How to Make an Elk Antler Chandelier
You've seen them in hunting lodges, and you may even have fantasized about a gathering of antlers hanging from your ceiling to add the finishing touch to a room that's log cabin spectacular. Dream no more, but expect to do some antler harvesting if you don't want to pay through the nose for raw materials. Head for Montana, Wyoming and other "homes" where the elk roam and collect naturally-shed antlers in winter and spring. Return home, grab your electrical tools, a ceiling armature and lamp socket materials, and most of the hard work is done. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Elk antlers
- Pattern or photo reference
- Standard lamp socket kit
- Drill with 3/8" drill bit
- Lacquer or polyurethane finish
- Rubber bands, bungee cord or wire
- Soldering gun and solder
- Armature, metal chandelier frame or shape
- Murphy Oil Soap
- Ceiling brace/bracket (optional)
- Organic lampshades (optional)
- Ceiling medallion (optional)
Instructions
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1
De-grime the antlers you collected by washing each one inside and out with Murphy Oil Soap or a comparable product to remove dirt and organic matter. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the surfaces of the elk antlers to seal them.
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2
Choose the area that's earmarked for your elk antler chandelier. Remove existing lighting fixture, if one exists, and check out the electrical source to make certain nothing needs rewiring before you get to the aesthetics. Call a licensed electrician if you feel you need professional help diagnosing and fixing wiring.
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3
Consult with your spouse or roommate to agree upon the drop length of the elk antler chandelier. Make that decision based upon where the light fixture is to be hung. As a general rule, chandeliers are best hung from 30- to 34-inches from the ceiling (for eight-foot ceilings); allow less drop if the fixture is to be installed in a high-traffic area.
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Insert a chandelier brace into the ceiling---particularly if your finished fixture will have a lot of weight-bearing antlers. Patch the area around the bracket or install a ceiling medallion if you've decided to use one as a decorative touch from which the chandelier will hang.
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5
Wire the chandelier frame/armature with the configuration of lamp socket kits you've chosen for your fixture. Secure everything with wire. Screw light bulbs into socket(s) to make certain you've purchased the right size, and then remove them before proceeding.
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6
Follow reference material by arranging elk antlers to the pre-wired frame. Try different configurations if you're designing the arrangement yourself. Use rubber bands or bungee cords to hold antlers in place until you're pleased with the arrangement; then solder the antlers into place, and remove the bands.
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Install the chandelier after you have turned off the electrical power. Attach one end of the wiring to the wall-mounted light switch. Mount the elk antler chandelier on the bracket, and tidy up the area. Replace the light bulbs, and you're good to go.
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Tips & Warnings
Lighting experts recommend leaving around 12" of "table length" around a hanging chandelier to make certain diners don't crash into the fixture when they stand up.
References
- Photo Credit eHow.com
