The Pipe Gets Its New Shape
The first major step was cutting the pipe down to the size needed for the light. The main base section was cut to approximately 18 inches long, creating the foundation for the rest of the project. Cutting plastic pipe can leave the edges looking rough and uneven, so the freshly cut ends were smoothed with sandpaper. It may seem like a small detail, but getting those edges clean makes the finished project look much more polished.
The pipe itself would eventually stand vertically, but it needed something sturdy underneath to keep it upright. That's where the wood comes in. Several pieces of 1-by-3 lumber were cut into short sections to form the legs around the pipe. Each piece received a small 45-degree notch, giving the otherwise simple wooden pieces a decorative shape.
Four of these pieces were arranged around the bottom of the pipe. Together, they created a wider base that could support the light while also giving it a more finished appearance. The transformation was already beginning. What had started as a plain plastic cylinder was slowly becoming the centerpiece of something much more interesting.