DIY Modern Brass Chandelier


SO many of you guys were excited about the DIY brass chandelier that the OKL team shared in this kitchen. Well, lucky for us, they've put together a full tutorial here to share with LGN readers (there's also a post here on the OKL blog, which is full of great content!). Let's jump right in to Megan Pflug's tutorial:


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List of materials:
  • 1 brass loop 1/8F IPS
  • 5 5-inch brass pipes 1/8F IPS
  • 5 10-inch brass pipes 1/8F IPS
  • 1 18-inch brass pipe 1/8F IPS
  • 5 Edison Porcelain Keyless sockets 660W-250V 1/8-27 CAP
  • 5 1/8F x 1/8F IPS adjustable brass swivel
  • 1 5-hole 1/8 sides x 1/8 bottom x 1/8 top large cluster body
  • 5 feet of 2 wire twisted cord (more depending on sealing height)
  • 5 Satco Globe Lights 40 W G40 clear (not pictured)
  • 15 feet of single strand conductor wire in white (UL 1007/1569, 26 AWG, 300 VAC)
  • 15 feet of single strand conductor wire in black (UL 1007/1569, 26 AWG, 300 VAC)
  • One package of twist-on wire connectors 3(22 AWG) Min, 3(16 AWG) Max,  300V
  • A pair of wire strippers
  • 1 roll of electrical tape
  • A screwdriver
TIP: Although it is not listed on their site, you can email SL Lighting NYC (info@sllightingnyc.com) with the above part list, and they will ship it all to you.

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Wire The Sockets:
1. Unscrew the back of the socket form the ceramic body using the screws located in inside the socket opening.
2. Cut a 2-foot length of both black and white wire. Use your wire stripper to remove about 1/4 inch of the plastic sheath from the ends of each wire.
3. Twist the exposed wire ends to keep from fraying and bend them to form a hook.
4.  Be sure to always attach the black wire to the gold screw and the white wire to the silver screw. Hook each wire in place around the base of each screw and tighten. Reattach the socket backing, threading the wires through the hole in the top.
5. Repeat this process for all five sockets.
Tip: Always hook the wire around the screws so that it wraps clockwise. This will help keep it in place as your screw.


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Construct The Arms:

1. Construct the brass arm by screwing it together, as shown using the 10-inch pipe, the 5-inch pipe, and the brass swivel.  Screw the socket in place threading the wires all the way through to the end of the 10-inch pipe.
2. Repeat this process for all five arms.


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Prep The Cloth Wire:
1. To prep the cloth wire, push back the cloth covering from the end and secure it with electrical tape.
2. Strip both wires about 1/2 inch from the ends.


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Join The Wires:
1. Join all the small white wires in the cluster body with the larger white cloth wire by twisting them together. Secure with a twist on wire connector. Repeat process with the black wires.
2. Gently push the wires inside the cluster body and reattach the cap. Thread the cloth wire through the hole in the top.
3. Thread the cloth wire through the remaining 17-inch brass pipe and screw it to the top of the cluster body.


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Finish Up:

1. Screw the brass loop to the top of your 17-inch pipe.
Tip: At this point, I recommend using an electrician to install your new chandelier. You should let her or him know that you will need a brass dome canopy kit to complete the install. 


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Stuck on a step? The OKL team is happy to help! Email Megan at editors@onekingslane.com ask a question about this how-to.

Thanks again to the OKL team for sharing this amazing tutorial with us! I can't wait to make my own. :)


(How-To Photography: Jason Hamilton)