Sunday, March 27, 2011

DIY : Mason Jar Drop Lights

I've been eyeing the Edison style drop lights for a while now, and today I decided it was time I brought the style into our apartment. The project was actually pretty easy, and I'm really happy with the outcome.






















1. Edison bulb; These can be found at Anthropologie, but I found this one for about half the price at Butter Home , in the Melrose Market.
2. Cord kit; I bought this one on sale a while ago at UO, but they have them everywhere, including Ikea.
3. Vintage mason jar; I found this particular one at the Seattle Trading Post.
4. Cordless Drill (my baby)
5. Pliers
6. Hammer


























































1. Drill holes as close together to one another as possible, around a traced circle.
2. Hammer the middle to pop out the center, and use the pliers to bend jagged edges.
3. Attach the cord by unscrewing the plastic top and sliding the lid one. Re-screw onto other side of the lid.
Lastly, put it all together! Add the bulb, put the lid on the jar, and presto, you have a DIY mason jar drop light!
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44 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2012 at 11:58 PM

    Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2012 at 8:02 PM

    Thank you for the directions...they are very helpful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maddy PorterFebruary 13, 2012 at 11:45 AM

    So glad you liked it! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 5, 2012 at 9:19 AM

    I would worry that this would get so hot the glass would crack, or worse, explode, as there are no vents for the heat to escape.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2023 at 8:47 PM

      212° is boiling. These are canning jars that are used in 212° for 3 hrs... I don't think it would have a problem.

      Delete
  5. Maddy PorterJune 5, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    Thank you for bringing that up! Yes, that's something that's been brought to my attention that I overlooked. Although I haven't actually had an issue with them, it's smart of drill a few more holes around the perimeter of the opening to allow air to flow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 23, 2012 at 6:12 AM

      you could also use a glass cutter and cut out the bottom of the jar!!

      Delete
    2. UnknownApril 7, 2014 at 8:18 PM

      no UL listing for that use, if a fire accurs the house will not be covered by home owners ins. your giving out dangerus advice, how did you connect it to power you didnt show that, if you plugged it in then its considered temporary lighting and has to be removed in 30 days

      Delete
    3. Mtns to Sea in VAFebruary 1, 2016 at 10:14 AM

      I can see one light cord hanging in the corner and the other is coming down between the pictures. You must be kidding about removing them in 30 days. It's a lamp! Does that mean My insurance won't cover my home if a table lamp catches the house on fire. That's just bull. No one goes around unplugging their table lamps every 30 days. In the 70's it was all the rage to swag a plug in type pendant light over your table or hang one on the wall. Still a good idea, this just looks more modern/yet vintage too! Love this!!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousJuly 23, 2012 at 6:18 AM

    Make some more holes beside the perimeter of the opening because the heat can not go away and the bulb will destroy in a short time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 23, 2012 at 6:44 AM

    If you use a low wattage bulb (7 wts) you wont encounter that problem (overheating)

    ReplyDelete
  8. littleguysJuly 28, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    use the energy saver bulbs they dont get as hot as the traditional bulbs

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tracy CordingleyAugust 3, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    Hi there,

    This is really effective. Can I ask if you would allow me to feature this reuse project on our reuse design site. We are a new, UK organisation called Co-oproduct who are passionate about packaging Reuse, please see:
    www.co-oproduct.org (and facebook: www.facebook.com/cooproduct).

    I think this is a great reuse project example, and would love to share it on our website. We would provide all credits/links to your own work and this great blog!

    Thanks

    You can email me at: tracy@co-oproduct.org about this if you prefer.

    Best Regards

    Tracy Cordingley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterAugust 3, 2012 at 3:42 PM

      Hey!

      Please do I would love that! Thanks so much :)

      -M

      Delete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2012 at 7:52 PM

    I just made these tonight..... slight problem :( way too bright. I ended up putting back up the existing covers. What is a good wattage to use so it's not so blinding?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterOctober 2, 2012 at 2:01 PM

      I would use something on the dimmer end like 20 or less. Also, you could use tinted jars, that would help to tone the light down. Hope that helps!

