So we moved into a new house and my wife is in the process of redecorating to suit her own tastes. Which means I'm put to work.

I can do a lot of things, and if it's something new, I can learn...saves a lot of money and it's fun to learn new skills.

My wife likes the "rustic country" look...(she loves Joanna Gaines' style from fixer upper) I even ship lapped the bathroom.

Now, she is looking for a chandelier that she likes. She found this one, but it's $300! I think I can somehow make this thing...I mean it's only iron metal hoops and spokes fastened together with some wood...I figure I can attempt to create something like this.

FYI, I don't want to weld or do any black smithy type stuff.

Any advice on how to come about the pieces to create this? I've been googling wrought iron hoops, etc...but I can't really find separate pieces...figured I tap the sigforum for some advice.

I'm thinking either buy the separate pieces...or try and cannibalize pieces from other things...

It reminds me of the frame of a snare drum. Wonder if one could be repurposed. Powder coat flat black. Use LED bulbs with small bases.

I am frequently bitten by the bug to make something rather than buy it. I need to resist those urges. In the end I wind up spending more than if I had just bought it. Not to mention the effort. My last such project was a hydraulic wood splitter. 1 year and several hundred dollars later, I realized I just should've bought one. YMMV.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I am frequently bitten by the bug to make something rather than buy it. I need to resist those urges. In the end I wind up spending more than if I had just bought it. Not to mention the effort. My last such project was a hydraulic wood splitter. 1 year and several hundred dollars later, I realized I just should've bought one. YMMV.

I'm with you. I've learned to just spend the 3 hundo and move on.

Yep! Pay the three bills. You'll be happier in the long run - because she'll be happy you got her what she wanted.

i am guessing your wife would love something you made. I say go for it.

Either the "dump" or some kind of metal scrap yard type place and you will be golden.

If you only work in wood then make it out of wood. Paint the "metal" parts flat black or use rustoleum hammerite in the spray cans.

two bicycle rims , a hunk of 1 inch pipe for the axle, and some strap steel, and some old christmas lights,
$125.00 max!

That looks easy enough. I won't say if its worth your time versus buying. The degree of difficulty will really depend on how much you have to exactly follow the original design. For example it will be easy to make the hoops using flat steel stock, but its hard to tell the thickness in the photo. If its not too thick you will be able to just bend mild steel around a form of the right size. if it has to be thick you will need a torch. Again if your wife will let you use a rustic and authentic looking rivet to join pieces that's easy, if you have to braze the ends to make it seamless that's a bit harder but well below difficult. etc. etc.
Steel stock like this will be everywhere lowes, HD, Tractor supply or your local industrial store. online as well if you want and it will come by ups since you don't need long pieces.

The hoops conceal the wiring so preferrably they need to be hollow.
To decrease the degree of difficulty it could be made square or hex instead of round.
I'm thing EMT thin wall tubing or 1" square aluminum tubing.
Pre-bent EMT 90% bends could be used but joining them in a perfect circle might prove difficult.
I might be tempted to bend it myself but I have a tubing bender.

You could replicate it fairly close mostly in wood if hex shaped. The smaller straps could still be metal.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
two bicycle rims , a hunk of 1 inch pipe for the axle, and some strap steel, and some old christmas lights,
$125.00 max!

Oh, missed the part where OP was doing this in a doublewide...

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
two bicycle rims , a hunk of 1 inch pipe for the axle, and some strap steel, and some old christmas lights,
$125.00 max!

Lol thanks cousin Eddie

Looks like it could all be bolt together if you can find the pieces. 2 hoops, some flat stock for spokes, wooden slats, stain, misc hardware. Couple hours & $100 in materials plus whatever light kit you use. A drill press would make life easier, but not mandatory.

I'm thinking barrel bands, from an old wood stave keg.

You should nearly be able to practically replicate that chinese factory-made fixture working by hand in your home workshop for just a little more money than it costs to purchase the chinese one at retail.