Design and Planning
I wanted to create a suspended ceiling light fixture with an industrial and modern style. The idea was to have a horizontal wooden plank fixed to the ceiling, from which several Edison bulbs would hang to create a warm ambiance.
The technical plan shows the design in three parts:
- The main fixture body with ceiling mounting points (ceiling fixing screws) and central electrical input
- An internal plate with cable passage holes and positions for neodymium magnets Ø10x2 mm
- A mounting plate with ceiling fixing holes (Ø10 mm)
The system uses neodymium magnets to hold the plank in place, which allows for easy installation and removal if needed.
Materials Needed
To complete this project, I used:
- A wooden plank (pine or similar) approximately 1.5 to 2 meters long
- 8 neodymium magnets Ø10x2 mm for mounting
- Standard super glue to glue the magnets in their holes
- 6 vintage-style Edison bulbs (LED with visible filaments)
- 6 metallic sockets (brass or brushed nickel)
- Black fabric-wrapped electrical cables for each bulb
- Ceiling mounting screws
- Standard electrical equipment (junction box, connectors, etc.)
Construction
Preparing the Plank
I started by preparing the wooden plank. I marked the locations for cable passage holes and magnet positions. The plank was sanded to achieve a smooth finish.
As can be seen in the photo, the plank is mounted to the ceiling with electrical wires coming out through the central hole. The pencil marks visible on the wood indicate the locations for the various components.
Installing the Magnets
The neodymium magnets were installed in the wooden plank according to the technical plan. I drilled Ø10 mm holes in the plank at the planned locations, then glued each magnet in its hole using standard super glue. These magnets allow the wooden plank to be firmly held against the mounting plate fixed to the ceiling.
Ceiling Mounting
The mounting plate was fixed to the ceiling using screws, making sure the fixing holes were properly aligned. Once the mounting plate is in place, the wooden plank with magnets can simply be positioned and held by magnetism.
Wiring the Bulbs
Each bulb is suspended by a black fabric-wrapped electrical cable that passes through a hole in the plank. The cables are of varying lengths to create an interesting visual effect with bulbs at different heights. The metallic sockets complete the industrial aesthetic.
Final Result
The light fixture is now installed and functional. The 6 Edison bulbs create a warm and modern ambiance in the room.
A dark oak-style varnish was applied to the wooden plank to give it this warm and elegant tone.
Conclusion
This DIY light fixture project was relatively simple to complete but offers a very satisfying result. Using neodymium magnets for mounting facilitates installation and allows for easy removal if needed. The industrial style with Edison bulbs brings a modern and warm touch to the room.
The total cost of the project is reasonable, especially if you salvage some materials.