This DIY concrete lamp is cast in an empty milk carton. Its small size makes a great starter project for people who haven’t worked with concrete before. The only cost is for a few pounds of cement and the light fixture.

SUPPLIES:

Milk Carton
Reclaimed + Recycled
A half gallon milk cartons make excellent form work for concrete. The waxed cardboard is water proof and smooth so the finished concrete will have a smooth stone like finish.

Plastic Drink Bottle
Reclaimed + Recycled
The plastic bottle is used to create a space big enough to house a light bulb.

1/2" Inch Diameter Bolt 6" Inches Long with Nut
Purchase at Home Depot
This bolt holds the plastic bottle in place and also creates a hole for the cord to go through.

Tub Tile or Window Caulk
Purchase at Home Depot
The caulk is used to seal the holes in the milk carton mold. Almost any type of water proof caulk will work.

3 1/2" Deck Screw
I used a single deck screw to help hold the plastic bottle in place.

Quickcrete 5000
Purchase at Home Depot
QUIKRETE® 5000 Concrete Mix is a commercial grade blend of stone or gravel, sand and cement specially designed for higher early strength. It is available at Home Depot and typically comes in 80 lb bags. The hardest part of working with it is moving the 80 lb bag. Mixing the small quantity needed for this project is easy all you have to do is add water and stir thoroughly.

Electrical Stuff: Socket, Switch and Cord
Purchase Online
I bought an E-12 socket and cord set from Grandbrass.com.

TOOLS:

A RYOBI 18 volt cordless drill with a 1/2” diameter standard bit for drilling holes for the bolt.
¼” and 3/8” masonry bits to drill holes in the concrete. Feel free to experiment with larger or smaller bits.
Wire cutters to cut the cord and strip the wires for reconnecting the socket to the cord after putting the socket inside the lamp.

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Open the carton and trim the edges
Use scissors or a box cutter to cut back the folded top of the carton.





STEP 2: Drill through the carton and plastic bottle
The drill can skip around a bit so make a small hole with a knife or nail first.





STEP 3: Insert the bolt
Screw the bolt through the carton and the plastic bottle and fasten the nut on the other side.







STEP 4: Seal the mold
The form needs to be watertight so seal the holes with the caulk.







STEP 5: Mix the concrete
Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the proportion of water to cement. Beginners tend to add too much water. You want the mixture to be the consistency of cookie dough. Mix it thoroughly and then mix it some more. You want every grain of sand to be wet without adding too much water.







STEP 6: Clean the bowl
Once the concrete dries, it becomes difficult to get off the sides of the bowl, so clean the bowl with water right away.



STEP 7: Fill the mold and vibrate
Spoon the wet cement into the mold, and use a spoon or stick to push it down into every corner. Tap and vibrate the mold as aggressively as you can without breaking it. Vibrating removes the bubbles from the cement and makes the lamp stronger and less likely to break.



STEP 8: Unwrap mold and unscrew bolt
Let the concrete cure for 2 days before tearing off the carton and unscrewing the bolt and screw.











STEP 9: Drill holes
Start with the ¼” drill, and then use the larger bits to make the holes larger. Try to leave at least ¾” between the holes to keep the lamp from breaking.





STEP 10: Insert wires
Cut the socket end of the wire, and thread the cut end though the bolt hole. Strip the wires and twist them together. Cover the exposed metal with electrical tape or wire nuts.







Good luck making your own concrete lamp, and please email or tweet photos to @benuyeda or ben@homemade-modern.com. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.

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