Wooden Spiral DIY Pendant Lamp

DIY Spiral Wood Pendant Lamp Tutorial

This is my first project. I originally bought the xTool DIY light kit and the lampshade design was supposed to be available through the generator in xTool Studio, but I was never able to find it. So I ended up creating my own version.

The finished shade is approximately 7" in diameter, with the slats gradually increasing in length to create the spiral effect.

Materials

• xTool 3mm basswood — I used 3 12"x12" sheets
• xTool DIY pendant light kit, or a compatible pendant light
• Wood glue, optional
• Ceiling hook

Approximate Finished Dimensions

• Diameter: 7"
• Longest slat: 11.7"
• Shortest slat: 4.4"
• Material thickness: 3mm

The slots/notches were designed as close to 3mm wide as possible. Mine still fit a little loosely, so keep in mind that you may need to adjust the slot width slightly depending on the actual thickness of your wood and whether or not you use kerf.

Step 1: Arrange and Cut the Pieces

Arrange the center disk and all of the slats on your basswood sheets.

I was able to cut the entire lamp from three sheets of xTool 12"x12" 3mm basswood.

Cut all of the pieces using the settings appropriate for your machine and material.

Step 2: Assemble the Spiral Shade

Start with the shortest slat.

Slide its notch into one of the slots on the center disk.

Continue adding the slats around the disk in order from shortest to longest.

Keeping them in order as you work your way around the circle is what creates the gradual spiral shape.

If the slots are slightly loose, add a small amount of wood glue where the slats meet the center disk. You may want to dry-fit the entire shade first before gluing anything permanently.

Step 3: Attach the Pendant Light

If you're using the xTool DIY pendant light kit:

1. Unscrew the retaining ring from the light socket.
2. Insert the threaded portion of the socket through the center hole of the wooden disk.
3. Screw the retaining ring back onto the socket.
4. Tighten it so the wooden shade is securely clamped between the socket and retaining ring.

If you're using a different pendant light kit, check the diameter of the socket before cutting the hole out of your center disk. The center hole needs to be large enough for the threaded portion of your particular light fixture to pass through.

Step 4: Hang the Lamp

Install a suitable ceiling hook and hang the pendant cord from the hook.

Because this is a plug-in pendant light, position the hook so the shade hangs where you want it while allowing the cord to run safely to the outlet.

Then install your bulb and enjoy your new spiral lamp!

A Few Things I Learned

The biggest thing I would adjust next time is the slot fit. Even though I made the slots close to the advertised 3mm material thickness, they were still a little loose. Actual plywood thickness and laser kerf can vary, so doing a small slot-fit test before cutting all of the pieces would be worthwhile.

Also, dry-fit everything before using glue. Once you have all of the slats installed, the spiral pattern becomes much easier to see and you can make any adjustments before committing to the final assembly.

Safety note: Use an LED bulb that stays relatively cool and make sure your pendant hardware and ceiling hook are rated appropriately for the fixture.

Individual pieces & kit listed in the materials section.