Jan
17
By Ben Uyeda

EP85 Concrete Cantaloupe Lamp




I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp.

SUPPLIES:

HomeMade Modern DIY Commercial Grade Quikrete Countertop Mix
HomeMade ModernQuikrete Countertop Mix
Available at the Home Depot
I used white Quikrete Countertop Mix to make the lamp. This isn't typically in-stock, so you'll have to call and order it.



HomeMade ModernThreaded Tube
Available at the Home Depot
I got a lighting kit at the Home Depot that had short pieces of threaded rod with nuts.

HomeMade ModernMold Star® 30
Available Online
I use Mold Star 30 to make a silicone mold for the concrete.

HomeMade ModernCord + Socket Set
Available at The Color Cord Company
I used a cord and socket set from ColorCord.com, but switched out the socket for a smaller candelabra socket.



TOOLS:

HomeMade Modern DIY RYOBI ONE+ 18-Volt Compact Drill

HomeMade ModernRYOBI ONE+ 18-Volt Compact Drill
Available at Home Depot








INSTRUCTIONS:


STEP 1: Glue the Cantaloupe to the Bottom of a Bucket
I used a hot glue gun to glue the cantaloupe to the bottom of a small plastic bucket. I picked a bucket that was about 2" larger in diameter than the melon.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 2: Mix + Pour the Silicone Mold
I mixed the Mold Star 30 togther and poured it over the melon in the bucket.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 3: Remove the Bucket + the Melon
I cut away the bucket since I couldn’t separate it. Then I cut the silicone just enough to remove the cantaloupe. The silicone is thick and rigid, so I wasn't worried about the line I cut into the mold.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 4: Prepare the Plastic Bottle
I drilled a hole in the lid of the bottle so that the threaded tube would fit through. Then I inserted the threaded tube into the hole and used the nuts to secure the lid. I used a plastic soda bottle to make the interior cavity for the lamp. I cut the neck off the bottle so it wouldn't getck in the concrete. Next, I hot glued the bottle cap into the hole in the bottle from when I cut the neck off. The hot glue connection makes it easy to remove the bottle with a heat gun later.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 5: Place the Bottle + Threaded Tube
I used a long thin drill bit to drill a hole in the bottom of the mold exactly where the stem of the cantaloupe was. Then I flipped the silicone mold over and drilled a bigger hole for the threaded rod to come through. I screwed the bottle and rod through that hole.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 6: Prep the Mold
There wasn’t much space between the hole in the mold and the bottle, so I cut away a bit more silicone to make room to spoon in the concrete.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 7: Mix + Pour the Concrete
I mixed and poured white Quikrete Countertop Mix into the mold.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 8: Remove the Concrete
I was worried about breaking the concrete, so I cut the mold a bit more to make it easier to remove. I'll see if this impacts future lamps cast with this mold.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 9: Trim the Threaded Tube
I tried two different methods of cutting the threaded tube. First, I used my drill with a cutting wheel. This worked ok. Then I tried my angle grinder, which was way faster.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.



STEP 10: Wire the Lamp
I took the socket off the cord and socket set so I could thread the wire through the tube. Then I wired the socket on and used three zip ties above the socket to create a stopper to keep the cord from pulling through the tube. The lamp works great on a desk or side table, but if you plan on hanging one as a pendant lamp, make sure that the concrete is secure.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

I've always like the texture of cantaloupes, so I made this concrete lamp by creating a silicone mold with a real cantaloupe and then casting a hollow concrete version. I used a plastic water bottle and a threaded rod to make the chase and hollow part of the lamp and a cloth cord from ColorCord.com to wire the lamp. For more information go to HomeMade-Modern.com.

Good luck with your concrete cantaloupe lamp and please email or tweet photos to @benuyeda or ben@homemade-modern.com.

If you want to see what we're working on next, follow us on Instagram @benjaminuyeda.

Also check out our book for additional projects, DIY tips and guides.


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