DIY Wedding

How to Make a Light out of a CD Spindle

comments (19) April 23rd, 2009

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kayte terry, contributor

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Recycle a CD spindle into a pretty light!

These are the supplies you need to make your light.

Recycle a CD spindle into a pretty light!

Photo: Kayte Terry

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1. Set the top of the CD spindle aside; you aren't going to need it for a while. With your handsaw, saw off most of the center part of the bottom of the spindle. I left about 1/2 inch on the spindle.

Cord, meet socket.

2. With your small scissors, carefully cut down the center of one end of the cord about 3 inches, making sure not to cut through any wires. Use your wire strippers to strip off 1 inch of both sides of the wire. If you don't have wire strippers, you can carefully cut a little of the coated wire off with scissors and peel if off.

View from the front.

View from the side.

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Comments (19)

oxxxgabixxxo writes: thats sOOOO awesome! my mom sends me on this website to get her some ideas to save money and this is a great one!

by blank cds.... get free candle!
Posted: 8:43 pm on October 6th

Flippincool writes: Hi!

Just wanted to let you know I featured this tutorial in a post all about upcycle crafting. Thanks!

Emily
The Handmade Experiment
http://emilyflippinmaruna.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/must-make-monday-upcycled/
Posted: 4:55 am on July 13th

tesserae writes: I bought some beautiful handmade paper a few years back just because it was beautiful but never knew what to do with it. Now I do. I'll make two for my old makeup table and use them as night lights. Can't say how much I appreciate all the beautiful crafts your site give us. Very inspiring. Thanks.
Posted: 10:53 pm on May 25th

janeto153 writes: I'm going to try this for Mother's Day. I'm using two separate pics though, One of my sibs and I as little kids, and one of all of our kids. I'll fill any empty spaces with text. Can't wait to see the look on my Mom's face when she lights it up!
Posted: 4:30 pm on May 5th

olathenicegal writes: I saw LED nightlight bulbs (in 4 colors) at HD just last weekend! A little pricey, but they'll be safer since they run cool.

Posted: 2:30 pm on April 28th

beaderonboard writes: What a great idea, I can't wait to make one of my own.
Great way to recycle and it would make a great bedside lamp.
Thank you for sharing.
Posted: 1:12 pm on April 28th

WiggySister writes: Been saving those buggers just waiting for an idea like this. Thanks!
Posted: 9:13 am on April 27th

DesignFling writes: Fantastic idea- I've been trying to think of a use for those spindles. I have linked it to my blog. http://designfling.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for the idea!
Posted: 4:48 am on April 27th

mar32428 writes: Now if only someone would come up with a clever idea for using those old discs. I need something useful. I've done the sun catchers, Christmas ornaments and picture frames. Anything else?
Posted: 5:49 pm on April 25th

Rooty_Tooty writes: Awesome idea, Kayte! I often thought that there must be some practical use for these DC spindles but I hadn't come up with one yet -- glad you did! This idea has so many possibilities!

These would make great nightlights with a 7-watt bulb. These bulbs produce some heat but most standard nightlights don't have much space between the bulb & the plastic shade. Perhaps it would be a good idea to drill some small vent holes along the edges or on the top to allow for the heat to escape. I haven't shopped for these nightlight bulbs recently but perhaps there is a cooler green version of these on the market that would work for this project.

Also, these might translate into nice under cabinet lights for the kitchen. I move quite frequently due to our work assignments & very often the kitchens in our various apartments have had terrible lighting & this would be an inexpensive but stylish solution to a very aggravating problem. Lining the base of the spindle with foil would reflect more light but might also produce more heat.

Other possibilities -- lights inside closets or cupboards, under stairways, patio lanterns. Looks like I'll have to ask freinds & family to save their old CD spindles for me!
Posted: 4:35 pm on April 25th

hicknny writes: I am so excited I cant wait to make them for my grand children.
Posted: 2:33 pm on April 25th

TeeTimeBeadBakery writes: oooo my this is great i work with polymer clay and this would be the the coolest thing to make in one of the classes i teach we could cover it with polymer clay cane,s and it would look awsome then if you got alittle jazzy you could spray paint the bottom silver love this idea thanks so much
Posted: 8:57 am on April 25th

fantazya writes: awesome ! beautiful style !
Posted: 2:01 am on April 25th

abbytail writes: what a lovely result!

If you're scared the heat of the bulb might melt the lampshade, why not use energy efficient bulbs? they produce hardly any heat and make this lamp even more green by reducing the amount of energy consumed> :)
Posted: 4:48 am on April 24th

elbowyoyo writes: What is the wattage of the bulb that you used? I'm afraid I'll melt the top withthe chandelier bulbs that I have (they are spares for my dining room light)
Posted: 1:18 am on April 24th

Sister_Diane writes: That is just super-duper cool! I hope I can use up the rest of my giant 500 CD spindle SOON so I can make one.
Posted: 10:34 pm on April 23rd

Ednarb writes: This is wonderful! Amazingly we just ran out of CDs this week and I still had the empty spindle on my desk! Can't wait to make one this weekend.
Posted: 9:46 pm on April 23rd

Miba writes: That's awesome. I'm deffinately making that.
Posted: 5:28 pm on April 23rd