Another fun project concept that I will probably apply to everything I can think of…
First things first: big credit for the inspiration of this project goes to Adam Savage (of Mythbusters fame). I watched a video of his where he built an old-style gaslamp, made it look old, and then put a disassembled led-flame bulb inside. I happened to have an small old oil lamp of my father’s so thought I would try the same thing. Video clips at the end of the post. Thanks Adam for the great idea!
Big difference with my lamp, asides from the size, was that I didn’t have to make it look old – it WAS old. When I started taking it apart the insides were caked in soot! I cleaned out the big chunks, but I didn’t want to clean it up TOO much 🙂
I found some small tube shaped led-flame-bulbs online:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/01-20201125_152240_resize.jpg)
and they look like they will fit quite well. My original plan was to hang the bulb upside down from top so I could keep the original wick, but that was going to get complicated. Asides from figuring out a firm way to attach it to the insides (and all the soot) there is also a spring mechanism up there for the vent shield.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/02-20200202_121300_resize.jpg)
Let’s take the bulb apart and see what’s inside ! LEDs mounted on a rolled-up circuit tube, and a small circuit board:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/03-20200202_105840_resize.jpg)
Since LEDs are usually driven by DC power (and electronic circuits to make flame patterns etc) , the circuit board is hopefully just to convert the AC power from the light socket to DC power. Adam double-checked this by disconnecting the bulb-socket and putting 120V AC into the board, and then measuring the power coming out to the LED board. I did the same just to be sure, but also to find out how much voltage I will need to supply with the batteries. Sure enough, 5V (a common electronics voltage):
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/04-20200202_114601_resize.jpg)
So the big test – I connect the LED tube to a separate 5V power supply to see if it works. Success ! It even detects when it is upside down and runs the flames the other way.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/05-20200202_115517_resize.jpg)
Ok, now to figure out how to mount this inside the lamp. The lamp has all sorts of cool swiveling parts to allow access to the wick without having loose parts – clever designing that today’s products don’t really need.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/06-20200208_133934_resize.jpg)
Disassembling to see what I have to work with:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/07-20200208_133948_resize.jpg)
Wow – it looks like the wick feeder shroud might be the perfect size to fit the LED base … and it is ! This is going to work amazingly.
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/08-lamp-nozzle-cut_resize.jpg)
And wow, the plastic bulb cover fits PERFECTLY into the hole in the glass bowl holder. This was meant to be! (The bulb cover got a bit dirty from all the soot, so I rubbed even more on it!)
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/09-20200208_134028_resize.jpg)
Ok, now to cut a hatch in the bottom for the battery compartment:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/10-20200208_155310_resize.jpg)
… and drill a hole for the on/off-button. Wiring everything up :
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/11-lamp-switch_resize.jpg)
It looks and works amazing ! I am very pleased:
![](http://www.bigbeanbag.net/andythings/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/12-Andys-LED-Oil-Lamp_resize.jpg)
and here is a couple of quick video clips of it running, along with a couple of parts from during the build:
Already I am now looking around the house wondering “what else can I turn into a flame-lamp?” LOL
Thanks for reading !