100 Rs DIY Kids / Contemporary Desk Fun Lamp

3 Line Summary: Create a super cute, fun loving, DIY, kids "PIPE MAN" contemporary desk lamp with just 100 rs and 1 hour of your time.

DIY kids Lamp

The "PIPE MAN" desk lamp:
Trust me your kids will love this cute little man who can show myriad of emotions and emote to them. This lamp also can match any contemporary décor and can be kept on a desk or hung on a wall! All you need is 100 rs cash and 1 hour time with your kids.

What you need:
1. 2 feet of 1 inch electrical pipe : 4-5 rs
2. 10 L shaped elbow bends : 20 rs
3. 1 electrical junction box with four ends : 5 rs
4. 1 electrical T joint : 3 rs
5. 1 PVC L joint: 10 rs (get this from Hardware shop, one side is smaller and other side is bigger)
6. Bulb holder : 10 rs
7. 2 pin male plug : 10 rs
8. 4 nos of 3/4 inch dummy : 20 rs (get this from hardware, take your pipe along for perfect fit)
9. Wire, length as required : 10 rs
10. Saw blade : 5 rs
11. Blu-Tack (Blu-Tack @ Amazon )
12. 1 no LED Bulb. I prefer LEDs as its safe (made of plastic so wont break or get hot). You can also buy them in different colour to meet your needs. I used white ( Philips DECO mini LED )
13. Spray paint, colour your choice. I re-used the one from the Laptop stand project

Steps to make the "PIPE MAN":
1. Cut the pipe into 8 pieces of 3 inch in length (Big joint, refer pic above). We will use this for arms and legs. To know how to cut, see my previous blog ( Laptop stand )

2. Cut 6 pieces of 1.5 inch from the pipe. We will use this to join the elbow, T, and junction joints.

3. To create the arms, join the Small Joint (will refer as ST) to one side of elbow. Join the Big Joint (will refer as BT) to other side. Now join an elbow to other side of BT. Join another BT to the elbow. Close it with a dummy. Repeat this for other side. It should look like this:

4. To create legs, join one ST to an elbow. To the other side of the elbow, join a BT. Now, join another BT to the other side of the elbow. Join a elbow to the BT. Join a ST again to the other side of elbow and close it with a dummy. Repeat the same for the other side. It should look like this:

5. Now cut 6 inch pipe for the body and connect one end to the T joint and another end to the Junction box. 

6. Connect a ST to the PVC L joint. This L joint will be around 3/4 inch in one side to fit ST and another end will be around 1.25 inch so it can fit the bulb holder. It should all look like this:

7. Now put a hole in one side of the T so that we can insert a wire. You can use a screw driver or a sharp knife to do this. It should look like this. Remember the hole should be big enough for the wire, so depending on the thickness of the wire decide the hole size.

8. Now run the wire through the T, then the body pipe, ST & PVC L joint. It should look like this:

9. Connect the bulb holder and 2-pin socket. Fix the bulb and check if it works. This will ensure you don't troubleshoot after you have fixed all. Join all arms, legs, body, and head. It will look like this:

10. Take a small size Blu-Tack or little play doh and spread it around the bulb holder like this. This helps in keeping the holder fixed. If you need to remove, it will also come out easily.

11. Fix the bulb holder to the PVC L joint head. Fix the bulb to the holder and switch it on. The "PIPE MAN" is ready. Here is the thinking avatar of the PIPE MAN:

SAFETY NOTE: Remember, use only LED bulb. LED bulbs come with plastic outer layer so in case it falls it wont break. Also, it never gets hot so even if your kid or anyone touches the bulb nothing will happen. 

Optional:
You can paint the PIPE MAN to any colour. You are only limited by your creativity. I painted it black. To know more on how to paint, read the Laptop Stand blog ( How to paint ).

Here are the various avatars of the "PIPE MAN":
1. The reading "PIPE MAN"

2. The praying "PIPE MAN"

3. The running "PIPE MAN"

4. The thinking "PIPE MAN"

5. The Boxing "PIPE MAN"

Use your creative hat and keep changing the position everyday and make it fun for your kids. You can also use them to mimic the kids activity time.

Tips:
1. You can use a bigger book and deflect light to make it as a night lamp.
2. Play with colours to match the room or décor or kids favourite colour.
3. Always test the lamp connections before you finish everything.
4. You can hang it on a wall by making a hole in the junction box. Drive a nail to the wall and hang the "PIPE MAN" using the hole in the junction box.