How to Make a Copper Lamp Shade

Copper lamp shades add warmth to a room due to the rich color of the copper. You can create a simple copper lampshade with the 8- to 18-inch roof flashing that is available at any home improvement center. Copper flashing is pliable and bends around a lamp shade frame with ease. You can cut the copper with tin snips, or a band saw or table saw with a metal cutting blade. You need the flashing, a lampshade frame, and some simple soldering tools.

Measure around the circumference of the largest ring of the lampshade frame. Add 1 inch to that measurement. Measure, mark and cut a strip of flashing to the determined measurement. Use an awl to scratch a straight line across the surface of the flashing. Cut the flashing on the line.

Wrap the copper flashing around the frame. Hold in place with clothespins every 2 inches. Secure both the top and bottom ring in the same fashion.

Mark the overlap to cut off on lamp shade frames that have different measurements for the top and bottom rings. Allow a 1-inch overlap of copper on the seam. Place a mark at the top edge and at the bottom edge of the copper flashing. Remove the flashing from the lamp shade frame. Line up the edge of a ruler with each mark. Scratch along the edge of the ruler with an awl. Cut along the etched line with tin snips.

Wrap the copper flashing around the lampshade frame. Secure the top and the bottom of the flashing with clothespins every 2 inches.

Solder the copper to the top ring. Solder a 1-inch section between each clothespin.

Remove the clothespins. Solder along the seam line if desired.