The ToadSpool

Disclaimer : No AI was used during the editing/fabrication process. Just pictures post-processing and gif editing. See making-of picture in the carousel above ! 

You want to a truly unique piece to add the final touch to a nature themed interior design ? You want to make a nice bedside lamp for children ? Search no more ! You are at the right place ! Recycle your old spool and bring the magic of the forest in you interior with this ToadSpool lamp ! 

And the best in this situation, you do not need to go hunt for it in the forest !  

/!\ Be aware this model implies working with electrical connections. If you do not feel confortable doing it by yourself, ask for help from someone who has the habit. Remember : Safety first ! If you do not want to bother yourself with wires and electricity, you can use a battery powered bulb.

Printing recommendation

• Orientation : Everything has been exported in the good orientation. The socket holder need supports in any orientation.

• Number of perimeters : 2 perimeters

• Infill : 15% Rectilinear

• Layer height : 0.20mm - You can play with the layer height for the lampshade

• Material : PLA - I advise a light-colored PLA for the lampshade, so the light will be more vivid. In this case I used Sunlu Sunny Orange. I made a prototype using Recycled Prusament, the light was not passing through. For the other parts, you can use any color you want.

Assembly guide

Step 1 : Ensuring you have everything ready

The lamp  comes in different pieces, some of which are not printed and must be outsourced. To avoid any issues during assembly, make sure you have everything ready. You should have

• Part A - The outer ring

• Part B - A Prusament spool side

• Part C - The socket holder

• Part D - An E14 bulb socket [OUTSOURCED] 

• Part E - Some electrical lamp cable [OUTSOURCED] (I did not have any cable to use, so I will use a simple rope to illustrate)

• Part F - A Prusament spool center, Depending on the effect you want to have, you can either use a 1kg of 2kg spool center. Here I will use a 1kg spool center

• Part G - The lamp base

• Part H - An E14 LED lightbulb [OUTSOURCED] - Avoid using old incandescent lamp. It is too hot and risks melting the lamp.

• Part I - The lampshade

Please note : Some steps will require to do electrical connections. They will not be explained in this guide. The assembly is made considering the cable is loose on both ends (no plug, no switch). If there is a plug/switch in the cable, invert step 3 and step 4.

Step 2 : Outer ring assembly

For this step you will need :

• Part A - The outer ring

• Part B - A Prusament spool side

1. Start by aligning Part B on Part A. To help with this process look to the protuding pegs. The long flat black part on part B must be aligned with the group of three pegs which is in the middle of two other groups of 3 pegs. 

2. Once everything is aligned, push B on A to clip everything together. The tolerances are tight, so light force is required.

3. The pegs must protude from the surface of B.

Step 3 : Socket assembly

For this step you will need : 

• The previous assembly

• Part C - The socket holder

• Part D - An E14 bulb socket [OUTSOURCED] 

• Part E - Some electrical lamp cable [OUTSOURCED] (demonstrated using rope)

1. Start by mounting the socket (Part D) into its holder (Part C)

2.  Mount your cable (Part E) in the socket (Part D)

3. Thread the cable through the hole of the spool side starting from the flat side and coming out the side with the protusion. (Part B of the previous assembly)

4. Put the assembly Part B + Part C in the hole of the spool side, aligning the protusion with the hole. 

5. Clip everything in place. Note : While clipping the socket holder, you might want not to have the peg closest to the center all the way in, since it will interfere with the next steps.

Step 4 : Lamp body and base assembly

For this step you will need :

• The assembly from the previous step

• Part F - A Prusament spool center

• Part G - The lamp base

1. Before starting, try to fit the base (G) on the spool center (F), sometimes it enter in one side, but not in the other. Remember the good orientation, it will be needed in the coming steps.

2. Thread the cable through the spool center (Part F) so it exits by the side you will put the base on, determined in the previous "substep" 1.

3. Thread the cable through the hole in the base.

4. Insert the base (Part G) in the spool center (Part F). Before proceeding to the next step, you can try your electrial work here.

5. Pull any excess of cable and insert the assembly with the socket in the spool center.

6. Clip the spool side on the center like you would do with a standard Prusament spool.

Step 5 : Lampshade assembly

For this step you will need :

• The assembly from the previous step

• Part I - The lampshade

1. Put the bulb in the socket

2. Align the protusions of the lampshade (Part I) with the empty space on the outer ring (PArt A) and place it.

3. Turn slightly the lampshade (Part I) so you can lift it up. 

4. The lamp is now finished !

Step 6 : Enjoy your newly built lamp and go beyond

For this step you will need the finished lamp.

• You can add round white stickers inside the lamp shade to do a real "toadstool" feeling. 

• You can wrap some rope or other material around the base to have a more natural feeling. 

• Alternatively, you can enjoy it as is ! Up to you !