Wiring

Oh my gosh - I can't wait to see what this looks like when you get it all assembled.  So you joined one wire from one to one from the light next to it, and continued to do it around the entire fixture, ending up with 6 twisted-together sets of wires.  OKAY.  Was there any particular reason you then gathered every OTHER wire instead of just the first three in one bunch and the second three in the other bunch? 

  Wasn't it funny when you tested your pairings to your electrical source?  When I was just testing joining two 'grain of wheat' bulbs together and plugged it into my 'electrical strip' I keep in my work area, I totally was expecting a big flash or pop. 

  My day was a wacky one so I didn't even get to touch my minis.  Besides, my pre-wired flame tip bulbs (the screw base ones that already have the wires attached) aren't here yet.  Luckily the light fixture I'm working on has plenty of room inside the center wooden false 'post' to hide the joined wires.  I sure admire you finding a way to hide yours inside beadwork.   

Pat, you need to use every other pair to get the 6 minus and 6 plus poles bundled. (Don't know if they call it that....) Every bulb has an A and a B wire. By connecting them like I did every other wire pairing you get all the As together and all the Bs - then you take each bundle and connect it to the main wire.

I drew at least 3 diagrams to make sure that that will work. 

I didn't use pre-wired bulbs, but store bought bi-pins. I just cut regular wire, widened one end a bit with a hot sewing needle and then pushed the pins into the wire - I figured that's the easiest way to do it (and I had those bulbs).Sealed and insulated with glue at the bulb bottom and covered it with a brass tube.

 Oh my Chris - you ARE brave.  There's just something so scary to me about those bi pins...  the bare metal prongs sticking out of them.  (I must've had a nasty run-in with electricity as a child...)  I really appreciate you sharing what you did (hot needle shoving bipins down into wire).  THIS is the kind of stuff I wish they had classes for.  Can you just imagine the fun? 

  Have you seen any of Jim Pounder's light fixtures?  Well while I was searching for help trying to figure out this chandelier wiring I found a web site where they were showing some people taking a class he was teaching at something like a  Good Sam Club Meeting.  Jim Pounder's light fixtures sell for hundreds of dollars but there he was teaching other people how to make them.  If you get a chance Google Jim Pounder and see the fantastic lamps (and other art) he makes. 

  I'm at a stand still with my chandelier, waiting for my flame tip bulb set-ups to arrive.  I only ordered the flame tip because I thought the smaller base would be better. 

  Oh - and your photos of all the 'gear' you've got holding things in place - AMAZING.  My son bought me something called Second Set Of Hands?  And it looks somewhat like what you've got going on there.  I just don't have a place to get it mounted good and solid where I can leave it set up.  My little furniture and light construction projects are done on my sewing table.  So I have to keep clearing the table to work on the next thing.

  Thank you very much for taking the time to share your progress - it might help me avoid a few of the mistakes I'm GOING to make... 

Pat

So I gave in today - tired of waiting for my wired flame tip bulbs to arrive - and used some wired 'grain of wheat' bulbs to see what my fixture will look like when its lit.  I may still switch it over to the flame tip bulbs once they arrive.  I hesitate leaving the grain of wheat bulbs in there because if one of them dies then I'd have to take the whole fixture down to get inside it. I think I JUST decided not to bother gluing the last piece of the center in place since it's wedged in there nice and tight as it is. 

I wish I had some nice oak wood to make it with and if I find some maybe I'll start over.  This is just basswood since I have so many scraps of it hanging around.  All the furniture I'm making for this dollhouse is left the light natural color although I do spray it with clear satin finish.