Scrap 4x4 Porch / Deck Solar Lamp

Jim Cox
by Jim Cox
3 Materials
$18
1 Hour
Easy
Another quick way to use outdoor solar lighting with stuff around the house
Pressure treated 4x4 scraps
Here are a couple of pieces of scrap pressure treated 4x4s left behind by the previous homeowner. Both were about 21 inches so I cut them to give four different lengths ( 7, 9, 12, and 14 inches. The stagger was part of the look I was going for). You don't have to use 4x4, I just wanted something stable that wouldn't fall over.
My fave outdoor lighting component
Next get 4 pieces of $.99 solar lights " At Home " (the store). I prefer the stainless steel tops over the black plastic.
Wear safety glasses!
Discard the stakes, and cut the bottom tube off the globe. Cut squarely. I used an angle grinder,but a dremel would work too. Sand the bottom square if you need to. (On one of my other projects, Hometalk members have suggested drilling a hole large enough for this stem. That would save the time cutting the globe)
I glued the wood pieces together with upholstery/vinyl top glue. I didn't want any screws to show. (Took a half hour including drying time) Pre-drill your holes for the lights, and attach the globes with any wood screw using a screwdriver, not a power drill or you could break the globes. (See previous step about drilling if you want to avoid using a wood screw, and use a waterproof glue) I went slightly random with spacing as well.
Here is the lamp on my front porch/deck. I think the LED light looks better on the yellow treated wood than they do on my brown deck rail ( see my other projects ) Fast and cheap! icon
Suggested materials:
  • Solar Yard lights (4 @ $1 ea)   (At Home (the store))
  • Automotive spray glue ($13)   (Oreilly)
  • #8 wood screws ($1.29)   (Lowes)
Frequently asked questions
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3 of 6 questions
  • Lajuana Longoria Lajuana Longoria on Aug 14, 2017

    When you say add waterproof glue do you mean where you put the screw in?

  • Nanou Nanou on Sep 08, 2017

    how do you get the star reflection on the wood?

  • Joan Joan on Jun 12, 2019

    i dont understand where you put the woodscrew in the light?

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