      Delete
  11. AnonymousOctober 2, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    So cool! What do you use to hang it from on the ceiling? I have a fixture I would like to take down and replace with this. Also-I have a light in my entry that is a big glass bubble with an edison bulb and it has no air flow...hasn't exploded yet. I bought that at lowes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterNovember 28, 2012 at 9:32 AM

      Good to know about the light you bought, I haven't had any issues with mine either, so I feel alright about it. As for hanging, I just used a standard swag hook, which you can buy from any hardware store, it's essentially a threaded hook that twists directly into the ceiling. It's a good idea to find a stud, though I honestly just screwed directly into the drywall.

      Sorry for the crazy late response, I somehow just saw this question! :)

      Delete
  12. AnonymousNovember 10, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    I was wondering about them overheating too, but now that I think of it, we had several light fixtures that had round globes over them that didn't allow air flow and we never had a problem with them, so maybe they would be okay.

    ReplyDelete
  13. jtpattonNovember 14, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    If the light is too bright with the regular jar, you could frost the glass first using etching cream (wear gloves when handling the cream though).
    Thanks for the instructions!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousNovember 28, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    To bad that Ikea in my country doesn't sell that kind of cord sets

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousDecember 2, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    What size Mason jar is used? Would a 16oz. jar work?

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousDecember 28, 2012 at 3:34 PM

    You can get plug-in dimmer cords at Ikea as well, that way you can adjust the brightness of the bulbs (not sure how dimming affects the life of Edison bulbs though). You can't dim compact flourescent bulbs, but you can dim some evergy efficient halogen bulbs. Make sure to ask the retailer if the buls you are using are dimmable.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fresh PreservingJanuary 2, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    Wow what a cool idea! Love the ingenuity and yes, I think the dimmer would definitely be a good addition.

    ReplyDelete
  18. JillApril 9, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    Hi, could you take a picture of the ceiling and include that as well. I just can't picture where these are plugged in. THANK YOU. Or you could just email me: jilanbil(at)yahoo(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterMay 9, 2013 at 9:32 AM

      Hello! I'm so sorry I forgot to write back! It's actually just hanging from a small hook in the ceiling, and then pulled over to the corner, so another small hook. I don't have pictures as I don't live there anymore :(

      Delete
  19. UnknownMay 9, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    What a fantastic project! I'll be linking to it on our Lighting & Fans pinboard. Check it out at pinterest.com/homedepot.

    - Chante

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2014 at 6:41 PM

    These are canning jars and if pressure cooking them with a psi of 15 lbs for 90 minutes like I did for my hamburger doesn't break them, I doubt the light bulb will. I love the light!

    ReplyDelete
  21. UnknownMarch 11, 2014 at 12:25 PM

    Love the lights but where are they plugged in at?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterApril 23, 2014 at 12:02 PM

      Just to an outlet behind the bed! I kept the wire as close to the wall as I could, so they wasn't hanging/drooping. There are not hardwired, though it would look really nice that way.

      Delete
  22. onelApril 27, 2014 at 5:28 PM

    This is such a cool idea and they look great too!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownJanuary 14, 2015 at 7:48 PM

    Hi Maddy
    Its very nice and easy to make it

    Find also my site

    Mason jar light fixture ideas

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    Hi,
    I was wondering what size the jars you used were?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maddy PorterFebruary 27, 2015 at 10:48 AM

      These were quart sized, but I don't see why you couldn't make them with any size!

      Delete
  25. petnutNovember 20, 2015 at 12:36 PM

    I made one of these before I saw these directions. I used an old pair of scissors to cut out the middle of the jars original lid (after making a hole in the middle to start it). Used tiny snips to make the edge nice and filed it a bit. Very small (about 9 watts) fluorescent twisty bulb and the jar hangs from a Tranform Ball hanger kit from Farm&Fleet. It hangs from a metal pole that goes across a small craft storage room I built and provides plenty of light! Used zip ties to keep the cord in place. It was a quart jar that dates to about 1933.

    ReplyDelete
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