Thanks, Pottz. Don't we all get to the point of "that's good enough"? Who can claim true perfection? Maybe it's just that some realize the futility of it sooner and get back to enjoying their life while others toil-on longer before reaching the same conclusion as their wiser brethren.
I know you are planning to replace the lamp tubing with brass, but one thing I'd suggest are those plastic caps that thread over the end (rod protrudes maybe 1/4" from the top of the nut). These keep the wires from chafing on the tubes ID edge.
It's amazing all the parts you can find for lamps!
Thanks, Splinter. Yes, I do have some of those plastic caps that I intend to install during final assembly. Better safe than sorry. Only 24DC will be going through the pipe, but I don't want to risk damaging the driver by a short.
Your Dremel surgery was well worth it. That juncture looks much better now.
I think you made the right call with the slimmer, unthreaded brass tube.
That cutaway sleeve nut... did you make the cutout yourself, or can you actually buy them like that?
I also think you made the right call on not adding a spreader mechanism where the stave protrusions meet the brace. From one programming nerd to another, that would definitely be a YAGNI feature. (For non-nerds, that stands for You Aren't Gonna Need It. Programmers are bad about coding provisions for things that are extremely unlikely to occur, and this principle is a reminder for them to stay aware of that tendency.)
Thanks, Ron, I'm enjoying the challenges of this project. I did not make those cutaway nuts. I got mine on Amazon: link.
Another one from the programmer's phrasebook is, "we're not trying to boil the ocean." I lean reductionist, trying to "keep things simple, as simple as possible, but no simpler." 😃
SplinterGroup commented about 3 hours ago new I was happy to find those cut-away couplers! I think the cast/machined versions are made specifically for gas to electric wire fixture conversions, but perfect for continuing the post up higher while allowing "escape" holes for wire at various levels.
They are called a "hickey"
I've only ever ordered parts from https://grandbrass.com Fun looking through all the gizmos which can be useful for many non-lamp needs.
I just ordered my new brass pipes from grandbrass. My previous order was from mylampparts.com. Many of those bits I will no longer need for this project since switching to the thinner pipe. I'll just need to figure out another lamp to use them on.
I am starting to see that I could perhaps use elements of this project myself and wonder: Would it in any way be possible to have the wire run inside one of the legs?
Thanks, Ty. I bet you could do that! It may require increasing the cross section of the staves to compensate for the loss of material in the one that's been hollowed. But how great would it be to do away with the center pipe?! Please get busy on this project! 🤣
Kaerlighedsbamsen, I’ve wondered about this too… a channel routed on the underside of one of the feet, threaded inserts on the contact points, and turning the brass locator pins into structural bolts (one being hollow for the wiring). It’s fun thinking up new ways to make Ross contemplate extra work. 😀
Yes, you guys are tormenting me! I'm going to try not to think about the hollow leg approach.
