Have you ever been at a garage sale or thrift shop & see a chandelier that has good bones, but the color or style may need help? Or worse yet love the shape & it is obvious that was a curb alert that got water in it!
With no knowledge of how to rewire it what do we do? It’s calling our name to save it! What better option than to make a solar chandelier with it! Hang it on the porch or from the tree with a few easy steps. In this article I show you how to turn that old chandelier into a outdoor solar chandelier.
The find, a brown water damaged fixture with upturned light shades. A test layout with saucer & jar.
First we will take the shades off, donate them or use in another project. Remove ceiling platen if it has one. Take bulb mount out, usually this is just a screw or two. A hand held screwdriver will work, no power tools needed.
Cut wire if needed at base where the bulb socket holder was, sometimes it gets very twisted when originally pulled through. Pull out from the TOP of fixture. If wire is wet there is still moisture trapped inside. Let this evaporate over a couple days BEFORE proceeding to the next step.
Sand the whole fixture with a course grit sponge, then again with a fine grit. The primer & paint will not stick properly, or will look lumpy as this fixture had a “hammered” texture to it. If it is a smooth fixture sanding with a fine sponge will do.
Also sand the bottom or mason jars, saucers,top lip where the saucer will sit, so the glue adheres well.For saucers i used a candle plate! Glue SAUCER in place then leave it to cure! Impatiently wait the 24 to 48 hours as manufacture glue recommends.
Choose a outdoor spray paint, I used semi gloss black, sure wouldn’t want the paint to wash off in the rain. Hang chandelier in a designated painting area (I use a board on 2 tall saw horses) then use a U bolt or carabiner clip to connect through chain to its own chain to hang & paint. Paint let cure so it doesn’t chip.
Now scuff saucer where the mason jar will be, yes i know, you just painted them, lol we want jar to stay in place. Also sand the bottom of jar. Place a bead of glue on mason jar bottom, place onto saucer no need to “squish” it on that will cause glue to run out. Just place mason jar to make contact. Let glue dry.
Last the fun! Place solar fairy lights (or solar light chose) on jars & hang! Large plant hooks or chandelier hooks do the trick, mount to a secure location. Or loop chain around the limb of a tree. I do recommend if light is not under a covered porch to put light in storage in the winter time. The snow will melt & freeze breaking the pieces.
- (Affiliate links) Tools & items needed for the job:
- heavy scissors for wire
- heavy multi use scissors
- E6000 Glue
- Outdoor spray paint at least 2 cans
- solar fairy lights
- candle plate
- Mason jars
- screwdriver
- carabiner clip
- sanding sponge
- Chandelier find
Enjoy your new OUTDOOR solar light chandelier! I’d love for you to share what you created DM or tag @beckhlife on insta!
