Because of the positive feedback that Nicole and I received on our Mickey Lamp, I thought I would share how I made it.
For the most part, I followed the directions on http://www.carol-anne.ca/Mickey%20Lamp.htm and https://erinblackwell.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/how-to-make-a-mickey-lamp-post/. I do believe both of these posts were produced by the same person because they share the same photos. Because I followed these post, I am not going to repeat that information here. Instead, I will simply share what I did differently.
When I was thinking about this project, I came to the conclusion that I would have to modify the plans. The first modification that needed to be made came from the fact that Nicole and I camp in locations where we do not have access to electricity. It is very hard to plug in a lamp when there are no outlets. The second modification needed to come from the fact that it would need to fit into my Prius; it needs to be easily disassembled and reassembled.
So, here are the items that I purchased. I got most of the items from Home Depot simply because the webpages that I was looking at had their product numbers. The one item that I ran into is that these pages are old pages, and some of their information is out of date. Because of this, I have also listed the part numbers of the items that I used.
1. Lamp post: Model # 501817 Internet #202636904 Store SO SKU #1000946165
2. Plastic Post-Top Globe Fitter: Model # 7785-01W Internet #100671529 Store SKU #348480
3. 12 in. White Neckless Globe: Model # 8188300 Internet #203066102
4. (2) 6 in. White Polyethylene Globe: Model # 8190500 Internet #203066112
5. Solar Black Outdoor Landscape Spot Light with Solar Panel and Wire: Model # NXT-3149 Internet #206267338 Store SKU #1001486802
6. Umbrella base that I got from Target.
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30171287_10214321969176501_2062631419398393094_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=GWyftJiHUS8Q7kNvgFs9gPR&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBB2FbweBSN5v9BatxzfKXSgJYuGkAUjtlBn7fnNLPqug&oe=668573C6)
I didn’t noticed it until the items were delivered, but the 12 inch globe that I ordered was made from acrylic and the two 6 inch globes that I ordered were made from polyethylene. Because of this, Mickey’s ears are not the same color has his head.
I first made the globe by following the directions on the webpages, so there is nothing new to report here.
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30171944_10214322044058373_3216853198905581406_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=y8Xkr99fDhsQ7kNvgFkDS6X&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAQ_pmI7-Bvj0gA1ECjUurskaIAl-mQT6Fgbe0hW45mLg&oe=66855CA3)
For the lamp portion, I was wondering how power the light. I was first thinking of using a flashlight, and I was wondering how to mount the flashlight along with how to turn the lamp on and off. One day I was walking around Target and I saw solar-powered landscape lights. Then I was thinking of making this lamp solar-powered. Then I was wondering how and where to put the solar panel. While looking at the solar-powered landscaping lights on Home Depot’s website, I came across one that has a detached solar panel, wiring that will run the entire length of the pole, and an on/off switch at the solar panel. I decided that this lamp would work for this project.
The first thing that I modified was the globe filter. I first removed the lamp socket. I then drilled one hole that was large enough for the wiring to pass through. I then drilled four smaller holes so that I could strap down the lamp.
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30171834_10214322124980396_8527843142212901257_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=6vzqKbWhIMEQ7kNvgFj4SHJ&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDZyHmlaoxYthf6SNW5r2d0gLg7YtJt6SN9YILKRIVhiw&oe=6685535C)
I also replaced the self-tapping screws that were being used to hold the globe clamps in place with regular screws and attached a nut on top of the clamps. I didn’t know how well the self-tapping screws would hold after the lamp has been disassembled and reassembled several times.
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30849052_10214322138260728_4734807785359458524_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=TbQ8InhbGXwQ7kNvgEmcaI-&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCMbTKRER4Aru4GmZ2ZBdY8esO7YRdgH3XXDSbRGyJu4A&oe=668577DA)
I then had to modify the lamp. Because this was a spotlight, it was designed to produce a spotlight. Because I wanted the lamp to illuminate the entire Mickey’s head and not just the area between his ears, I first cut off the top part of the lamp. I also had to cut off part of the lamp so that it would fit centered inside the globe. After cutting the landscaping lamp, it now looks like this
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30425326_10214322158261228_6322178530946554939_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=dcbJV-ZAexIQ7kNvgG9yOPV&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyzyyDHlQ_vCMdIHFScjRsr6qnCxemU1lViBQOjXSNOw&oe=66856817)
I then attached the lamp to the globe filter. I first tied it into place with wires. I then ‘glued’ it in place with J-B Weld (https://www.homedepot.com/p/J-B-Weld-Two-1-oz-Twin-Tube-Cold-Weld-8265-s/100189012). So now, the globe filter and lamp now looked like this:
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/31258836_10214322188741990_1004456452380514052_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=WGNAsWmBAn0Q7kNvgERMI-Y&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBCeGGuXaatGshivO20sx1bgNN3PfIsXjB_ErDefPhMYw&oe=66856BAA)
Because this was a spotlight, I still needed to modify it so that it would illuminate the entire globe. So I went to Goodwill and purchased a very very very very small champagne/wine looking glass and attached it to the top of the lamp. Now, the lamp looks like this:
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30425105_10214322209622512_4241689530268096550_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=uSNfP847wAMQ7kNvgHSaS8q&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCuAGqFAJCW_VqpMMHovWQg-mFCHU3pr9bj28YjSP2Wtw&oe=66856128)
The last modification that I had to make was to the lamp post. Because the lamp post is so much larger then the metal base for a patio umbrella, I needed to figure how to make the post stable. I decided to drill a hole in the lamp post and use the bolt that came with the base to secure the umbrella to secure the lamp post.
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30171806_10214322230863043_4400463888370949752_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=cg0KPcraEJcQ7kNvgEitk9k&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDPPTpeWje-JVRl847m8y2rnL2Lch0Gv3sv8fgUN8UL5A&oe=668586BA)
Then I put everything together, and our Mickey lamp now looks like this
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30168127_10214322236303179_7984493691582904092_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=_dt_xD5zHUAQ7kNvgHQYqdX&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBjW-qxn4gsOTaGeDk2wYcV1A7Etgu6yjQbuwHjA-bQmg&oe=66857DE4)
And when the sun goes down, the lamp looks like this
![image](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/30167680_10214322243383356_7007358081092959141_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=rgyC7HV4Z6AQ7kNvgH5zjjn&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB1S3FDV4QP-Q2vEO-jtCsEB0C7xQkYKZCUeWZbTtvVKw&oe=66856D5C)
Anyway, I do want to say thanks for the feedback on our solar-powered mickey lamp #mickeylamp #solarpowerdmickeylamp #solarpowered