulation were stripped and the copper wrapped securely underneath the screws of the inner portion of the socket, which were tightened. Stripping wire insulation to wrap copper around socket screws by AmbientWares.comThe inner and top pieces were screwed onto the bottom half of the socket.Attaching lamp socket by AmbientWares.com

I know you know what a bulb looks like but, the joy felt when a lamp you made lights up makes you…well…light up too. New bulb in the new lamp by AmbientWares.com

This is a lamp shade and finial from an actual working lamp in our house. I don’t know why we have no qualms about stealing from other things we actually use but, it gives me an excuse to come up with a replacement shade for ours. It’s a sickness I say. Have you stolen from something you actually use and made it a part of something else entirely?

Finished ashtray base turned lamp by AmbientWares.com

I understand if this little chubby pot bellied lamp isn’t your style. It isn’t really mine either but, when you make something new out of something old, something no one cares about to something you’ve taken care of, it’s a beautiful thing regardless. I already know we’re going to have to shorten the pipe. It just looks weird and lanky.

Don’t worry, I’m not getting all PSA on you…the words just fit.

Vintage Standing Ashtray Base Repurposed Into A Lamp. For this and more DIY lighting projects visit AmbientWares.com! #vintagestyle #diylamp #oldstandupashtray #diylighting

14 thoughts on “Re-purposed Ashtray Base (Or Lamp) Into a Lamp

  1. I love the base of this lamp. It reminds me of wood burning stove my grandparents had. Great project.

    1. Now, I’d take a real wood burning stove any day! 😉 Thanks Sherry!

  2. That looks like lots of work, but it’s worth it. What a gorgeous lamp! I bet it’s a great conversation starter. Very creative to put those pieces together.

    1. Thank you Jas! It has yet to find a new home but, I think it’s one of those where it needs “just the right person.” 😀

  3. What a fantastic project! LOVE how it came out! Thanks so much for stopping by!
    Hugs,
    Deb

  4. Hi Angie, I love how the lamp turned out! What a creative idea! I’m sure it will find a new home.

  5. Angie, the lamp turned out great! I love it! I love turning something from its unintended purpose to a whole new intended purpose!

    1. Morning Lacie! Thank you! It really is a satisfying “job” to make something purposeful out of some old junk. It’ll never get old 🙂

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