Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

GreasedMonkey · 18th Mar 2022, 9:46 am

Hi All,

We have re-discovered an old table lamp originally made by SWMBOs grandfather many years ago. It is a wooden sailboat design with lamp holder positioned such that the lamp itself was inside the large sail. These sails were made from a green, semi transparent plastic material. One surface had a sort of mottled texture to it, I think in an attempt to resemble the sheet material of a sail. It was quite thick, probably around 0.57mm and I would assume at some point a fairly flexible material. Try as I may, I cannot find any suitable replacement for this (Not helped by the fact I don't actually know what to search for). Unfortunately I do not have any of the original material as it went brittle and fell apart some years ago.

If anyone could suggest something suitable to make replacement sails I would be most grateful. Heat from the lamp itself will not be so much of a factor as I intend to replace the lamp with an LED type when the thing is bought back into use.

Thanks in advance.

Nickthedentist · 18th Mar 2022, 10:07 am

Look in charity shops and car boots, something will surely crop up that would do the job.

McMurdo · 18th Mar 2022, 10:14 am

Might it be slaters plastikard?

https://slatersplastikard.com/plasti...Plastikard.php

Ambientnoise · 18th Mar 2022, 10:17 am

Have a look in WHSmiths and similar places for document folders, holders and covers etc. They come in several different colours, textures and thicknesses. I found some material ideal for tuning scale diffusers.

Electronpusher0 · 18th Mar 2022, 10:42 am

You can stiffen cotton fabric with dilute PVA

Peter

Heatercathodeshort · 18th Mar 2022, 11:02 am

The original material is probably 'Parchment' It was a very common material in the manufacture of lamp shades. John.

Kala_12 · 18th Mar 2022, 11:21 am

A "lampshade" collar used to stop dogs chewing stitches?
Stuart.

18th Mar 2022, 9:46 am	#1
GreasedMonkey Pentode Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Worcester, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 183	Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. Hi All, We have re-discovered an old table lamp originally made by SWMBOs grandfather many years ago. It is a wooden sailboat design with lamp holder positioned such that the lamp itself was inside the large sail. These sails were made from a green, semi transparent plastic material. One surface had a sort of mottled texture to it, I think in an attempt to resemble the sheet material of a sail. It was quite thick, probably around 0.57mm and I would assume at some point a fairly flexible material. Try as I may, I cannot find any suitable replacement for this (Not helped by the fact I don't actually know what to search for). Unfortunately I do not have any of the original material as it went brittle and fell apart some years ago. If anyone could suggest something suitable to make replacement sails I would be most grateful. Heat from the lamp itself will not be so much of a factor as I intend to replace the lamp with an LED type when the thing is bought back into use. Thanks in advance.

18th Mar 2022, 10:07 am	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,839	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. Look in charity shops and car boots, something will surely crop up that would do the job.

18th Mar 2022, 10:14 am	#3
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,269	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. Might it be slaters plastikard? https://slatersplastikard.com/plasti...Plastikard.php __________________ Kevin

18th Mar 2022, 10:17 am	#4
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 915	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. Have a look in WHSmiths and similar places for document folders, holders and covers etc. They come in several different colours, textures and thicknesses. I found some material ideal for tuning scale diffusers.

18th Mar 2022, 10:42 am	#5
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. You can stiffen cotton fabric with dilute PVA Peter

18th Mar 2022, 11:02 am	#6
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. The original material is probably 'Parchment' It was a very common material in the manufacture of lamp shades. John.

18th Mar 2022, 11:21 am	#7
Kala_12 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: Table lamp rebuild - looking for suitable material. A "lampshade" collar used to stop dogs chewing stitches? Stuart. __________________ Half my stuff is junk - luckily, my wife doesn't know which half!